Mainland China Ride-Hailing Guide

How to Use DiDi in China as a Foreigner

Install the correct DiDi China app, verify the phone and SMS route, prepare payment, save the exact destination in Chinese, and learn the pickup, vehicle, and order checks before the first ride.

See the Quick Checklist

Take the 2-Minute Readiness Check

First-Ride Plan

Prepare these four parts before the first request

Verify the Correct App

Use the official DiDi China: Ride Hailing listing. Do not treat the separate DiDi Rider listing as the mainland China app.

Complete Account and Payment

Test the exact foreign number, SMS route, English interface, intended card or wallet route, and App help entry.

Save the Exact Destination

Keep the hotel’s Chinese name, full address, phone number, correct branch, district, street, and map position outside the App.

Learn Pickup and Backup

Understand the exact e-hailing pickup zone, vehicle checks, driver messages, order support, and official taxi fallback.

See the Quick Checklist

Take the 2-Minute Readiness Check

Mainland China Ride-Hailing Guide

How to Use DiDi in China as a Foreigner

Install the correct DiDi China app, verify the phone and SMS route, prepare payment, save the exact destination in Chinese, and learn the pickup, vehicle, and order checks before the first ride.

See the Quick Checklist

Take the 2-Minute Readiness Check

First-Ride Plan

Prepare these four parts before the first request

Verify the Correct App

Use the official DiDi China: Ride Hailing listing. Do not treat the separate DiDi Rider listing as the mainland China app.

Complete Account and Payment

Test the exact foreign number, SMS route, English interface, intended card or wallet route, and App help entry.

Save the Exact Destination

Keep the hotel’s Chinese name, full address, phone number, correct branch, district, street, and map position outside the App.

Learn Pickup and Backup

Understand the exact e-hailing pickup zone, vehicle checks, driver messages, order support, and official taxi fallback.

See the Quick Checklist

Take the 2-Minute Readiness Check

Mainland China Ride-Hailing Guide

How to Use DiDi in China as a Foreigner

Install the correct DiDi China app, verify the phone and SMS route, prepare payment, save the exact destination in Chinese, and learn the pickup, vehicle, and order checks before the first ride.

See the Quick Checklist

Take the 2-Minute Readiness Check

First-Ride Plan

Prepare these four parts before the first request

Verify the Correct App

Use the official DiDi China: Ride Hailing listing. Do not treat the separate DiDi Rider listing as the mainland China app.

Complete Account and Payment

Test the exact foreign number, SMS route, English interface, intended card or wallet route, and App help entry.

Save the Exact Destination

Keep the hotel’s Chinese name, full address, phone number, correct branch, district, street, and map position outside the App.

Learn Pickup and Backup

Understand the exact e-hailing pickup zone, vehicle checks, driver messages, order support, and official taxi fallback.

See the Quick Checklist

Take the 2-Minute Readiness Check

QUICK ANSWER

Foreigners can use DiDi in China — but set up the app, payment, and destination before your first ride.

The current DiDi China app offers an English interface, international mobile-number login, bilingual driver messaging, multiple payment options including international bank cards, and in-app English customer support.

Before your first ride, complete SMS verification, confirm your payment method, save the exact destination in Chinese, and check the pickup point. At airports and major railway stations, reach the designated e-hailing area before requesting the ride.

Best first-ride setup: correct app → phone and SMS → payment → exact destination → pickup point → vehicle check → taxi backup.

CORRECT CHINA APP

Use the official DiDi China: Ride Hailing listing and exclude the separate DiDi Rider listing from the mainland China plan.

TEST THE EXACT SETUP

Verify the actual number, SMS route, English interface, payment method, destination, pickup screen, and help entry on the travel phone.

KEEP A TAXI FALLBACK

Save the Chinese destination, identify the official taxi queue, confirm an accepted payment method, and keep RMB cash for emergency transport.

Choose the right DiDi or taxi entry

DiDi China, Alipay, and WeChat can each open a ride-hailing flow, but their accounts, payment methods, menus, and order records are not interchangeable. The separate DiDi Rider listing is not the mainland China app used in this guide.

