A policeman checks the inside of a taxi in northwestern Chinese city of Lanzhou. [Photo: Lanzhou Daily]

Taxi drivers in northwestern Chinese city of Lanzhou are banned from eating food that causes bad breath, amid an all-round check-up before the Spring Festival holidays.

The prohibited include raw green onions and garlic, often eaten by people in the north as appetizers and "edible germicides".

Aside from oral hygiene, taxi drivers in the city shall follow a series of checks on their appearances, the Lanzhou Daily reported.

A qualified Lanzhou taxi driver wears clean uniform and gloves, keeps his hair neat and nails well clipped. Male drivers can't shave their heads bald nor keep a beard. Female drivers are not allowed to dye their hair with odd colors or wear heavy make up.

Meanwhile, the driver must keep his cab clean and have all necessary licenses before he can get a qualification certificate from the police for the Spring Festival transport.

Currently, Lanzhou has about 5,000 taxis, which will share a big part of the holiday traffic from late January to early march.

(CRI January 4, 2008)