Travel Essentials
How to Use Didi in China
Learn how foreign travelers can use Didi in China, including registration, international cards, pickup points, airport rides, driver communication and common problems.
Didi is one of the easiest ways to get around Chinese cities when you do not want to use the metro.
For international travelers, it solves one of the biggest problems of taking a traditional taxi:
you enter your destination before the driver arrives.
That means you do not need to pronounce a Chinese street name correctly or explain your hotel address from the back seat.
Foreign travelers can use Didi with supported overseas mobile numbers and international payment methods.
You can also access ride-hailing services through Alipay and WeChat, so downloading the standalone Didi app is useful but not always essential.
The Short Version
For most travelers:
- Install Didi or open ride-hailing inside Alipay
- Register with your mobile number
- Add a supported payment method
- Confirm your pickup location
- Enter your destination
- Choose a ride type
- Check the car's license plate before getting in
- Follow the in-app route
- Pay through the app
The hardest part is usually not the ride itself.
It is finding the correct pickup point at a large airport, railway station or shopping complex.
Do Foreigners Really Need the Didi App?
Not necessarily.
Chinese official guidance currently lists three common ways for foreign travelers to book ride-hailing services:
- Alipay
- Didi-Greater China
So you have options.
Use Didi if:
- You expect to take several rides
- You want the full ride-hailing interface
- You want clearer access to ride categories and trip details
- You prefer keeping transport in its own app
Use Alipay if:
- You want fewer apps
- You already have Alipay set up
- You only need an occasional ride
For a short trip, either approach can work.
Can Foreigners Register for Didi?
Yes.
Current Chinese official guidance states that the Didi-Greater China app supports foreign users registering with overseas mobile numbers and international credit cards.
You do not need a Chinese mobile number simply to start using the service.
The exact registration screens can vary by app version.
What You Need Before You Start
Have these ready:
- Smartphone
- Working mobile data
- Mobile number capable of receiving verification messages
- Payment method
- Your hotel address
- A map app such as Amap
It is worth registering before your first urgent ride.
Do not make your first Didi setup attempt while standing outside an airport with luggage.
Step 1: Open Didi
You can use:
- The Didi-Greater China app
- Ride-hailing inside Alipay
- Ride-hailing inside WeChat
If you already use Alipay for payments, that may be the easiest place to try first.
In Alipay, official guidance currently directs users through:
Transport → Taxi
The wording may vary slightly by app version.
Step 2: Confirm Your Pickup Location
Didi will use your phone location to suggest where you are.
Do not automatically trust the first pin.
Check:
- Street
- Building
- Entrance
- Side of the road
- Station exit
- Terminal
- Pickup zone
In a normal neighborhood, being 50 meters wrong may be manageable.
At a major railway station or airport, it can put you in an entirely different pickup area.
Pickup Point vs Your Exact Location
This distinction matters.
Your phone may know exactly where you are standing.
But the driver may only be legally or practically allowed to stop at a designated pickup point.
For example, you may be inside:
- Airport Terminal 1
- Railway station arrival hall
- Shopping mall basement
- Tourist attraction gate
while the Didi pickup location is:
- Parking level P2
- Ride-hailing Zone B
- East pickup area
- Gate 5
- North parking lot
Follow the pickup instructions in the app, not just the blue location dot.
Step 3: Enter Your Destination
Search for your destination.
For hotels and major attractions, English names may work.
But it is always useful to have the Chinese name saved too.
For example, save:
- Hotel name in English
- Hotel name in Chinese
- Full Chinese address
If search results look ambiguous, compare them with Amap or your hotel booking.
Do Not Choose a Place Just Because the English Name Looks Right
Different businesses can have:
- Similar translated names
- Multiple branches
- Several entrances
- Several hotels from the same chain
Check the map position before confirming.
A wrong destination can easily mean a 20- or 30-minute detour in a large city.
Step 4: Choose a Ride Type
Available categories vary by city.
Chinese official guidance lists services such as:
- Express
- Taxi
- Premier
- Luxe
You may see additional categories in the app.
Express
Usually the standard ride-hailing option.
This is what most travelers need.
Taxi
Connects you with licensed taxis where available.
