Write a letter and you will get positive results. Unfortunately, most people are unwilling to take the time to write a letter. Calling the hotline is a waste of time. I learned this lesson a long time ago so I only write letters and they always reply with the punishment that was given to the driver.

So what is the problem at the destination?

If you care to see my letters and the replies I will be happy to show you. I have an entire binder with over 40 letters and replies from all over Yunnan.

xbasd6, one more reason why I don't catch buses in Kunming - if I'm not driving, I catch cabs or walk if the distances aren't too bad. Very occasionally I might catch a bus, but only for relatively short distances and I always guard my pockets like a hawk. Long distance buses are OK, provided they are day time services. Typically night services take longer anyway as the drivers usually decide to rest for a number of hours rather than continue onto the destination and arrive in the middle of the night. No clue why they even bother with night time services given they don't drive through the night like they are supposed to (in Thailand all night time bus services drive through the night with little more than a 15-minute stop for toilets and a meal).

I really can't figure out what you guys do or don't do that doesn't work right - I stop the taxi on the street, tell him where I'm going, when I get there I pay the meter fare plus the 2rmb surcharge that is standard (sometimes I hand over 2.5 rmb), and I'm done. Has worked every single time I've taken a taxi (average probably 3-4 times a week) for the last 10.5 years in Kunming. This has ALWAYS been the case, and I've taken cabs at all hours of the evening (I virtually never take them in the daytime), including say 4AM when I've been very wasted and an easy target for anybody who wanted to rip me off.
I can only think that there's either something wrong with passenger/driver behaviour, or that drivers may take advantage of (or just become confused by) passengers who can't speak clear Chinese, or that something weird happens when you CALL a taxi (I never have).

Perhaps somebody ought to try to actually talk to a cabbie about his/her point of view & experience - my guess is most cabbies, when carrying a fare, wouldn't want to get into it, but maybe this could be done in some way (i.e., a fair, straight-forward interview - maybe a gokunming staffer might try to arrange such an interview, could make a good article).
Busses: I ride them all the time, sometimes with a backpack, never have problems & don't feel I have to watch everything like a hawk. Sorry you got pickpocketed, I'm sure it can happen, but the only bus problems I have is that often I have to stand because the bus is crowded. I stand pretty good, not really differently from everybody else on the bus, who all seem to take it pretty much in stride.

P.S. I am a whitey & obvious foreigner.

'i.e., a fair, straight-forward interview - maybe a gokunming staffer might try to arrange such an interview, could make a good article'

@Alien Yeah like the idea of that :)

@Alien
Great idea for an article. It would be very interesting to hear the taxi drivers' side of the issue.

Backpack in front, looks funny but is safe. BP on the back in a crowded area is like christmas for thiefs... ;)

One of the things i dont like in KM now is the dust/dirt from the crazy construction going on everywhere and the big soul-less apartment compounds... Better living, european/american style for the price of giving away chinese culture.

@Cromson: Sorry, but Chinese crazy constructions have nothing to do with european style. Here they dont care about the basics when constructing and planning skyscrapers, like they cant be too close to each other —> no light on the ground, air turbulences and so on.
The worst thing I've seen so far are the universitiy campuses in Chengong: huge buildings (Albert Speer couldnt have constructed it better), low quality and it makes you feel lost between these building or when crossing a street. When two 8 lane streets create at least 100square metres of of blank asphalt. For me, Chengong is a waste of money and precious ressources.

Live in Chengong and lovin it.

@Kate.Kunming: I meant "like" copied european style... in comparison to using their own chinese style creating something new.

@Cromson: What is "their own Chinese style"?