DiDi and Ride-Hailing in China: A Guide for Foreigners
How to set up and use DiDi in China with a foreign phone number and card, plus the taxi alternative, price expectations, and the safety checks that matter.
Bokang Huang· Payments, eSIM and apps
Last updated
Tested in China on a foreign card. Sources linked at the foot of this page.
The short answer
DiDi (滴滴出行) is China’s Uber, and it is the easiest way for a foreigner to get around. It has an English interface, accepts foreign phone numbers, and can be paid with an international card or through Alipay. Set it up before you fly, because SMS verification and app stores are unreliable once you are in China.
Set it up
- Install the right app. Search for “DiDi China: Ride Hailing” in the App Store or Google Play: that is the domestic app. Inside it, the 滴滴出行 name still appears. The separate international “DiDi Rider” app does not work in mainland China.
- Switch to English in Settings → Language.
- Register with your phone number and enter the SMS code. Do this at home on your own network.
- Add a payment method under Me → Wallet → Payment Methods. Add a card, and enable auto-deduct.
- If the card fails, link it in Alipay instead and choose Alipay as your DiDi payment method. That path is usually more reliable.
Booking a ride
- Check the pickup pin, drag it to where you are actually standing, not across the road.
- Enter your destination. English names work for major hotels and landmarks; pasting a Chinese address is more reliable for smaller places.
- Choose a ride type:
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Express (快车) | Cheapest, fine for almost every trip |
| Premier (专车) | Nicer car, good for airports |
| Taxi (出租车) | Hails a metered taxi through the app |
| Express Pool (拼车) | Shared, cheaper, slower |
- Confirm and wait: typically 2–5 minutes in city centers.
- Before getting in: check the plate number matches the app. If it does not, cancel.
The “last four digits” ritual
Drivers commonly ask for the last four digits of your registered phone number as an identity check. Write them down or keep them handy in a note, easier than saying numbers in a language you may not speak.
Prices to expect
| Trip | Approximate fare |
|---|---|
| Short central trip (3–5 km) | ¥15–30 |
| Cross-city (15+ km) | ¥50–100 |
| Airport to city (Shanghai) | ¥150–250 |
Fares are shown before you confirm, and surge pricing applies at rush hour, in bad weather, and on holidays.
If you’d rather not install another app
DiDi runs inside Alipay and WeChat as a mini-program. Open Alipay, tap the Transport area, and choose Taxi/Ride-hailing. You get the same driver pool with one less app, and Alipay’s foreign-card handling is often smoother. See the China apps checklist.
Staying safe
- Match the plate before boarding, every time.
- Use Share Trip to send your route to someone.
- Ignore touts at airport exits offering rides, unlicensed and overpriced.
- Use the official pickup zone (follow signs for Online Car-hailing / 网约车).
- Lost an item? Use the in-app lost-item feature and offer a small reward.
Bottom line
DiDi is the single most useful transport app for a China layover. Install it at home, link a card (or Alipay), check the plate, and you can move around a Chinese city without speaking a word of Mandarin. For airport runs specifically, see China airport-to-city transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners use DiDi in China?
Yes. DiDi has an English interface, supports registration with an international phone number, and accepts international cards in many cases. Alipay and WeChat Pay can also be used as the payment method, which is often more reliable.
Do I need a Chinese phone number for DiDi?
No. You can register with a foreign number and receive the SMS code, though roaming SMS is sometimes unreliable, register before you fly. DiDi also runs as a mini-program inside Alipay and WeChat.
What if my card does not work in DiDi?
Link your card to Alipay first and set Alipay as the DiDi payment method. Alipay’s foreign-card processing is generally more robust than DiDi’s direct card binding.
Is DiDi cheaper than a taxi in China?
Usually yes, and the fare is shown before you confirm. Expect roughly ¥15–30 for a short central trip and ¥150–250 for an airport run into Shanghai.
Sources & official links
Every factual claim on this page traces back to one of these documents. They are the authority, not us.