Getting a DiDi without speaking Chinese
Photo: Freeman Zhou / Unsplash
DiDi is China's Uber, and in most cities it's the quickest way to get from a hotel to a restaurant that isn't near a metro station. You don't need to speak Chinese, and if you've already set up Alipay, you don't even need the DiDi app.
Alipay runs in English (and more than a dozen other languages), and ride-hailing is one of the services built into it. Search "DiDi" or open the Transport section, and you get the same cars and drivers, paid with the card you've already linked. If you haven't done that yet, start with setting up Alipay with a foreign card.
Booking a ride, step by step
- Set the destination. Type it in English first. If nothing sensible comes up, paste the Chinese name or address. Your hotel booking confirmation usually has it, and so does the restaurant's listing on a map app. I keep a note on my phone with the Chinese address of wherever I'm staying, because that's the trip I'll book most.
- Check the pickup pin. The app guesses where you are, and in a big complex it often guesses wrong. Drag the pin to a spot where a car can legally stop: a side road, a hotel driveway, a marked pickup bay. Not the middle of a pedestrian street.
- Choose the car type. Express is the everyday option. Premier costs more and gets you a bigger, cleaner car, which is worth it with luggage. Some cities also let you hail a normal metered taxi through the same screen.
- Confirm and wait. You'll see the plate number, car model, colour and the driver's position on the map.
- Get in and check. Match the plate, not the colour. Drivers often ask you to confirm the last four digits of your phone number. You can just show the screen.
- Get out. Payment goes through by itself. No cash, no card machine, no tip.
The phone call that worries everyone
When the driver is close, they'll often call you. It will be in Chinese and it will be quick. Answer, say "hello", and then switch to the in-app chat, which translates both ways. The call usually means one of two things: "where exactly are you?" or "I can't stop there, walk to the corner". Sending a short message like "I'm at the hotel main gate" in the chat solves both.
If you're used to Uber in the US or Australia, where drivers rarely call, this feels odd. It's normal here and nobody expects you to understand the call.
Airports and big stations: where it goes wrong
Ride-hailing at airports and railway stations is where most visitors lose time. Pickups happen in a designated zone, usually signed 网约车 (online car-hailing), and that zone is often on a different level from the taxi rank, sometimes inside a car park. Follow the signs before you book, not after, or your driver will be waiting somewhere you can't see.
The rules can also change. In February 2024, Shanghai's government information office said ride-hailing pickups at Pudong International Airport had been suspended to keep traffic moving during the Spring Festival rush. Within days, the city's transport commission announced the service was back, saying it had responded to public opinion. At Hongqiao Airport, the city opened dedicated ride-hailing pickup zones in the terminal car parks from December 2025.
My take: at an airport, always know where the taxi rank is too. If the app is slow, the pickup zone is a long walk with luggage, or you land late, an official metered taxi from the queue is the calm option. It will cost a bit more than Express and that's fine.
When something goes wrong
- No driver accepts. Common at rush hour, in rain, and late at night. Bump up to a higher car type, or move to a bigger road and rebook.
- The driver can't find you. Send a photo of a landmark through the chat, or move the pin and tell them in the chat that you've moved.
- You need to cancel. Cancelling quickly after booking is normally free. Once a driver has been on the way for a while, there's a small fee, shown in the app before you confirm.
- Payment fails. Check that your linked card still works in Alipay and that you haven't hit a bank block. Some banks flag the first charge from China as suspicious, as banks in Germany and Japan often do by default.
- You left something in the car. Open the trip in your history and contact the driver or support from there. This is one of the real advantages over a street taxi.
DiDi app or Alipay?
For a short trip, Alipay is enough. The standalone DiDi app has an English setting, accepts several foreign cards and works with an overseas phone number, though you'll need roaming on to receive the verification text. I'd only bother installing it if you're staying for weeks and want a few extra features, such as scheduling a ride for an early flight. The DiDi app is also listed on our apps page.
Demand from visitors has grown fast. During the 2025 Spring Festival rush, DiDi reported a 55% rise in ride-hailing orders from inbound users, according to Chinese business outlet Jiemian. More foreign passengers means more drivers are used to them, which helps.
Quick answers
Is DiDi safe?
Generally, yes. Trips are tracked, the driver and plate are recorded, and there's an emergency button in the ride screen. Sit in the back and share your trip with someone if you're travelling alone at night.
Do I tip?
No. Drivers don't expect it, and the app doesn't ask. Tolls and any airport parking fee are added to the fare automatically.
Can I pay the driver in cash?
Not through the app. If you want to pay cash, take a street taxi instead. Keep a little cash for those moments; there's more on that in cash and tipping.
Is DiDi cheaper than the metro?
No. The metro is much cheaper and often faster in rush hour. For most city trips, I take the metro with my phone and keep DiDi for late nights, luggage and places the metro doesn't reach.
Can I book a long-distance ride, say to another city?
You can, but for anything more than an hour or so, a high-speed train is usually quicker and far cheaper.
Sources: Shanghai Information Office: Pudong ride-hailing suspended (Feb 2024) · Shanghai government: Pudong ride-hailing resumes (Feb 2024) · Shanghai government: Hongqiao ride-hailing pickup zones (Dec 2025) · Jiemian: inbound visitors at Chinese New Year 2025 · gov.cn: payment guide for overseas visitors
If something here has changed, email me. I re-check every guide and update the date at the top.
Written by David, who lives in China. About me