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Beijing Cabbie Recalls a Special Fare: China’s Leader Beijing Cabbie Recalls a Special Fare: China’s Leader
(35 minutes later)
HONG KONG - It took a Beijing taxi driver, Guo Lixin, a while to realize that the chatty passenger with a fleshy face was more than the average fare. Cabs in China’s capital are notoriously hard to flag down, but chauffeur-borne senior officials rarely need a ride, and even less does the country’s top leader.HONG KONG - It took a Beijing taxi driver, Guo Lixin, a while to realize that the chatty passenger with a fleshy face was more than the average fare. Cabs in China’s capital are notoriously hard to flag down, but chauffeur-borne senior officials rarely need a ride, and even less does the country’s top leader.
On Thursday, though, Mr. Guo catapulted to momentary celebrity when a Hong Kong newspaper described his encounter last month with the Chinese Communist Party chief Xi Jinping, who took a $4.40 ride from an inner-city neighborhood known for its bars to a hotel on the west side of town.On Thursday, though, Mr. Guo catapulted to momentary celebrity when a Hong Kong newspaper described his encounter last month with the Chinese Communist Party chief Xi Jinping, who took a $4.40 ride from an inner-city neighborhood known for its bars to a hotel on the west side of town.
The cabbie did not recognize Mr. Xi when he climbed in with a colleague on the night of March 1, he told Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese-language Hong Kong newspaper that often reports favorably on the mainland government. That came later, while idling at a red light.The cabbie did not recognize Mr. Xi when he climbed in with a colleague on the night of March 1, he told Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese-language Hong Kong newspaper that often reports favorably on the mainland government. That came later, while idling at a red light.
“I turned to take a close look,” Mr. Guo told the paper. “This passenger was wearing a black jacket and had a large face, he looked very familiar.”“I turned to take a close look,” Mr. Guo told the paper. “This passenger was wearing a black jacket and had a large face, he looked very familiar.”
“Wow, now I saw who it was,” he recounted “I asked, ‘When you take a cab has anyone ever said you look like a certain man? Anyone ever said you look like General Secretary Xi?’ He listened and laughed and said, ‘You’re the first taxi driver to recognize me’.”“Wow, now I saw who it was,” he recounted “I asked, ‘When you take a cab has anyone ever said you look like a certain man? Anyone ever said you look like General Secretary Xi?’ He listened and laughed and said, ‘You’re the first taxi driver to recognize me’.”
Mr. Guo was “a little overwhelmed” to realize that the top leader, usually swaddled in security, was sitting next to him. “For at least three minutes, sweat poured from my head,” he said.Mr. Guo was “a little overwhelmed” to realize that the top leader, usually swaddled in security, was sitting next to him. “For at least three minutes, sweat poured from my head,” he said.
Along the five-mile journey, Mr. Xi asked about the problems that he has vowed to take on since taking the top party post in November. His ‘'incognito trip'' appeared to be part of his campaign to win over citizens disenchanted by acrid pollution, a stubborn wealth gap, official corruption and a political master-class that seems to many citizens as aloof as pharaohs. It was quickly featured on many Chinese news Web sites citing the Ta Kung Pao report and confirmed by Xinhua, the state news agency. Along the five-mile journey, Mr. Xi asked about the problems that he has vowed to take on since taking the top party post in November. His ‘'incognito trip'’ appeared to be part of his campaign to win over citizens disenchanted by acrid pollution, a stubborn wealth gap, official corruption and a political master-class that seems to many citizens as aloof as pharaohs. It was quickly featured on many Chinese news Web sites citing the Ta Kung Pao report and confirmed by Xinhua, the state news agency.
Mr. Xi asked the taxi driver about the problems that he has vowed to take on since taking the top party post in November. The burst of Chinese state media reports about his “incognito trip” appeared to be part of his campaign to win over citizens disenchanted by acrid pollution, a stubborn wealth gap, official corruption, and a political master-class that seems to many citizens as aloof as pharaohs.
Like one of the ancient Chinese emperors reputed to sneak out to meet ordinary people, Mr. Xi asked the cabbie what he thought of the government. According to the report, Mr. Guo loyally blamed problems on erring local officials, rather than the party leadership.Like one of the ancient Chinese emperors reputed to sneak out to meet ordinary people, Mr. Xi asked the cabbie what he thought of the government. According to the report, Mr. Guo loyally blamed problems on erring local officials, rather than the party leadership.
“I said that Beijing had had many days of haze this year and that air pollution is extremely serious these days, and this has triggered social panic and ordinary people are complaining,” Mr. Guo said.“I said that Beijing had had many days of haze this year and that air pollution is extremely serious these days, and this has triggered social panic and ordinary people are complaining,” Mr. Guo said.
