Chinese Taxi Drivers Cut Passengers' Hair and Make Coffee to Survive (10 photos)

Taxi drivers in China are having a tough time right now. Fares are low, competition is fierce, and drivers have to work hard to make ends meet. And the Chinese are trying to outshine their competitors in the most unexpected ways.







A Chinese taxi and a 90s smash in one

A Chinese-style survival race

In 2015, the taxi market began to grow, recruiting new drivers. By 2024, it had grown so much that it was saturated and couldn't extract any more money from users. According to official data, 7.5 million drivers are licensed. Demand can't keep up with supply. On average, there are only about 13 orders per car per day.





A taxi driver in a funny hat

Prices per kilometer off-peak hours sometimes drop below one yuan. After rent, charging, and insurance, drivers earn around 300 yuan for a 12-hour workday. Meanwhile, 60% of drivers are the sole breadwinners in their families. So, if you want to live, you have to be able to make ends meet. Drivers have gone to extreme measures, implementing the concept of "neijuan" (involution) – excessive competition with minimal profits, turning car dealerships into mini-marts.



And in one city, all the bus drivers dressed up as emperors and empresses.

A mobile store selling small items with delivery

Some drivers have focused on retail. Car dealerships are being transformed into "mobile kiosks" where you can buy anything. In Harbin, a driver sold pixel art made from heat-transfer beads, created by his daughter. This saved him money, as he averaged 10 yuan per ride. A single souvenir costs 93 yuan.



Ready-to-eat meals in a freezer bag for sale...

In Sichuan, a driver used his car as a sales outlet for his wife's handicrafts. The man was surprised to admit that sales in the car were even better than in a brick-and-mortar shop. The most outrageous driver was a driver from Shanghai. He hung jade items throughout the car, creating the atmosphere of a jewelry boutique. Passengers were initially alarmed, thinking they'd gotten into the wrong car. It turned out the driver owned a jewelry store, and driving a taxi was just a part-time job for him.



Selling jewelry on the dashboard

Disco, coffee, and a haircut for 8 yuan

Others took steps to enhance the ride experience (and increase the bill). One driver installed a karaoke machine in the backseat, hung a disco ball, and launched a rating system. Passengers sing while scanning a QR code. Those who score 95 points or higher receive a free drink.



Torment the taxi driver with Lesopoval!

One customer, planning a 3 km drive, changed his route after seeing karaoke and picked up two friends along the way. Another entrepreneur opened a coffee shop in his car. Americanos and lattes "from the trunk" cost between 22 and 29 yuan.



Coffee price tags. A coffee machine in the trunk

Some install massage mats on the seats. Two minutes are free, the rest of the ride you can pay extra for. Great deal! In Jiangsu Province, a driver offered hairdressing services. An inexpensive haircut while waiting for a passenger or right during the ride (!!) costs only 8 yuan.



A haircut mirror is installed right in the trunk.

Is this legal?

Of course not. Ride-sharing platforms officially prohibit the sale of goods during service. If the story goes viral online, the driver is punished. And these people don't even have a license to sell food and beverages.



Everything is crammed with candy, so there's no room.

Well, what can you do? It turns out you either cheat or lose the race to those who cheat.