Can Foreigners Use Didi in China?
How to get a Didi ride with a foreign phone number and card, where to wait, and what the driver will ask when you get in.
Short answer
Yes. The easiest way is to order Didi inside the Alipay app, so the fare is charged to the card you've already linked there. You can also use the Didi app itself in English and sign up with your own phone number. When you get in, the driver will ask for the last four digits of your phone number to confirm it's your ride.
- Topic
- 交通 Trains & transport
- Reading time
- 2 min
- Last checked
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Didi is China’s main ride-hailing app, used much like Uber. Uber, Lyft and Grab don’t operate in mainland China.
Order inside Alipay
If you’ve set up Alipay with your card, you don’t need another app. Open Alipay, search for Didi, and open it. You’ll find it listed among Alipay’s built-in services. The fare is charged through Alipay to your linked card when the ride ends.
This is the route most travelers find least troublesome, because payment is handled by the account you’ve already got working.
Or use the Didi app
The standalone app, listed as DiDi - Greater China, has an English interface. Sign up with your international phone number and the code sent by text. To pay, add a Visa or Mastercard under Wallet. Didi may place a small temporary hold on the card.
Android users should install it before arriving in China, because Google Play doesn’t work there.
Entering your destination
Well-known places usually work in English, for example “The Bund” or “Forbidden City”. If nothing comes up, try the pinyin name, such as “Waitan”. For hotels and restaurants, the most reliable method is to copy the Chinese address from your booking and paste it in.
Where to wait
Didi often limits pickups to fixed points, shown as green dots on the map. Walk to one and wait there; the driver will stop at that spot and nowhere else.
At airports and big train stations you usually can’t be picked up at the door. Follow the signs for ride-hailing, marked 网约车, which often lead to a car park level. Walk there first, then order.
When the driver arrives
Check the number plate shown in the app before you get in. The driver will usually ask for the last four digits of the phone number you booked with. If you can’t follow, show them the ride screen.
Messages from the driver arrive in Chinese, and the app can translate them. If the driver phones you and you can’t speak Chinese, it’s easier not to answer and to send a message instead. This one is a good one to keep ready:
我是外国人，不会说中文，请按导航来接我，谢谢。
I'm a foreigner and don't speak Chinese. Please follow the navigation to pick me up. Thank you.
If the driver can’t find you, send a photo of something nearby through the chat.
Safety
Drivers are registered under their real names. You can share your trip status with a friend from the ride screen, and there is an emergency button in the app that connects to the police.
If payment fails
Call your bank and approve the charge, or switch to ordering through Alipay. If you still can’t pay, regular taxis that take Alipay or WeChat Pay are a good backup.
Common questions
Do I need a Chinese phone number for Didi?
No. You can register with an international number and verify it by text. Drivers sometimes call before pickup, which is harder with a foreign number, so use the in-app chat instead.
Can I pay for Didi in cash?
No. Rides are paid in the app. Through Alipay, the fare goes on the card linked to your Alipay account.
Can I just hail a taxi on the street?
Yes. Regular taxis are common in cities and most accept Alipay or WeChat Pay. Have your destination written in Chinese to show the driver.
Why does Didi say "network error"?
Usually because of the connection. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data and turn off any VPN, then try again.