“I spoke my mind and said, ‘Now the party’s policies are all good, and the ordinary people support them,” he recalled. “But sometimes some policies don’t reach down the grassroots, they get distorted and aren’t implemented, and ordinary people have their complaints.’ The general secretary said, ‘Thank you for your faith in the party’.”“I spoke my mind and said, ‘Now the party’s policies are all good, and the ordinary people support them,” he recalled. “But sometimes some policies don’t reach down the grassroots, they get distorted and aren’t implemented, and ordinary people have their complaints.’ The general secretary said, ‘Thank you for your faith in the party’.”
Since succeeding Hu Jintao as top party leader in November, Mr. Xi has made a succession of down-to-earth gestures setting him apart from Mr. Hu, a stiffly austere politician who flinched from spontaneity. Mr. Xi succeeded Mr. Hu as president in March. Mr. Xi has demanded an end to banquets on the government bill, and told officials to stop having the police close off roads when they travel.Since succeeding Hu Jintao as top party leader in November, Mr. Xi has made a succession of down-to-earth gestures setting him apart from Mr. Hu, a stiffly austere politician who flinched from spontaneity. Mr. Xi succeeded Mr. Hu as president in March. Mr. Xi has demanded an end to banquets on the government bill, and told officials to stop having the police close off roads when they travel.
The Ta Kung Pao newspaper thought enough of Mr. Xi’s ride to put up a special site, showing a map of his journey and pictures of Mr. Guo’s modest brick and concrete home in the rural northeast outskirts of Beijing. The report did not say whether the party authorized the report, or why it appeared now. Many popular Chinese Internet news websites featured the newspaper’s report of Mr. Xi’s trip.The Ta Kung Pao newspaper thought enough of Mr. Xi’s ride to put up a special site, showing a map of his journey and pictures of Mr. Guo’s modest brick and concrete home in the rural northeast outskirts of Beijing. The report did not say whether the party authorized the report, or why it appeared now. Many popular Chinese Internet news websites featured the newspaper’s report of Mr. Xi’s trip.
Mr. Xi’s political theater in his first months in power appears designed to raise expectations of economic and social change, while assuring the powerful that one-party power will remain inviolable, said Minxin Pei, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in California who specializes in Chinese politics.Mr. Xi’s political theater in his first months in power appears designed to raise expectations of economic and social change, while assuring the powerful that one-party power will remain inviolable, said Minxin Pei, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in California who specializes in Chinese politics.
“On the one hand, he wants to give people some hope that he is going to be different,” Mr. Pei said. “On the other hand, he does not want to alarm those people who put him there.”“On the one hand, he wants to give people some hope that he is going to be different,” Mr. Pei said. “On the other hand, he does not want to alarm those people who put him there.”
“These are good PR moves, but they do not go anywhere near the heart of the problems, which is this immense control of economic resources and unbelievable privileges,” he said. “The real test is yet to come, and Mr. Xi does not have a lot of time.”“These are good PR moves, but they do not go anywhere near the heart of the problems, which is this immense control of economic resources and unbelievable privileges,” he said. “The real test is yet to come, and Mr. Xi does not have a lot of time.”
Beijing’s cabbies are a honking, ranting microcosm of the frustrations facing Mr. Xi. The city’s 66,000 taxis take 1.9 million rides every day on average, according to the municipal transport bureau, but residents complain that cabs are difficult to hail down. Taxi drivers complain about stagnant incomes with no holidays, constantly jammed roads, bullying police and government-protected operating companies that take a big slice of their fares.Beijing’s cabbies are a honking, ranting microcosm of the frustrations facing Mr. Xi. The city’s 66,000 taxis take 1.9 million rides every day on average, according to the municipal transport bureau, but residents complain that cabs are difficult to hail down. Taxi drivers complain about stagnant incomes with no holidays, constantly jammed roads, bullying police and government-protected operating companies that take a big slice of their fares.
“I work 12 hours a day and make 4,000 yuan a month” – equal to about $650 – said Wang Yue, a Beijing cab driver from the same area as Mr. Guo. “That is worse than working in a factory, because at least you are close to home when you work in a factory.”“I work 12 hours a day and make 4,000 yuan a month” – equal to about $650 – said Wang Yue, a Beijing cab driver from the same area as Mr. Guo. “That is worse than working in a factory, because at least you are close to home when you work in a factory.”
In February, Mr. Xi promised to fix conditions for Beijing taxi drivers, and this week the city government proposed policies that it said will raise their incomes and make it easier to find a ride.In February, Mr. Xi promised to fix conditions for Beijing taxi drivers, and this week the city government proposed policies that it said will raise their incomes and make it easier to find a ride.
Mr. Guo made sure to ask the Chinese leader for a momento of their ride. Mr. Xi left him with a tip worth 50 cents and slip of paper inscribed with the words, “Wishing you smooth sailing.”Mr. Guo made sure to ask the Chinese leader for a momento of their ride. Mr. Xi left him with a tip worth 50 cents and slip of paper inscribed with the words, “Wishing you smooth sailing.”

Mia Li contributed research from Beijing

Mia Li contributed research from Beijing