Premier
Higher-end vehicles or service.
Luxe
Premium chauffeur-style service in selected cities.
For ordinary city travel:
Express is usually enough.
Step 5: Check the Estimated Fare
Before booking, the app normally shows an estimated price or fare range.
The final price can change because of factors such as:
- Traffic
- Toll roads
- Waiting time
- Route
- Demand
- Airport or special-zone charges
Check the fare before confirming.
Do not assume every journey has a fixed price.
Step 6: Confirm the Ride
Once a driver accepts, the app will show information such as:
- Driver details
- Vehicle
- License plate
- Estimated arrival
- Pickup location
This is the information you should use to identify the car.
The License Plate Is the Most Important Detail
When the car arrives, check the license plate.
Do not get into a car simply because:
- The driver waves at you
- It is the same color
- It stops near your pickup point
Compare the plate shown in the app with the actual vehicle.
If they do not match, do not get in.
Car Colors and Models Can Be Hard to Identify
If you do not read Chinese car brands or model names, that is fine.
The license plate is much easier to verify.
You can also compare:
- Car color
- Driver profile
- Vehicle image where provided
But prioritize the plate.
Step 7: Find the Driver
In a normal street location, this is usually easy.
At complex locations, it may not be.
Common difficult pickup locations include:
- Airports
- Railway stations
- Shopping malls
- Large hospitals
- Exhibition centers
- Tourist attractions
The app may show walking directions to the correct pickup point.
Follow them carefully.
Airports: Do Not Expect the Driver at the Arrivals Door
Many Chinese airports separate:
- Taxis
- Private cars
- Ride-hailing vehicles
- Buses
- Airport transfers
Your Didi may need to meet you in a designated online ride-hailing pickup area.
That can mean walking to:
- A parking garage
- Another floor
- A specific zone
- A numbered pickup lane
This is normal.
Follow airport signs and the pickup instructions shown in Didi.
Railway Stations Can Be Even More Confusing
Large Chinese railway stations may have:
- North square
- South square
- East exit
- West exit
- Underground taxi area
- Online ride-hailing area
- Multiple parking levels
The driver may be physically very close to you but separated by roads, floors or restricted traffic lanes.
Before leaving the station:
- Open Didi
- Check the suggested pickup point
- Follow signs to that area
- Then request the car
This is often easier than booking while you are still standing beside the train platform.
Use the Correct Station Exit
If your railway arrival information suggests:
East Exit
but you walk out through:
West Exit
the driver may not be able to reach you easily.
Chinese stations can be enormous.
Check your pickup zone before choosing an exit.
What If the Driver Calls You?
This is one of the biggest worries for travelers who do not speak Chinese.
Drivers may call because they want to know:
- Exactly where you are
- Which entrance you are using
- What you are wearing
- Whether you can see the vehicle
If you cannot communicate by phone, you have other options.
Use In-App Messages
Didi provides in-app communication features.
Depending on the current version, messaging functions may include translation or common phrases.
Use short, simple messages.
For example:
- I am at Gate 3
- I am waiting at the pickup point
- I do not speak Chinese
- I can see your car
- Please wait
Machine translation works better with simple sentences than long explanations.
Save Useful Chinese Phrases
A few phrases can help.
我不会说中文。
I don't speak Chinese.
我在上车点。
I am at the pickup point.
我在3号门。
I am at Gate 3.
请稍等。
Please wait a moment.
You do not need to memorize them.
Keep them saved on your phone.
What If You Cannot Find the Driver?
First, do not wander randomly.
Check:
- Driver location on the map
- Your pickup point
- Level/floor
- Entrance or gate number
- License plate
- In-app message
At airports and stations, the most common problem is that you and the driver are on different levels or sides of the building.
What If the Driver Cannot Find You?
Send a message with something visible.
For example:
- Gate number
- Exit number
- Hotel entrance
- Shop name
- Building name
If you are at a railway station, “I am at Shanghai Hongqiao Station” is usually not specific enough.
“P6 pickup area, Level B1” is much more useful.
Do Didi Drivers Speak English?
Some do.
Many do not.
You should not assume your driver speaks English.