Entry

Best use

What to verify

DiDi China: Ride Hailing

Main standalone route for this guide

Verify the official name, developer, and store listing; then test foreign-number login, SMS, English, payment, destination search, and help.

Alipay ride-hailing

Backup when the Alipay account and payment route are already prepared

Confirm the current Transport or Taxi menu, location permission, ride screen, payment method, and order record inside Alipay.

WeChat ride-hailing

Backup when WeChat and WeChat Pay are already working

Confirm the current Services, Mobility, or Ride Hailing menu, location permission, payment method, and order record inside WeChat.

Official taxi queue

Independent fallback when the App, account, communication, pickup point, or payment fails

Use the marked queue, show the Chinese destination, confirm the accepted payment method, keep the receipt, and do not follow an unsolicited driver or transport tout.

Finish the setup before you need a car

Opening the App is not enough. Complete the parts that can be checked safely before departure, using the exact phone, number, card, account, and hotel that will be used in China. Do not place an unnecessary live ride merely to test the App.

CORRECT APP

Verify the official China listing

Confirm “DiDi China: Ride Hailing,” the developer, and the official store page; do not rely only on a similar icon or name.

Keep the separate DiDi Rider listing out of the mainland China plan.

NUMBER AND SMS

Complete login with the exact travel setup

Choose the correct country code and test verification or security SMS. If the travel line is data-only, it does not provide SMS on that line unless the provider explicitly says otherwise, and it does not replace messages sent to the original number.

Record which line supplies data and which number receives messages.

LANGUAGE AND MESSAGES

Switch to English and find bilingual messaging

Confirm that booking, driver messages, order details, and help can be read on the device that will be used.

Save the four driver messages from Module 6 outside the App.

PAYMENT

Select one account-specific payment route

DiDi China currently supports multiple payment methods, including international bank cards, but an individual card or transaction can still fail issuer, verification, account, or App checks.

A card added in one route is not automatically added to the other two.

HELP

Find the current English support entry

Locate the 24/7 in-app online English customer-service route before departure.

Do not assume a response time, refund, or dispute outcome is guaranteed.

DESTINATION

Search the real hotel or venue

Confirm the Chinese name, full address, correct branch, district, street, phone number, and map position.

Save the destination in Files or Photos so it remains available without DiDi.

Complete the city-ride chain without losing the order

Use an ordinary city pickup as the base workflow. Airports and large railway stations add separate pickup-zone rules, which are covered in Module 6.

START POINT

Check the data line, location, and pickup pin

Confirm that the pin matches the correct side of the road, entrance, or area where the vehicle can legally stop.

Correct the start point before requesting the ride.

DESTINATION AND SERVICE

Confirm the real destination and suitable vehicle

Check the Chinese branch, district, street, and map position; then review passenger capacity, luggage fit, the displayed estimate, and current fare or service conditions.

A pre-ride estimate is not a guaranteed final fare.

PICKUP POINT

Choose a place where the driver and traveler can meet

Use the App’s named point and compare it with the physical sign or entrance.

Do not request while the location is still uncertain.

REQUEST AND MESSAGE

Wait for a driver and use in-app messages

Keep messages short and use DiDi China’s bilingual messaging where available.

Refer to the exact pickup point shown in the App.

VEHICLE CHECK

Match the order before boarding

Check the driver information, vehicle type, and license plate, and confirm the registered mobile number’s last four digits when required.

Do not enter a vehicle that does not match the order.

FINISH AND GET HELP

Check the completed order before closing the App

Review the final charge, payment status, order record, and available receipt. Open the specific order for a wrong charge, driver problem, complaint, or lost item.

Do not make an undocumented second payment to resolve an App-order problem; call 110 or 120 when immediate assistance is required.

Reach the exact airport or station pickup zone

At a large airport or railway station, a terminal or exit number may not be precise enough. The e-hailing point can be on another level, inside a parking lot, or in a numbered or lettered zone. Follow the current local signs and official instructions rather than applying one station’s route to another.

Stage or message

Action

What to save or send

Before requesting

Collect all luggage, connect to working data, and confirm the terminal or station

Do not request while still inside immigration, baggage claim, or an uncertain exit route.

