Taking taxis and DiDi in China without speaking Chinese

Can foreigners use DiDi in China?

Yes. As of October 2026, DiDi's mainland China app has an English interface, lets you sign up with a foreign mobile number and accepts international bank cards such as Visa and Mastercard. China's official 2026 guide for foreign visitors lists three ways to book: the DiDi app, the ride-hailing service inside Alipay, and DiDi inside WeChat. Each one shows a fare estimate, the car and the driver before you get in, which is why ride-hailing (网约车, wǎngyuēchē) is the least stressful option for most first-time visitors.

In the DiDi app you choose a service level: Express is the everyday private-car option, Taxi books a regular metered cab, and Premier and Luxe send nicer cars for a higher fare. Make sure you install the China app; DiDi's apps for Australia or Latin America are separate products.

How do I order a DiDi ride, step by step?

1. Set your pickupThe app uses your location and often suggests a nearby recommended pickup point (上车点, shàngchē diǎn). If you can walk there, take it: these are spots where cars are allowed to stop.
2. Enter the destinationType the place in English or pinyin, or better, paste the Chinese name and address from your hotel booking. Check that the pin lands on the right building before you confirm.
3. Pick a car type and confirmEach option shows an estimated fare. Once a driver accepts, the app shows the driver's name, the car model and color, and the plate number.
4. Watch the car arriveFollow the car on the map. Drivers often call or message when they are close; if a phone call in Chinese is too much, reply in the in-app chat instead.
5. Check the plate, then get inCompare the plate (车牌号, chēpái hào) with the app before you open the door. Many drivers confirm the booking by asking for the last four digits of your phone number.
6. Let the app charge youWhen the trip ends, the fare goes to the card on file, and the trip record (route, fare, driver) stays in the app.

Pickups are where most of the talking happens, so it pays to practice the pickup conversation before your trip. These are the lines you are most likely to need:

Why can't my driver find me?

Most failed pickups come down to the pin. GPS drifts between tall buildings, large malls and stations have many entrances, and a lot of city roads have railings or no-stopping zones, so the driver may be stuck on the other side of the street. A few habits fix most of it:

• Walk to a recommended pickup point instead of dropping a pin in the middle of a building.
• At a hotel, wait at the main entrance (酒店门口, jiǔdiàn ménkǒu); at a metro station, go up to street level and name the exit, such as Exit B or Exit 3.
• Message rather than call. A short text like 我在门口等您 ("I am waiting at the entrance") is easier for both of you than a phone call.
• If the car cannot stop where you are, move the pin in the app rather than making the driver guess.
• Tell the driver what you look like or wear if the area is crowded.

How do I take a regular taxi in China?

Licensed taxis (出租车, chūzūchē) are still easy to find at hotels, stations and on main roads. Raise your hand at the curb; a lit 空车 (kōngchē, "vacant") sign behind the windshield means the cab is free. The fare runs on the meter (打表, dǎbiǎo), and if the driver does not start it, point at it and ask.

Have the destination ready in Chinese. Show the Chinese address from your booking, or use the address card to display it in large characters. Then say 我要去这个地址 (Wǒ yào qù zhège dìzhǐ), "I want to go to this address." If the driver is unsure, ask them to follow the navigation app. The destination and route lesson covers the rest of the ride, from traffic to "please pull over."

How do I pay a taxi, and can I get a receipt?

DiDi and other app rides charge your linked card automatically, so there is nothing to do at the end. In a street taxi you pay when you arrive: most drivers show a QR code for you to scan with Alipay or WeChat Pay, or they scan the payment code in your app. Cash in yuan still works, but carry small notes because drivers may be short of change.

Paying a cab by card depends on the city. Shanghai's government says many Shanghai taxis now have card machines that take foreign cards, a rollout that began in 2024. In most other places, plan on Alipay, WeChat Pay or cash.

Ask for a receipt (小票, xiǎopiào) when you pay. A printed taxi receipt normally shows the cab's number, which is your best lead if you leave something behind. For app rides, the trip record in the app shows the route, fare and driver; screenshot it if you need it for expenses. If the route uses a toll road, the toll may be added on top of the meter, so ask before you set off if you are unsure. The payment and receipt lesson has the words for fares, meters and overcharges.

How do airport taxi queues work in China?

At major airports and railway stations, taxis load from an official rank. After customs, follow the signs marked 出租车 (chūzūchē) or Taxi to the queue outside arrivals, where staff direct each passenger to the next car. Ride-hailing cars use a separate, signed pickup area (网约车上车点, wǎngyuēchē shàngchē diǎn), often in or next to the parking garage. Find that area first, then order your DiDi so the driver is not waiting at the wrong door.

The Leaving the Airport lesson practices exactly this moment: finding the taxi stand, the metro or the ride-hailing point, and showing your hotel address.

Is DiDi safe for foreign travelers?

Ride-hailing and licensed taxis are an everyday way to get around Chinese cities, and the usual big-city precautions cover most risks. DiDi's app has a safety section with trip sharing and an emergency button; open it once before your first ride so you know where everything is.

• Share your live trip with a friend or travel partner from the app.
• Sit in the back and wear your seat belt.
• Keep your phone charged: a dead phone means no map, no chat and no way to pay.
• If you feel unsafe, say 请马上停车 (Qǐng mǎshàng tíngchē), "Please stop the car now," and get out somewhere busy. In an emergency, call 110 for the police; our emergency numbers guide explains what to say.
• Left something in the car? Contact the driver or customer service through the trip in the app. For a street taxi, the number on your receipt helps the taxi company find the car. The lost items and safety lesson has the phrases for both.