With many commuters around Shanghai city complaining that it is difficult, if not impossible, to hail a cab at this time of year, Shanghai Daily talked to a few veteran cabbies for their advice on finding an empty taxi.

The first bit of advice seems obvious - avoid travelling during rush hours if at all possible.

Unfortunately, that is often easier said than done.

Liu Mingsheng, a 45-year-old taxi driver with eight years behind the wheel, said morning rush hour runs from 7am to 9am, while the busiest period in the evening is from 4:30pm to about 8:30pm.

During the Spring Festival season, he warns, late nights are also busy as many people attend parties to mark the lunar New Year.

He suggests trying to avoid travelling between 10pm and midnight.

The toughest places to find a cab, our panel of drivers said, are business centers, transportation hubs and commercial areas.

Drivers recommend waiting outside a star-rated hotel as most have signed contracts with taxi operators to allow them to wait for passengers there in exchange for ensuring a supply of cabs during peak hours.

This tip is especially useful between 5pm and 6pm, they said.

Some drivers recommend waiting outside busy shopping malls so you can hope into a cab as someone else is getting out. The front gates of large residential complexes are also good places to wait, they said.

If you can't get a taxi on a major road, wander over to a sidestreet where there are fewer people trying to hail cabs, one driver suggested.

For early morning trips, commuters can book a taxi by phone the previous day.

"But remember to call early and don't delay the calls too late to around 9 or 10 in the evening as it's difficult for us to arrange cars by then," said Cheng Lin of Shanghai Qiangsheng Taxi Co Ltd.

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