The advantage of ride-hailing is that you usually do not need much conversation.
The app already provides:
- Pickup point
- Destination
- Route
- Payment
That removes most of the information you would otherwise need to explain.
Step 8: Get in the Correct Car
Before getting in:
- Check the license plate
- Check the car
- Confirm the ride in the app
Once inside, you do not normally need to explain the destination again.
The driver already has it.
Do You Need to Show the Driver Your Hotel Address?
Usually not.
But keeping the Chinese hotel address available is still useful if:
- The map pin is slightly wrong
- The hotel has several entrances
- The driver asks which building
- Road access is restricted
A screenshot of the Chinese address can solve a lot of confusion.
Step 9: Follow the Trip in the App
During the ride, you can see the route on your phone.
This is useful even if you do not know the city.
Do not panic if the car does not follow the exact route you expected.
Routes may change because of:
- Traffic
- Road closures
- One-way streets
- Tolls
- Restricted access
- Temporary diversions
Use the app's trip information rather than trying to judge every turn yourself.
Toll Roads and Extra Charges
Some journeys may include additional charges such as:
- Highway tolls
- Airport tolls
- Bridge or tunnel tolls
- Waiting charges
The exact handling depends on the service and trip.
Check the final fare details in the app.
For airport transfers, toll roads are especially common.
Step 10: Pay for the Ride
Didi supports digital payment.
Current official Chinese guidance states that foreign users can register for Didi-Greater China using international credit cards.
Depending on how you booked, payment may also be handled through:
- Alipay
- Other supported payment methods
The exact options available to you depend on the app and account.
Do You Need Cash?
Not if your digital payment is working.
Didi is designed around app-based payment.
Still, we recommend having another payment method available during your trip generally.
Read next: How to Pay in China as a Foreigner
What If Your International Card Fails?
Try:
- Checking your bank's overseas transaction setting
- Checking your internet connection
- Using another linked card
- Using Alipay
- Using WeChat Pay
- Contacting your bank if needed
This is why setting up more than one payment method before traveling is useful.
Do You Tip Didi Drivers?
Tipping is not normally expected for everyday ride-hailing in China.
You do not need to calculate a percentage tip after the ride.
Simply pay the fare shown through the app.
Can You Rate the Driver?
Yes, ride-hailing platforms normally allow passengers to rate the trip after completion.
You may also be able to report:
- Vehicle issues
- Driver behavior
- Route problems
- Lost property
- Other service issues
Use the in-app support options if something goes wrong.
What If You Leave Something in the Car?
Do not delete the trip information.
Open the completed order and look for:
- Lost property
- Contact driver
- Customer service
- Trip support
The trip record gives the platform the vehicle and driver information needed to help.
This is another advantage of app-based rides over hailing an anonymous vehicle.
Didi vs Traditional Taxi
Both are useful.
Didi
Advantages:
- Destination entered in advance
- Digital trip record
- Estimated fare
- Driver and vehicle information
- App-based payment
- Less verbal communication
Street Taxi
Advantages:
- No need to wait for a matched driver
- Useful when taxis are already waiting outside a hotel or station
- Can sometimes be simpler in areas with designated taxi queues
A taxi is not inherently worse.
Didi is simply easier for many foreign visitors because it reduces the language barrier.
Should You Take a Taxi Queue at the Airport Instead?
Sometimes, yes.
If you arrive:
- Very late
- With poor mobile data
- With several suitcases
- At an unfamiliar terminal
and there is a well-organized official taxi queue directly outside arrivals, that may be easier than navigating to a distant ride-hailing pickup garage.
Do not feel that you must use Didi simply because you installed it.
Choose the easiest legitimate option in the situation.
Didi vs Metro
In major Chinese cities, the metro is often:
- Faster during rush hour
- Much cheaper
- Easier for central routes
Didi is particularly useful when:
- You have luggage
- It is late at night
- Your destination is far from a metro station
- You are traveling in a group
- It is raining
- You are going somewhere difficult to reach by public transport
Use both.
Didi at Rush Hour
Traffic can be heavy in Chinese cities.
During rush hour:
- Wait times may increase
- Fares may increase
- Roads may be congested
- Metro may be faster
Do not assume a car is always the quickest option.
