Dazhong taxi is offering a new service for women customers from 10pm to 5am in a bid to ensure safe ride for them.

Dubbed "Rose Shield", the service is available from Dazhong Chuxing app or its service hotline 96822. The taxi firm also opened an emergency line 66053950 to help women passengers in the wake of a female passenger murder case allegedly involved a Didi Hitch driver in Zhengzhou City on May 6.

About 200 Dazhong taxis have joined the service. A red ribbon is tied to the rear-view mirror of the cab to distinguish it for the special service.

Those joining the service are ”our best drivers," said Dai Jianhua, director of Dazhong. “When there is no order from female passengers, they will do normal hailing on the street just like others.” All participating taxis must meet the criteria for no violation or complaint record in the past three years.