How to Use Didi in China (Setup + Calling a Ride)

Didi is China's Uber. It's cheaper than taxis, safer than flagging random cars, and works entirely in English. Once you have it set up, getting around any Chinese city becomes incredibly easy — even without speaking a single word of Mandarin.

⏱ 10 min setup📅 Updated September 2026✅ Works in English

Setup Guide → How to Call a Ride →

⚠️ Never Get Into an Unlicensed Taxi

At major airports and tourist areas, people will approach you offering a "taxi" or "cheap ride." These are unlicensed drivers who charge 3–5× the normal rate and sometimes take you to the wrong place. Always use Didi — it's tracked, rated, and safe.

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Part 1: Set Up Didi Before You Fly

Download

Get Didi from App Store or Google Play

Add Payment

Link Alipay or a card

Test

Try a trip on day one

1Download Didi China from App Store or Google Play — search "DiDi" (two capital D's)
2Tap "Sign Up" and enter your international phone number with country code
3Enter the SMS code you receive and create a password
4Go to Me → Wallet → Add Payment Method
5Add Alipay (recommended) or a foreign credit card directly
6Set English as your app language: Me → Settings → Language → English

💡 Best Payment Setup

Link your Alipay account to Didi — it's the smoothest. If you haven't set up Alipay yet, do that first. International cards also work directly in Didi but Alipay is more reliable.

🍎 App Store ▶ Google Play

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Part 2: How to Call a Didi Once You're in China

1Open Didi and tap the destination field at the top
2Type your destination in English — Didi finds it (or paste from Amap)
3Choose your car type — Express is cheapest, Premier is a nicer car
4Confirm your pickup location by dragging the pin to exactly where you are
5Tap "Confirm Booking" — a driver accepts within 1–3 minutes
6Watch the car approach on the map. Check the plate number matches when the car arrives.
7Payment processes automatically through Alipay when you arrive — no personal payment needed (My friend got scammed before!)

💡 The Magic Message — Copy This

If your driver calls you (they sometimes do to confirm pickup location), send this WeChat or SMS message:

我是外国人，不会讲中文。请按照APP上的地址来。
(I'm a foreigner, I don't speak Chinese. Please follow the address in the app.)

Copy and paste — 99% of drivers understand and simply follow the app. Works every time.

Didi Tips & Common Situations

📍 Pickup Problems

Pin your exact location on the map or let it auto-detect (it usually shows you your nearest pickup location)
At busy areas (malls, stations), walk to the Didi pickup zone marked with 网约车 signs
Send your driver a photo of where you're standing if they seem confused
If they cancel, just book again — it takes 30 seconds

💰 What Does Didi Cost?

Short city ride (5km): ¥15–25 (~$2–4 USD)
Airport to city centre: ¥60–120 (~$8–16 USD)
Surge pricing applies during rain, rush hour, and public holidays
The price depends, but always much cheaper than licensed taxis at airports

🚖 Didi vs Taxi

Didi: tracked, rated, English app, payment automatic ✅
Taxi: can hail on street, driver may not have app, may not safe
Taxi meters are honest — just harder to communicate address
Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese to show taxi drivers

⭐ Rating Your Driver (optional)

Rate after your trip — some drivers care about their ratings
4.8+ rating = good driver, worth selecting from the list
You can also rate a bad experience — Didi platform takes complaints seriously
Your passenger rating matters too — be ready on time