TRAVEL GUIDE · CHINA
How to use DiDi and ride-hailing in China as a foreign visitor
Set up the app, find the right pickup point and keep a simple backup for airport arrivals and late-night journeys.
Ride-hailing is useful when you have luggage, arrive late or need a direct trip. The reliable approach is to prepare connectivity, payment and your destination before you need a car.
01
Set up before the trip
China’s official visitor guidance says the DiDi-Greater China app supports registration with foreign mobile numbers and international credit cards. Install it and complete any requested verification while you have reliable internet. The same guidance also describes booking a ride through Alipay’s Transport > Taxi or WeChat’s Services > Mobility/Ride Hailing. Keep a physical card and small cash reserve as a backup.
02
Use a precise pickup point
Confirm the map pin before you request a car. Airports, rail stations and large malls may use designated pickup zones rather than the nearest road. Enter the destination as a map pin or Chinese address where possible, not just an English hotel name. Check the selected service, estimated price and car details before you confirm.
03
Match the car, not a verbal description
When the driver arrives, compare the licence plate and vehicle details shown in the app. Do not share a payment password or verification code with a driver or stranger. Keep the in-app receipt and messages; they are the most useful record if you need to report a fare problem or missing item.
04
Keep an airport backup
For a late arrival, save the hotel address and pickup instructions offline. If your connection is weak, ask the hotel front desk for help or use an official taxi stand. For an airport transfer, compare the actual cancellation terms, pickup instructions and total price before choosing an advance booking.
05
Make affiliate recommendations useful
A future airport-transfer or travel-service recommendation should tell readers what it costs, when it can be cancelled and how it differs from using DiDi or an official taxi. Any commission relationship must be disclosed clearly; a link is useful only when it solves a real traveller problem.
The smoothest ride is prepared before the car is needed: live data, a verified payment method, a clear address and one offline fallback.