Hundreds of brand new taxis adding glamour to Chongqing’s landscape at the confluence of the two rivers (Photographed by Li Hua)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Recently, a batch of “Chongqing Ferraris” (yellow taxis) parked at Danzishi Wharf have been popular because they are parked in spectacular rows and can be photographed in the same frame as Chaotianmen and Chongqing Grand Theatre.

What are these “Ferraris” for? Why are they parked here? Recently, the reporter from Chongqing Morning Post made a site visit.

It turned out that the cars, 183 in total, belonged to Chongqing Road Transport Group Taxi Company and are used to replace taxis that have reached the date of their retirement. On that day, the Taxi Company staff and the competent department of Road Transport Group were doing an inspection of their conditions, and some of the cars were opened up to the bonnet.

Xie Peng, a staff member of Road Transport Group Taxi Company, told the reporter that the Company has 183 taxis that will be compulsorily retired on May 9, when this batch of cars from the Wharf will be used for drivers to replace and use. The Wharf also is owned by Chongqing Road Transport Group, so it is used temporarily as a stopping point for taxis, and staff have been arranged to guard it day and night. What they didn’t expect was that it would become a popular spot.

At noon that day, not many tourists came to visit. Xie Peng said that the peak time for tourists to visit is at night, and with the night view of Chaotianmen and Grand Theatre, people take a lot of beautiful photos.

He particularly cautioned that because of the rolling river and the cliffs of the embankment outside the Wharf, there was a particular fear that visitors might fall inadvertently in order to visit.

It is learned that from April 22, first 40 vehicles were placed on the Wharf, followed by three more batches to create the current “matrix” of 183 vehicles.

Xie Peng expects the Company to take delivery of the new cars on May 11, when these “Ferraris” will be scattered to all corners of Chongqing.

Many people don’t understand why netizens call these Chongqing taxis “Ferraris”. Some say it has to do with their “amazing” speed and drivers’ skills, some say they are not cheap, and some say it has to do with their eye-catching yellow body... (Translated by Wang Huixin, Fathom Language Limited)