Check Amap or another navigation app first.
Can You Schedule a Ride in Advance?
Didi may offer reservation or scheduled-ride functions depending on the service and city.
This can be useful for:
- Early airport departures
- Important train connections
- Very early mornings
But a scheduled ride does not mean you should plan with zero buffer.
Allow extra time for traffic and pickup.
Airport Ride Timing
Chinese airports can be far from city centers.
When heading to the airport, consider:
- Traffic
- Terminal
- Check-in time
- Security
- Immigration for international flights
Do not calculate departure time using only Didi's current driving estimate.
Add a buffer.
Railway Station Ride Timing
When taking Didi to a railway station, enter the exact station.
For example:
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
not simply:
Shanghai Railway Station
Then check which entrance is appropriate for departures.
Large stations can take time to navigate after you get out of the car.
Read next: How to Take China's High-Speed Trains as a Foreigner
Use Amap Together With Didi
Didi gets you the car.
Amap helps you understand the city.
Before calling a ride, use Amap to check:
- Distance
- Driving time
- Metro alternative
- Correct destination
- Station entrance
- Traffic
This combination can prevent a lot of mistakes.
Read next: Essential Apps for Traveling in China
Common Mistake 1: Booking Before Reaching the Pickup Zone
At an airport or railway station, do not request a car before you know where ride-hailing vehicles can actually collect passengers.
Otherwise the driver may arrive while you are still trying to find the parking garage.
Common Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Hotel Branch
Large hotel chains may have several branches in the same city.
Check:
- Chinese address
- District
- Map location
before confirming.
Common Mistake 3: Ignoring the License Plate
Always match the plate.
Do not rely only on the vehicle color.
Common Mistake 4: Standing on the Wrong Side of the Road
In busy areas, a driver may not be able to cross multiple lanes or make a U-turn easily.
The pickup pin can be very specific.
Stand where the app tells you.
Common Mistake 5: Assuming the Driver Will Speak English
They may not.
Use:
- In-app messages
- Translation
- Saved Chinese phrases
The app already handles most of the trip.
Common Mistake 6: Calling a Ride Without Mobile Data
Didi requires a working internet connection for:
- Matching
- Driver location
- Messaging
- Trip tracking
- Payment
Make sure your China data setup is working first.
Read next: Internet in China: SIM Cards, eSIMs, Wi-Fi & Internet Access
Common Mistake 7: Booking the Car Too Close to a Train Departure
A 20-minute drive does not mean you should leave 25 minutes before the train.
You still need time for:
- Traffic
- Station entrance
- Security
- Walking
- Passport checks
- Boarding
Plan the entire journey, not just the car ride.
First Didi Ride Checklist
Before booking
- Mobile data working
- Payment method working
- Destination confirmed
- Chinese hotel/place name saved
Pickup
- Pickup point checked
- Correct entrance or level confirmed
- Driver location visible
- License plate checked
During the ride
- Destination shown correctly
- Trip visible in the app
- Passport and valuables kept with you
After the ride
- Payment completed
- All luggage collected
- Trip record kept if needed
Airport and Railway Station Checklist
Before requesting the ride:
- Exit the secure/arrival area
- Find signs for ride-hailing pickup
- Check floor or parking level
- Confirm zone number
- Confirm pickup point in Didi
- Only then request the vehicle
This is the single biggest thing that makes Didi easier at major transport hubs.
What We Recommend
For most first-time visitors:
Then either:
- Use Didi inside Alipay
- Or install Didi if you expect to take several rides
Save the Chinese address of your hotel.
Keep Amap available.
And at airports or railway stations, focus on finding the correct pickup zone before booking the car.
Once you are in the vehicle, Didi is usually one of the easiest transport systems to use in China because the two hardest things — explaining where you are and explaining where you want to go — are already handled by the app.
Official Sources
This guide was checked against information published by:
- The State Council of the People's Republic of China
- Official guidance for foreign travelers using online ride-hailing services in China
- A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates
Ride-hailing services, payment methods and app functions can change. Check the current information shown in Didi, Alipay or WeChat when booking a ride.