Originally Posted by //Europe FF

Unfortunately you got stung. If this happens to anyone else, the best thing you can do is take the receipt and ask the hotel to contact the taxi company.

The government takes a negative view on this type of behaviour and the resulting action is swift and severe. There are other reports of this happening and not only does the taxi company come to your hotel and refund the money and apologise, but the driver is also out of a job (drastic? yes, but for an excess fare of ~RMB530 it is worth it to keep people honest).

I think it is safe to say (touch wood) that crimes against westerners are rare and the government wants to keep it that way.