How to Hail a Taxi or Ride-Hailing Car with Didi

Street-hailing taxis in China is increasingly unreliable — many drivers won't stop for foreigners, and cash-only cabs are disappearing.

View Guide → is China's dominant ride-hailing app, equivalent to Uber, and it works in English. With a foreign phone number and a linked payment method, you can book a car anywhere in China within minutes.

Setting Up Didi Before You Ride

Download Didi from the App Store or Google Play before arriving in China. The app is available internationally and supports English throughout. You'll need a phone number to register — your home country number works fine.

Booking a Ride

1. 1. Open Didi and set your destination

   Tap the destination field at the top of the screen. Type your destination in English — Didi understands English place names and addresses. For hotels, type the hotel name. For attractions, type the attraction name.

2. 2. Confirm your pickup location

   The app uses your GPS location as the pickup point. If the pin is slightly off, drag it to the correct spot. For busy areas like train stations, look for the designated Didi pickup zone marked on the map.

3. 3. Choose your car type

   Didi offers several tiers: Express (cheapest, standard cars), Premier (higher-rated drivers, newer cars), and Luxury (premium vehicles). Express is fine for most trips. The price estimate shows before you confirm.

4. 4. Confirm the booking

   Tap Confirm Order. Didi matches you with a nearby driver. You'll see the driver's name, photo, license plate, and real-time location on the map. Estimated arrival time is shown.

5. 5. Meet your driver

   Walk to the pickup point shown on the map. The driver will call or message if they can't find you — Didi has a built-in translation feature for driver-passenger communication. Verify the license plate before getting in.

During the Ride

The app shows your route and estimated arrival time throughout the trip. You don't need to tell the driver the destination — it's already loaded in their app. If you need to make a stop, use the in-app chat to communicate (see the guide on communicating with your Didi driver).

Paying

Payment is automatic at the end of the ride — charged to your linked payment method. No cash needed, no tipping expected. A receipt appears in the app immediately after the trip ends.

Practical Tips

• Peak hours: Surge pricing applies during rush hours (7–9am, 5–7pm) and rainy weather. The price estimate always shows the surge before you confirm.
• Airport pickups: Airports have designated Didi pickup zones, usually on the arrivals level or a separate floor. The app shows the exact zone letter/number.
• Train stations: Major stations have Didi pickup areas outside the main exits. Follow the Didi signs or check the app map.
• Cancellation: You can cancel for free within 2 minutes of booking. After that, a small cancellation fee applies.