If you use Uber or Lyft in the United States, DiDi will feel familiar.
DiDi is China’s major ride-hailing platform.
For a tourist, it is one of the easiest ways to get from a hotel to a railway station, restaurant, shopping area or attraction without having to explain an address verbally to a taxi driver.
Three easy ways foreign travelers can hail a ride
Current Chinese government guidance says foreign travelers can access online ride-hailing through:
- Alipay
- DiDi China
That means you do not necessarily need a separate DiDi app if you already use WeChat or Alipay.
Option 1: Use ride-hailing inside WeChat
This is convenient if WeChat is already one of your core China apps.
The exact menu can change, but the route is like:
Open WeChat → Search DiDi
Then:
- Confirm your pickup location.
- Enter the destination.
- Review the ride choices.
- Request the car, it will show your the type of car and plate number
- When car arrives, check the plate number.
- When get into car, driver usually asks the last 4 digits number of your phone number. That’s the number that linked to your DiDi/WeChat booking account.
Option 2: Use Alipay
Alipay also provides access to ride-hailing with similar process as WeChat.
Option 3: Use the DiDi China app
The DiDi China app is designed for mainland-China ride-hailing and supports foreign travelers.
Foreigners can register with foreign mobile numbers and international credit cards.
Typical ride categories may include services such as:
- Express
- Taxi
- Premier
- Luxe
Available categories can vary by city and time.
Why DiDi is easier than hailing a taxi
The main benefit is not just getting a car.
The app also reduces the language problem because the destination is entered digitally.
Instead of trying to pronounce a Chinese hotel, station or attraction name, you can select the place in the app and let the driver navigate to it. You can also check the route on the app so that you know exactly how far you are from your destination.
Confirm the pickup point carefully
This is especially important at:
- Airports
- Railway stations
- Large shopping malls
- Tourist attractions
- Hotels with multiple entrances
A driver may not be able to stop wherever you want to stop once the route is set.
Look at the pickup instructions in the app and use Amap when you need to understand the exact road, gate or entrance.
Before confirming the ride
Check:
- Pickup point
- Destination
- Vehicle type and color
- Estimated fare
- License plate
- Driver details
Then compare the license plate before entering the vehicle.
Payment
Depending on how you access the service, payment may be handled through the app, Weixin Pay, Alipay or an attached international card.
Set up your payment method before you urgently need a ride.
A useful hotel trick
If you are unsure which destination to select, ask the hotel front desk to show you the property’s Chinese name and address.
You can also save a screenshot or copy the Chinese text into DiDi/Amap.
This is particularly useful when two hotels have similar English names.
My recommendation
If you already use WeChat or Alipay, try the built-in ride-hailing option first.
Install DiDi China and complete registration before your travel day as back up.
Either way, the concept is the same:
Pickup point → destination → choose ride → confirm car → pay in the app.
Next: How to Use Amap (Gaode Maps) in China
Back to overview: The 5 Essentials for Traveling in China