Beijing Cracks Down on Illegal "Imperial City Tour" Overcharging

Key points

• On September 11, a taxi driver took two passengers on a detour around Tiananmen Square and demanded a flat fare of 120 yuan, suspected of illegal operation.
• Investigation found the driver failed to use the taxi meter as required and charged a flat 120 yuan fare, a typical "Imperial City Tour" overcharging practice; law enforcement imposed an administrative penalty in accordance with the law.
• "Imperial City Tour" is not a legitimate tourism product but a colloquial term for illegal operations by certain taxi drivers who exploit visitors' unfamiliarity with routes and sightseeing needs to solicit passengers around Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, and other scenic areas.
• Common overcharging tactics include: false claims (citing traffic controls or security queues to justify extra charges for "shortcuts" or "fast-track security"), induced spending (recommending food or hutong tours for commissions), and fabricated attractions (packaging ordinary streets as "exclusive imperial viewpoints" with a so-called tour guide fee).
• Ahead of the Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, the Fourth Detachment is deepening its joint enforcement mechanism with local police to enable rapid tip transfer, on-site investigation, and swift handling of violations.
• Next, the Fourth Detachment will focus on key areas around the Forbidden City and Tiananmen, intensifying patrols and crackdowns on taxi violations such as refusal to carry and fare negotiation.
• Beijing transportation enforcement authorities advise that visitors encountering fare negotiation, refusal to carry, failure to use the meter, or detour overcharging can call the 12328 transportation service supervision hotline to file complaints.