Follow the signs

Look for “网约车 / E-Hailing,” not only “出租车 / Taxi”

Reach the required floor, parking lot, square, or numbered or lettered zone.

Match the App

Select the pickup point whose name matches the physical sign

Request only after reaching or approaching that exact point.

Message 1

Ask the driver to use in-app messages

我不会说中文，请在App里给我发消息。 / I do not speak Chinese. Please message me in the app.

Message 2

Send the exact transport-hub position

我在___号航站楼，___层，___区／___号上车点。 / I am at Terminal ___, Level ___, Zone / Pickup Point ___.

Message 3

Confirm arrival at the selected point

我已经到App里显示的上车点。 / I am at the pickup point shown in the app.

Message 4

Tell the driver about large luggage

我有___件大件行李，请问后备箱能放下吗？ / I have ___ large bags. Will they fit in the trunk?

Safety and fallback

Recheck the sign, App pin, vehicle details, and messages; use the marked official taxi queue if the pickup remains unclear

Do not follow an unsolicited driver or transport tout.

CHECK YOUR READINESS

Start the Check

Your first ride depends on more than DiDi

Check payment, mobile data, SMS, essential apps, maps, transport, bookings, hotel details, emergency backup, and offline documents in about two minutes.

Start the Check

DiDi first-ride checklist for mainland China

Complete these checks for the exact phone, number, payment route, destination, and pickup location that will be used. Keep the official taxi queue as an independent fallback.

App and account

✓Official DiDi China: Ride Hailing name, developer, and store listing verified

✓Separate DiDi Rider listing excluded from the mainland China plan

✓Correct country code, foreign mobile number, and SMS route checked

✓English interface and bilingual in-app messaging found

✓24/7 in-app online English customer-service route located

Payment and destination

✓Primary route selected separately in DiDi China, Alipay, or WeChat

✓Intended international card or wallet route checked and a second digital route prepared

✓Hotel’s Chinese name, full address, phone number, and booking details saved outside the App

✓Correct branch, district, street, entrance, and map position confirmed

✓Ride screen reviewed safely without placing an unnecessary live order

Pickup and vehicle

✓Current airport or station e-hailing instructions checked where applicable

✓Exact floor, parking lot, square, zone, or pickup-point number identified

✓Ride request delayed until the physical sign and App pickup point match

✓Four bilingual driver messages saved outside the App

✓Driver, vehicle type, license plate, and phone-number last-four-digit checks understood

Backup and help

✓Marked official taxi queue identified and unsolicited drivers or touts excluded

✓Accepted taxi payment method checked and RMB cash prepared for emergency transport

✓Completed-order, receipt, wrong-charge, complaint, and lost-item routes understood

✓Police 110 and ambulance 120 saved for immediate emergencies

✓First ride remains workable if the App, SMS, card, data, or pickup plan fails

DiDi questions for foreign visitors

These answers cover mainland China. App listings, phone verification, SMS, payment methods, service types, pickup zones, fares, and support routes can change, so recheck the exact setup before departure.

Can foreigners use DiDi in mainland China?

Yes. The current DiDi China app supports an English interface, global mobile-number login, bilingual driver messaging, multiple payment methods including international bank cards, and 24/7 in-app online English customer service. These are supported features, not a guarantee that every number, SMS, card, location, or ride request will work: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/didi-china-ride-hailing/id554499054

Which DiDi app should I download?

Use the official “DiDi China: Ride Hailing” listing and verify the developer and official store page. Do not treat the separate “DiDi Rider: Affordable rides” listing as the mainland China app. Recheck store-region availability before departure: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sdu.didi.psnger

Can I register with a foreign phone number?

Global mobile-number login is currently supported, but choose the correct country code and verify that the exact number can receive the required SMS. If the travel line is data-only, it does not provide SMS on that line unless the provider explicitly says otherwise, and it does not replace messages sent to the original number.

Can I pay with an international card, Alipay, or WeChat Pay?

DiDi China currently supports multiple payment methods, including international bank cards, while official visitor guidance also describes Alipay and WeChat ride-hailing routes. Each route has separate account and payment setup, and an individual card can still fail issuer, verification, account, or App checks. Do not assume cash can settle every App order: https://english.www.gov.cn/AssetsZi/A_Guide_to_Working_and_Living_in_China_as_Business_Expatriates_2025.pdf

Can I use DiDi at airports and train stations?

