Job Discussion Forums

jeffinflorida · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject: Hitchhiking in China

Does anyone Hitchhike in China? I traveled through the Middle East recently and hitchhiking seems to be an acceptable means of travel in some countries.

In China? What's the correct method - assuming you can hitchhike. Thumb out or hand/arm extended?

tofuman · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 937

Dear Jeff,

I can not imagine how the public image of Westerners is going to be enhanced by hitchikers in China.

There is a certain self-respect harbored by the Chinese that makes begging, etc., loathsome to most of them. I once offered some food to workmen seeking employment and the one who accepted it was shunned by his peers. Beggars that I have befriended tell of being slapped and spat upon by their non-charitable countrymen.

The safety and security of foreigners is an important issue in my area. Hitchiking, by its very nature, compromises your safety and security.

It is possible that you might get some good rides from people who want you to talk English to their aspiring genius.

If you speak Chinese well enough to explain your actions to actions to the local police and let people know where you are going, you may make some progress in your travels; however, hitchiking around China is not a good idea. You might consider bicycling instead.

Old Dog · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 564 Location: China

I suspect that, were you to attempt hitchhiking in our area, 99 out of every 100 vehicle drivers would think you were a deranged foreigner and would speed away. The 100th car would stop but you may be sure it would be a PSB car which would escort you to the nearest bus station.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

I wouldn't advise it, as if you're on your own, they'll tend to distrust you and/or pass you by. If you're in a group of other foreigners, they'll attempt to overcharge you every step of the way.

Once upon a time, a bunch of us FTs went drinking in a suburban town during SARS. Earlier, the company we worked at went ballistic about employees leaving town and coming back due to border closure and quarantine issues. We still wanted to get away from the city, but as long as we didn't cross the Shanghai border into neighboring provinces, we were OK.

So I picked a place called 'She shan', the only mountain in Shanghai, and we took a cab a few km east to a quaint town with old restaurants, canals, and markets. We picked a restaurant and drank a whole lot of pijiu.

Afterwards, we faced a dilemma: How to get back downtown in a couple hours before our evening classes started? One guy in our group had this bright idea to hitch-hike with a local in his mian bao van, but in retrospect it wasn't very bright. He tried out his Mandarin, after drinking it was easier! The guy understood and we agreed on 100 kuai for the 4 of us. Well, midway through, the driver doubles the price.

A huge argument ensures. Luckily, having us 4 loud and tipsy guys in the back of a van tended to sway the discussion in our favor, and we fiercely insisted on the original price. However, the driver dropped us off about 5km further away than we wanted.

By then, we were OK to get back, but this was a lesson to be learned.

Steve

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

By sticking your thumb out..you will likely get more than one car, bike or motorcycle to pull over ..and when you ask for a ride they will inform you of the price. It is not hitchhiking here...it is hiring a ride.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:53 am Post subject: LOL

I am dying with these replies...

Having recently spent 4 months in Israel I consider hitchhiking A means of transportation. Everyone does it - soldiers, single women, teens, and even the Hassids and other deeply religious types.

I hitched several times and got picked up every time within 10 minutes.

I picked up hitchers on a regular basis. Soldiers always got picked up - I figured I would feel safer with a passenger who had an m-16 with him - or her.

So, I guess nothing in China is free and hitching is not the best idea.

Thanks for your input.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Norman Bethune · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 731

echo2004sierra · Joined: 12 Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Location: prc

I don't know if you can hitchhike in China. There is one way to find out and that is to try it or ask the PSB about it.

ryleeys · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 1101

Hitchhiking to me is such a revolting idea that my brain rejects it like it would a monkey kidney. I simply can't see how this should be an option.

First off, in any country in the world, putting yourself in that sitution is just asking for trouble. Everyone does it? Yeah well, everyone smokes too and we all know that at some point it is going to jump up and bite you in the ass. Oh yeah, go check out the Time Asia archives; there are some great articles on the rise of serial killings in China.

