want to do wholesale business or other kind sof business in china?  Here’s some tips for your consideration.

Getting a driver is a good idea if you are planning to leave the city or visit many locations throughout the day, as taxis can be difficult to find during rush hour or in rainy weather. If you know when and where you would like to be picked up in advance, you can find a driving service when you arrive at the airport, or via the concierge at any large hotel. Most companies require a day-or-so notice.

Drivers have set half and full day (about four and eight hours respectively) rates and charge per hour after that. Full day rental can run anywhere up from RMB 500 (US$65) depending on what kind of car and driver (English speaking or non-English speaking) you require. VW Santanas, Buicks and Mercedes are common models and are generally comfortable and clean. A faint cigarette smell is not uncommon, as many drivers smoke, but they will usually ask for your permission before lighting up in the car. Be prepared to pay for tolls yourself, and possibly take your driver out for a meal depending on the arrangements of the company. Tips are not required, although some travellers leave a small gratuity.A list of driving services and an up-to-date list of rates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, can be found at many websites. Taxis The alternative to your own driver is the taxi. In every city in China you should be able to find cheap taxis at just about any time of the day or night, although rush hour and weather conditions may make them rarer commodities. All legal taxis have a meter to show the distance and fare being clocked up. If not, find one that does and make sure that the taxi-driver turns on the meter.

Do not agree to a fixed price with a taxi driver unless you are sure of the going rate for the distance you will cover, for example, for going to the airport or an industrial development zone. The flag fall fare (usually for the first 3km) can start as low as RMB5 in smaller or more remote cities and go up to RMB12.5 in Shenzhen.

It is always a good idea to get the address of your destination written down in Chinese so that you can show the taxi driver. Knowing the nearest crossroads is essential so that the driver can indentify your destination. Failing this, use your mobile phone to call the people you are meeting and ask them to give directions directly to the driver – just pass him or her your phone. Always ask for the receipt, or fapiao when paying your fare: this can be helpful if you leave something in the taxi, or if you wish to make a complaint. Avoid using RMB 100 notes to pay, as the drivers do not always have change: keep a supply of small banknotes for paying for taxi trips.

Beijing taxis
Beijing taxis are divided into three categories: the top end, charging RMB 12 for the first three km and thereafter RMB 2 per km; and the mid- to low-range taxis, both RMB 10 for the first three km (RMB 11 after 11pm), charging RMB 1.60 or RMB 1.20 per further km.The luxury category cars are easy to spot, as they are usually black VW Santana or Mercedes found at the 5-star hotels, and they should be immaculate, inside and out. They feature a blue “Y2.00″ stick on the back side-window. At the other end of the spectrum, the smaller taxis are mainly red, and are divided into two types “Y1.60″ and “Y1.20″ taxis. Go with the RMB 1.60 Citroën taxis.Be warned that seat-belts may not work or will be dirty in the cheaper taxis. Becoming a taxi driver in Beijing seems to be the dream of many out-of-towners, and despite the competition, there are more and more taxis available. The drawback is that you may find yourself with a driver who does not know the city at all – if in doubt, change taxis.

Shanghai taxis
Shanghai taxis, on the other hand, are almost always clean, smart and almost guaranteed to get you there efficiently. As a bonus, the drivers are usually polite (there are of course exceptions to this rule). If you can, choose the taxis with the red star on their roof, as this means that they have won awards for good service. The color of taxis varies depending on different companies. The colors to go for – aquamarine (Dazhong), gold (Qiangsheng) and green (Bashi).Airport taxis A special mention is needed for these. Most airports have a taxi rank, and it should be a painless procedure if there is a queue. Be aware that some people will try to jump the queue.

Do not take taxi rides from touts who offer their services in or near the airport terminal – they will probably overcharge and you will wait just as long or longer. You will also have no recourse if there is a problem or misunderstanding. Some taxi drivers may seem unwilling to take you if you are not traveling far – often they have to wait a long time and may prefer to wait even longer for a better fare. Just smile and be good-humored.

Renting a car
It is now possible to rent a car without a driver in several cities. If you know your way around and are confident in Chinese traffic, this is obviously a convenient way of getting around, particularly if you are traveling to out-of -town industrial or development zones.