The smaller ones are not air conditioned but the larger, more comfortable ones are. The small cars all had anti-robbery partitions in them as robberies of taxi drivers are getting to be a real problem. The larger cabs must be too expensive for criminals as they did not have such partitions. The drivers are not very good at finding their way around and it is recommended that you have your destination written in Chinese characters and get your own directions. For instance, we were asked as passengers by the cab driver how to get from the Old City to the Bund, the two most popular spots in Shanghai.
Traffic is a nightmare.
There were still policemen standing on boxes in intersections trying to keep order. The picture of one enormous traffic circle in Xujaihui, a commercial center, with about 12 different streets funneling into it, will remain with me forever. There is no roundabout in the middle and it is packed with cars, pedestrians, bicycles, buses, and other assorted vehicles, including baby carriages. Give yourself ample time to go anywhere or to get a cab. It is wise to reserve one on a hot day.