A practical guide to DiDi and taxis across thirteen areas — how to download, pay, and get where you're going without speaking Chinese.
01 · How It Works
DiDi (滴滴出行) is China's dominant ride-hailing app — the closest equivalent to Uber, and by far the easiest way to get around as a foreigner.
Available in English on the App Store and Google Play. Search 'DiDi Rider' — not the driver app.
Link an international card, or connect Alipay/WeChat Pay if you already have one set up. Cash also works with most drivers.
Type in English or pinyin — DiDi auto-suggests the Chinese name. For tricky spots, paste the address from a map app directly.
The app shows the car model, plate number, and driver's live location. Show the driver your screen if there's any confusion.
The default choice — largest network, English app interface, in-app translation for chat with drivers.
didiglobal.com →Built into the Meituan app — useful if you already have it installed for food delivery. Chinese-only interface.
Chinese-onlyStill common and metered fairly. Have your destination written in Chinese characters — few drivers speak English.
| Situation | Say / Show This |
|---|---|
| Take me here (show address) | 请带我去这里 (qing dai wo qu zheli) |
| To the airport | 去机场 (qu jichang) |
| Please use the meter | 请打表 (qing da biao) |
| Can I pay by card / cash? | 可以刷卡/现金吗？(keyi shuaka/xianjin ma?) |
| Thank you | 谢谢 (xiexie) |
02 · Reference Map
A live map is handy for showing a driver roughly where you're headed, or checking a neighborhood before you go.
Shown: Shenzhen. Use the search box inside the map to jump to any of the 13 areas.
03 · Areas
The main airport or arrival point for each area — useful when telling a driver where you're coming from.
04 · Wider Ecosystem
Looking for food delivery, restaurants, or housing? These verified guides cover the same thirteen areas.
Corrections, suggestions, or anything else