In the early spring of 2005, more and more new and good-looking taxis have attracted eyes in Beijing.

All the new taxis have two colors in upper and lower body, one is yellow, the other is red, green, or purple. Starting late last year, old taxis in Beijing began to change. Now, for the first time, two colors are used on taxis and different companies can choose their own colors according to their preferences.

Taxis are regarded as the "name card" of a city. In past years, taxis were basically painted yellow or red. Some foreigners who came to Beijing for the first time wondered why Beijing had so many fire engines on the streets. Especially in the scorching summer, red taxis sometimes induced a fretting mood.

It is believed that brightly colored taxis can provide comfort and easy feeling for passengers. The choice of the color this time also reflected public opinion, as many Beijing citizens voted for their favorite color online.

So far, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou have already changed the colors of their taxis, with different colors representing different companies.

The changed colors of the clothes of Beijing denizens symbolizes China's reform and opening-up policy of the early 1980s, while the change of taxi color now also indicates a more cheerful and confident nation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2005)