Often yes where service is available, but the required e-hailing area can be on a specific exit, floor, parking lot, square, or numbered or lettered zone. Collect the luggage, connect to data, follow “网约车 / E-Hailing” signs, reach the exact zone, match it to the App, and only then request the ride: https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202510/t20251011_4221241.html

How do I communicate with the driver?

Use DiDi China’s built-in bilingual messaging and keep each message short. Send the exact terminal or station, level, zone, and pickup-point number. Save the four bilingual messages in this guide outside the App as a backup.

Does Uber work in mainland China?

Uber’s current Weixin program cannot be used to request rides in mainland China. It currently serves Weixin users from mainland China when they are visiting Hong Kong or Japan. Prepare DiDi China, an Alipay or WeChat ride-hailing entry, or the official taxi queue instead: https://www.uber.com/global/en/r/weixin-mini-program/

What if the charge is wrong or I leave something in the car?

Open the specific completed order and use the current in-app online English customer-service route for a wrong charge, driver issue, complaint, or lost item. Keep the order record, screenshots, and available receipt. Do not make an undocumented second payment. For immediate danger, call police at 110 or ambulance at 120 instead of waiting for platform support.

China Arrival Handbook

Turn the rest of your China arrival plan into actions

The China Arrival Handbook helps you prepare payment, internet, essential apps, maps, transport, bookings, and offline backup before departure.

Inside the Handbook:

Payment setup steps

Alipay / WeChat Pay preparation checks
First-day transport backup
Hotel address card
Emergency offline cards

Get the China Arrival Handbook — $19

Payment setup steps

Alipay / WeChat Pay preparation checks
First-day transport backup
Hotel address card
Emergency offline cards

Payment setup steps

Alipay / WeChat Pay preparation checks
First-day transport backup
Hotel address card
Emergency offline cards

Inside the Handbook:

The 2-Minute China Readiness Check

Answer 10 practical questions about payment, mobile access, transport, bookings and emergency backup. You’ll receive a readiness score, your top gaps and the China Arrival Readiness Checklist.

Question 1 of 10

Payment

How will you pay after landing?

Choose the option closest to your current setup.

Tap an option to continue

NEED THE FULL SETUP?

Turn your gaps into a practical arrival plan

The China Arrival Handbook gives first-time visitors step-by-step guidance for the systems most likely to cause friction: payments, connectivity, transport, bookings, food, health, emergencies and offline backup.

✓ Attraction advance booking checklist

✓ Connectivity setup guide

✓ Booking confirmation folder setup

✓ Printable offline checklists

✓ Hotel foreign check-in guide

✓ Visa-free / route check guide

✓ Hotel message templates

✓ Health and emergencies

China Arrival Handbook

$19

Best used before you land

Available Soon

NEED THE FULL SETUP?

Turn your gaps into a practical arrival plan

✓ Hotel foreign check-in guide

✓ Visa-free / route check guide

✓ Hotel message templates

✓ Health and emergencies

✓ Attraction advance booking checklist

✓ Connectivity setup guide

✓ Booking confirmation folder setup

✓ Printable offline checklists

China Arrival Handbook

$19

Best used before you land

Available Soon

NEED THE FULL SETUP?

Turn your gaps into a practical arrival plan

✓ Attraction advance booking checklist

✓ Connectivity setup guide

✓ Booking confirmation folder setup

✓ Printable offline checklists

✓ Hotel foreign check-in guide

✓ Visa-free / route check guide

✓ Hotel message templates

✓ Health and emergencies

China Arrival Handbook

$19

Best used before you land

Available Soon

Last fact checked:

July 2026

Fact-checked July 2026 using current DiDi China iPhone and Android listings, the Chinese Government’s 2025 visitor guide, current municipal transport and payment guidance, and Uber’s current mainland China statement. App names, app-store availability, login, SMS, payment methods, service types, pickup zones, fares, support tools, and availability can change. Recheck the exact device, number, card, location, and app flow before departure.

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