Second, China is cheap! I mean cheap! As in, cheap! I couldn't begin to tell you if hitchiking is legal or not, but look at it this way... if you're hitchhiking, you're costing some taxi his family's dinner money for the day. And what kind of job do you have that you can't afford the US$2 to get across town? Or even the US$100 (it sounds like a lot, but think of the distance) to take a train from Guangzhou to Beijing? I'm sure a bus would be cheaper. The point is, if you can't afford to get around in the country, maybe you need to rethink your plans and consider working at a job a bit more until you can.

Hitchhiking = probably the worst idea next to standing up under Mao's picture alternating Falun Gong prayers with readings from Adam Smith.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

NateM · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 358

I've never hitchhiked in China, and in general my guess is that trying to do so just wouldn't work. I think if you stuck your thumb out people would just assume you were trying to hail a cab, and so the only people who would stop would be those who wanted to sell you a ride.

At the same time, I have stayed the night at random Chinese people's houses instead of searching for a hotel, which I don't think is really all that much different in terms of threats to personal safety. It's just the way it's percieved culturally here.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

The Chinese haven't had private cars until recently, so owning a car doesn't have the same meaning here. A car is a utilitarian vehicle, and utilitarian vehicles are cheaper than luxury limos. The latter are snapped up by the authorities - ever wondered why the cops drive Lexuses and SUVs but Joe Publics own Nissan vans? Yes, some do have a BMW - but you wouldn't want to be seated in their car when the owner drives it in his normally drunken state after a session at the local karaok.

The funny thing is that I did get offers of free rides: once even by a cabbie! He had known me, or so he said, and was driving his Santana during off time; he didn't charge me, of course.
Another time I was given a free ride on board a transporter, and I was mightily impressed: the driver was a blue-collar worker who happened to know that I was "that teacher at this town's No. 2 kindergarten"...

But normally well-groomed city slickers would stop their silvery Santana, roll down the window and shout "qu nali" Wo qu Guangzhou!" If you accept their "invitation" you will soon regret it: they are business types that stupidly believe any foreigner is dumb enough to pay to them more than you would pay for a taxi ride on the same road!

Besides, in China you should not be too trusting! It often is the car driver that's the problem, less the hitch-hiker! Once I flagged down a cruising cab at 3 a.m.; there simply was no alternative for me, and the cab had the "free" sign on...
When I boarded it I had to negotiate a deal; he refused, of course, to turn on the meter.
A couple of hundred meters into my journey on board this taxi I suddenly became aware of the presence of another person in the rear. I was seated in front - and the female passenger on the back seat had obeyed the cabbie's instruction to duck her head.
Imagine that passenger had been a wanted criminal or a man in criminal cahoots with that cabbie...

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

I'll just pile on here (~tweet~ 15 yards)

Agree with all the foregoing. Forget hitchhiking in China. If you're standing there with your thumb out, they'll assume you are trying to flag a taxi. If a non-taxi stops, (aka "black taxis") he'll assume you're willing to pay for the ride. Be prepared to bargain.

My Chinese friends tell me to beware of the "black taxis", but I have used them when it's tough to get a taxi - shift-change time in large cities or when it's pouring rain - and actually, I am happy to pay them because they stopped. Always it has been when I need a taxi to get to a private class and when I tell them I am a teacher, they charge me no more than what a regular taxi would have. Handing them a cigarette when you get in helps. (Cigarettes are the basic/basest level of guanxi in China. Even if you don't smoke, buy a pack of ZhongHuas and carry them with you.)

100% of the 20 or so times this has happened to me, it turns out the guy is just a driver for a company or a hotel or big restaurant and he is on his way back after dropping off his boss/customer/client and wants to pick up an extra 10-20 RMB pocket change off-the-books on his way back to the "shop". The free cigarette is a bonus to him. (Ni shi zhong guo tong!)

Remember: The only free thing in China is the occasional "guanxi cigarette". And advice from other foreign teachers.

Mei guanxi.

As always, ymmv (your mileage may vary).