Any foreigner who has lived in Beijing for any length of time knows how difficult it can be to hail a taxi, especially at peak hours when many drivers park their cabs to avoid traffic. Wherever possible make sure you position yourself so that your taxi will already be pointed toward your destination to avoid forcing the driver to do an immediate u-turn. But, if you are with a friend, you may want to double your chances by standing on opposite sides of the street.

When your frantic waving finally does get a taxi to stop, get in as fast as possible, sit down with a determined look on your face and either hand over your written destination or try out your spoken Chinese. A good way to win points with the driver is to address him as shifu (master). Particularly when it gets late, many drivers will refuse passengers heading to remote locations. One way around this is to travel with a friend heading to a closer destination in the same general direction. After your friend is dropped off, the driver will typically give in and take you where you want to go. Otherwise, try to catch a cab when drivers are changing shifts and are happy to take a passenger along as they head out to the suburbs to drop off their cabs.

Be aware that taxi drivers are sometimes weary of taking foreign passengers out of concern that communication difficulties could cost them money. If possible, when flagging down a cab try to stand in areas near five star hotels or with many restaurants as taxis are more likely to be cruising around those locations. Avoid waiting on busy main roads – quieter side streets are a much better bet. Traveling with a Chinese friend can also make things easier. Stand back, let them hail a cab and wait for them to wave you over before you hop in. If you are waiting with a crowd, remember - the first person through the taxi door wins. If it's raining or snowing, you may want to give up on hailing a cab and instead take a bus or subway.

But if you do get settled in the back seat of a cab, you may be surprised by your shifu trying out his English on you. Many taxi drivers took English lessons as part of Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Olympics, and are eager to get more practice. Of course, this is a two way street, and a taxi ride can provide you with an excellent language partner to help you hone your Chinese skills.