Beijing taxi drivers offer transportation and conversation

Each time a Beijing taxi pulls over when I wave it down, I wonder whether I will learn something new from the driver.

I have done research sitting in both the front passenger seat and the back seat as to which position invites more conversation. I believe that sitting in the front seat tends to make the trip a shared event, joining our karma as the driver and I brave the harrowing trips through Beijing streets.

I have seen accidents. Some were merely fender benders, while others made me thankful for my driver's superior skills. All of them underscored the alertness required to successfully navigate Beijing traffic.