Transport guide
How to Use DiDi or Taxi in China as a Foreigner
A 2026 guide for foreign visitors using DiDi, taxi apps, or street taxis in China, with pickup, payment, address, and safety backups.
Ride-hailing coverage, app language, payment support, and local taxi rules vary by city and platform. Use official pickup areas and follow local instructions.
Quick answer
Yes—foreign visitors can use DiDi or official taxis in China.
Use this practical sequence to prepare, act, and recover if the normal plan does not work:
- Save the destination name, address, phone number, and a nearby landmark in Chinese.
- Choose a clearly signed pickup point and confirm the car type and license plate in the app.
- Keep a second payment method ready in case the app, card, merchant, or network fails.
- Use an official taxi queue or hotel-arranged transfer when the app flow is too fragile.
Applies to foreign visitors using didi, taxi mini-programs, or street taxis, travelers with airport, station, hotel, or late-night transfers, travelers who need chinese destination cards and payment backups.
Key facts
Save your destination name, full address, phone number, and nearby landmark in Chinese.
Move to an official pickup point and send a landmark or ask staff to help with the phone call.
Try another in-app method, ask whether cash is accepted, and keep the ride record for support.
Use official taxi queues, app pickup zones, or hotel-arranged transfers.
Hotels are useful pickup, drop-off, and support points.
Large attractions often have specific pickup areas.
Reliable DiDi or taxi workflow
- 01
Save your destination name, full address, phone number, and nearby landmark in Chinese.
- 02
For airports and stations, follow official taxi or app pickup signs instead of choosing a random curb.
Official visual reference
Find the official ride-hailing pickup point
Look for a staffed or clearly signed e-hailing waiting area instead of choosing an arbitrary curb.
Beijing Municipal Government · railway-station taxi and e-hailing guideReviewed Jul 11, 2026
- 03
If using DiDi or a mini-program, confirm pickup pin, car type, license plate, and driver route in the app.
Official visual reference
Confirm the car and license plate before entering
Match the plate shown in the app with the arriving vehicle before you get in. Personal trip details in this official example are masked.
Beijing Municipal Government · essential transportation guideReviewed Jul 11, 2026
- 04
If taking a street taxi, show the Chinese destination and ask for the meter or official fare method.
- 05
Keep mobile payment plus cash or card backup in case the ride payment fails.
Official visual reference
Recognize the official payment flow
Review the final trip cost and payment method inside the official flow. Do not share a payment password or verification code with another person.
Beijing Municipal Government · essential transportation guideReviewed Jul 11, 2026
- 06
Avoid unlicensed solicitations at airports, stations, and tourist sites.
Official visual reference
Use the official taxi queue when app pickup is unreliable
Use the signed taxi dispatch area when ride-hailing pickup is confusing, unavailable, or hard to coordinate.
Beijing Municipal Government · railway-station taxi and e-hailing guideReviewed Jul 11, 2026
Choose the least fragile ride option
DiDi / ride-hailing
Best when account, pickup pin, route, and payment are working.
Weak point: confusing pickup areas or payment failure.
Official taxi queue
Best at airports and stations when staff and signed queues are available.
Weak point: destination language and fare expectations.
Hotel transfer or help
Best for late arrivals, families, luggage, or low tolerance for app failure.
Weak point: less flexible and may cost more.
Before-you-ride checklist
- Chinese destination saved
- Official pickup point known
- License plate checked
- Payment backup ready
- Hotel phone number available
- Unlicensed solicitations avoided
When the normal plan fails
The driver cannot find me.
Move to an official pickup point and send a landmark or ask staff to help with the phone call.
Payment fails after the ride.
Try another in-app method, ask whether cash is accepted, and keep the ride record for support.
A person offers a ride inside the terminal.
Use official taxi queues, app pickup zones, or hotel-arranged transfers.
Practical details
Source cross-check
This answer was checked against Trip.com: How to use DiDi in China as a foreigner and State Council: Payment service guide for overseas visitors to China. A third source, AMap Global on the Apple App Store, was used where the answer depends on implementation detail or traveler-facing handling. Additional support from DiDi China ride-hailing app listing: global visitors and English interface was kept when official rules and platform execution need to be separated. Where sources use different scope or dates, the guide follows the current official or most directly authoritative source and keeps platform or traveler-facing material as implementation context only.
Phrase cards
Taxi
English
Show destination to a taxi driver.
中文
您好，请带我去这个地址。谢谢。
Taxi
English
Ask a taxi driver to use the meter or official fare.
中文
您好，请按计价器收费，谢谢。
Ride-hailing pickup
English
Ask staff to help confirm the ride-hailing pickup point.
中文
您好，请帮我确认网约车应该在哪里上车。
FAQ
- Can foreigners use DiDi?
- Public platform guidance says foreigners can use DiDi workflows, but account, phone, card, city, and language support can vary.
- Should I take taxis from airport arrivals halls?
- Use official taxi queues, signed ride-hailing pickup zones, or hotel transfers; avoid unsolicited rides.
- What Chinese text should I prepare?
- Destination name, address, phone number, hotel name, and a phrase asking the driver to use the meter or app route.
Sources and review policy
- Trip.com: How to use DiDi in China as a foreignerPlatform · checked Jun 28, 2026
- State Council: Payment service guide for overseas visitors to ChinaOfficial · checked Jun 28, 2026
- AMap Global on the Apple App StorePlatform · checked Jun 28, 2026
- DiDi China ride-hailing app listing: global visitors and English interfacePlatform · checked Jun 28, 2026
- Beijing Municipal Government: airport transportation and taxi queue guidanceOfficial · checked Jun 28, 2026
- International Services Shanghai: airport transportation and taxi standsOfficial · checked Jun 28, 2026
- International Services Shanghai: how to use DiDi ChuxingOfficial · checked Jun 28, 2026
Visible guide facts must be supported by the page sources and rechecked before the next update date.
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