RIDE-HAILING GUIDE
How to Use DiDi in China as a Foreign Visitor
A practical DiDi guide for foreign visitors covering setup, Chinese destinations, pickup points, driver messages, airports, and ride records.
QUICK ANSWER
Set up DiDi through an official supported route, confirm your payment option, search for the destination in Chinese, choose a precise pickup point, compare the plate before entering, and keep in-app text available for driver communication.
DiDi is a common ride-hailing option in China, but a successful ride depends on more than installing the app. You need a supported account and payment route, the correct Chinese destination, and a pickup point where the driver can actually stop.
The interface and foreign-user options can change. Use official download sources and review the current prompts shown for your own account.
Before requesting the first ride
- Use an official app or supported Mini Program route.
- Complete the account steps requested for your number and identity.
- Confirm a supported payment method and keep a backup.
- Save the first hotel and other destinations in Chinese.
- Keep mobile data active for driver messages and route updates.
Choose the pickup point carefully
Move beyond the GPS dot. Select a named gate, lobby, road side, or designated ride-hailing area. At airports, railway stations, malls, and scenic areas, follow signs to the pickup zone before requesting the ride where practical.
A driver may cancel if the pin is somewhere they cannot stop or if reaching you would require a long detour.
Confirm the destination
- Compare the Chinese place name and district.
- Check the correct branch for hotels and restaurants.
- Choose the useful entrance for large attractions or campuses.
- For railway travel, match the station name to the ticket exactly.
- Save the destination screenshot before the ride begins.
During pickup and the ride
Compare the license plate, vehicle color, and model shown in the booking before getting in. Use in-app text if you cannot answer a Chinese phone call.
Follow the route in the app and keep your booking open until you have arrived and collected your belongings.
我不会说中文，请在滴滴里发文字消息。
I don’t speak Chinese. Please send a text message in DiDi.
请在这个上车点等我，谢谢。
Please wait for me at this pickup point. Thank you.
After the ride
Check that the ride has ended and review the amount in the app. If you left an item, were charged unexpectedly, or need a record, use the support path attached to that trip and keep screenshots.
China Trip Care can help explain screens and local communication, but fare decisions, lost-item processes, refunds, and driver actions remain controlled by DiDi.
Tell us where you want to go
We can check the Chinese destination, arrange the ride within scope, and help with pickup and driver details.
See ride supportFrequently asked questions
Can foreign tourists use DiDi in China?
Foreign visitors can use supported DiDi routes when their account, phone, identity steps, and payment method meet the current platform requirements.
Do I need a Chinese address for DiDi?
A verified Chinese place name and address greatly reduces wrong-branch and wrong-entrance problems, even when the interface accepts English searches.
What if the DiDi driver calls me in Chinese?
Use in-app text to say you do not speak Chinese and send the exact gate, zone, or landmark for your pickup.
Can China Trip Care arrange a ride?
Ride arrangements, pickup details, Chinese destinations, and necessary driver communication can be handled within an active plan. Ride fares are separate.
Check current official information
App behavior, entry processes, prices, booking windows, and local arrangements can change. Confirm the final details with the relevant official provider before acting.