How to use Didi (滴滴) ride-hailing in China as a visitor

What Didi is and why visitors use it

Didi (滴滴出行) is the biggest ride-hailing app in mainland China. It dispatches ordinary taxis as well as private cars registered with the platform. For a foreign visitor the main advantage is that you do not need to explain the destination out loud, because the driver sees it on the map.

Uber no longer operates in mainland China, because Uber China was merged into Didi in 2016. Grab does not operate in mainland China either. The ride apps Thai travellers already know will not work there, so you need Didi itself or one of its mini-program entries.

Three ways to reach Didi

Alipay and WeChat Pay setup is covered in the card guide for China, so this page only deals with the ride-hailing side.

How to book a ride

1. 1Install and set up before you flyDownload the app or open the mini-program on home Wi-Fi, choose English and link a payment method.
2. 2Set the pickup pointDrag the pin to a spot a car can actually reach and choose a pickup point the app suggests.
3. 3Enter the destinationType the place name in Chinese or pinyin, or paste the address copied from your hotel booking.
4. 4Pick a car type and confirmCheck the estimate in the app, then confirm. Prices vary by time and route, so none are quoted here.
5. 5Check the car before you get inCompare the plate, model and colour with what the app shows, and check the driver's name.

Pickup at big stations and airports

At airports and large high-speed rail stations the ride-hailing pickup area is often separate from the main exit and is marked with signs. Do not drop the pin on the terminal building itself; choose the pickup point the app designates and note the zone letter or number.

If the driver calls, have a translation app or a short message ready and describe your position clearly. The plate shown in the app helps you find the right car when many are waiting.

Showing the destination in Chinese

• Save the hotel name and address in Chinese as a note or screenshot.
• Use Chinese names for sights, such as 故宫 (the Forbidden City) or 外滩 (the Bund).
• If the destination has several gates, choose the right entrance in the app.
• Confirm the destination through a translated message when you share no language.

Safety and car checks

Didi includes in-app safety tools such as an emergency button, trip sharing with a contact and a trip record. Find where these sit in the app before you need them.

• Check the plate and model every time before boarding.
• Only ride cars you booked through the app; decline people offering rides at stations.
• Share the route with someone you trust on night trips.

Street taxis versus Didi

If you use a mini-program, open it from the search bar in Alipay or WeChat and look for Didi or 滴滴出行. The advantage is that you do not create a new account, but try one real booking on your first day so you know the setup works for your account before you are in a hurry.

A safe habit is always to have a fallback: know where the nearest metro station is and keep the hotel address in Chinese ready to show a street taxi driver if the app will not match a car or your data drops.

Mobile data you need

Hailing a ride relies on live maps and location, so you need data throughout the trip. A travel eSIM that routes data through a gateway outside the mainland usually lets most apps open, but nobody can guarantee every app on every network, so test before you depend on it. Keep the Thai SIM on for SMS and bank OTPs.

For a feel of map data use, read the guide on how much data Google Maps uses; for maps that work in China, see the Amap and Baidu Maps guide.

Zobacz plany eSIM na Chiny