On the road

"They say fast food is trash food, that it is unhealthy and that you get sick of the smell and taste after eating so much of it. But it's quick, relatively cheap at about 20 yuan ($3.20) a meal, and it's never far away."

Taxi drivers in Beijing are making more money now than they were when he began driving, he says, because the government has raised fares, and mobile applications for calling taxis have added an average of 1,000 yuan a month to drivers' income.

"For a cabbie, Beijing is already a lot different from what it was two years ago. We used to drive through the city searching for customers, but people come to us now thanks to the taxi apps."

Because Hao spends more than 12 hours a day behind the wheel, he takes every opportunity to stand up to take a break, even when waiting for customers and when having lunch.

"I don't think I will stick at this for too long. Compared with other jobs I'm qualified for, I can make the most money driving a taxi, but you're overwhelmed by chronic ailments, diseases and sickness."

A cabbie Hao knew died of cerebral hemorrhage not too long ago, a result of working around the clock, and he says, "I once drove someone in his 50s who suffered from gout and went through a lot of pain just getting into the taxi. I decided then that I'd never sacrifice my health for wealth."

Hao says he will drive for two more years and make as much money as possible, then find more stable work that offers him more time with his family.

He takes home about 8,000 yuan a month, and he is grateful to have the job, considering his educational qualifications are not competitive in a fierce job market.