How to use DiDi and taxis in China as a foreigner

Ride-hailing is the easiest way to get around Chinese cities when the metro doesn’t go where you need. DiDi is China’s Uber, and it works for foreign visitors with a foreign phone number and card.

Option 1: the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay (easiest)

If you’ve already set up Alipay with your card, you don’t need to install anything else:

1. Open Alipay and search “DiDi” (滴滴出行).
2. Open the DiDi mini-program and allow location access.
3. Set your pickup point and destination. You can type the destination in English or paste its Chinese name.
4. Choose a ride type and confirm. The fare is paid through Alipay with your linked card.

The mini-program doesn’t have every feature of the full app, but booking and paying work the same. Some Android users find it less smooth; if so, try the standalone app.

Option 2: the DiDi app

DiDi’s own app has an English interface and accepts foreign phone numbers and international cards. Known issues:

• The SMS verification code sometimes doesn’t arrive. Try again later, or use the Alipay mini-program instead.
• Some banks decline the payment the first time. Approve it in your banking app, or pay through Alipay.

WeChat also has a DiDi mini-program (Discover → Mini Programs → search “DiDi”), and the Amap maps app can book DiDi and regular taxis too.

Tips that make rides easier

• You need mobile data to book. An eSIM set up before you arrive solves this.
• Drivers may call you in Chinese. Use the in-app chat instead; it translates messages.
• Check the plate number before you get in. The app shows it, along with the car model and colour.
• Have your destination in Chinese as a screenshot, for when a driver wants to confirm.
• Pickup points matter. Big stations and malls have designated ride-hailing pickup areas, and the app usually suggests one.

Taxis on the street

Regular taxis are plentiful and metered. Most now accept QR-code payment with Alipay or WeChat, and cash is still legal. Show the driver your destination in Chinese characters: many don’t read English.

At the airport: avoid the touts

At arrival halls, ignore anyone who approaches you offering a taxi. Follow the signs for the official taxi rank or for Online Car Hailing (网约车), the designated DiDi pickup area. Unofficial drivers often charge many times the normal fare.

Getting to your hotel on the first night

If you’re arriving late or tired, a pre-booked airport transfer is the least stressful option: the driver waits with your name on a sign and the price is fixed. You can book one on Klook. And book a hotel close to a metro station: see where to stay.