Transport

How to Use DiDi in China: Pickup, Payment, and First Ride

Use DiDi in China step by step: verify your phone, add payment, choose the correct pickup point, message the driver, check the plate, and fix failures.

Last updated: July 5, 2026

What you probably need

Your likely question

How do you complete setup, choose the right pickup point, meet the driver, pay, and recover when the ride does not work as expected?

What to do first

Complete setup before flying, then make a short first test ride from your hotel entrance before using DiDi for an airport or timed transfer.

Backup if it fails

Stop troubleshooting after one retry when you are tired, offline, low on battery, or at risk of missing a train or flight; use the official taxi queue, metro, or staff help instead.

What you will learn

Use this page as a practical setup guide before you travel and a backup checklist after landing.

Complete phone verification, location permission, payment, and address preparation before departure.
Stand at the pickup point before booking and put the pin on the correct side of the road.
Use designated pickup zones at airports, stations, malls, and restricted streets.
Match the license plate and keep the ride and payment inside the app.
Use a translated message or pickup photo instead of depending on spoken English.
Follow a specific recovery action for failed verification, weak data, payment trouble, cancellations, or a missed pickup.

Do these four things before departure

Finish the account steps while your normal phone number, banking app, and app store still work. Do not leave SMS verification or card setup until you are standing outside a terminal with luggage.

This guide assumes you have decided DiDi is suitable for the ride. If you still need to check whether your foreign number, payment, and first airport plan are ready, use the DiDi eligibility page first.

Install DiDi China from its official Apple App Store or Google Play listing.
Register with the international number you will carry and complete SMS verification.
Allow location access and add an international bank card if the option appears for your account.
Save the hotel name, full address in Chinese, phone number, and a screenshot that works offline.

Step 1: choose the transport before you request a car

Check the route, luggage, battery, mobile data, pickup area, and deadline before opening the booking screen. DiDi is a poor choice when a cancellation or missed pickup could make you miss a flight or train.

At an airport or station, first locate the signed ride-hailing area, official taxi queue, and rail or metro option. Then choose the route with the fewest untested steps.

Choose DiDi: data and payment work, battery is above 20%, and you can identify the pickup point.
Choose the taxi queue: the ride-hailing zone is unclear, far away, or inside an unfamiliar car park.
Choose rail or metro: the route is direct, signs are clear, and the luggage is manageable.
Choose a prearranged transfer: late arrival, children, mobility needs, or several large bags.

Step 2: reopen the app and verify the setup

Before the first booking, close and reopen DiDi on the connection you will use in China. Confirm that you remain signed in, the map finds you, and your payment method still appears.

If the app asks for a new verification code after landing, make sure the registered number can still receive SMS through roaming. Do not repeatedly request codes if none arrive; check the country code and carrier access first.

Open the map and confirm that the blue location marker is near your actual position.
Search for the saved hotel and compare the Chinese name and map location with the booking confirmation.
Open payment settings and confirm that the intended card or payment path is present.
Keep the banking app, another physical card, and some RMB cash available.

Step 3: verify the destination, not only its English name

Hotels, stations, malls, and attractions can have similar English names or several entrances. Compare the destination pin with the address on the booking confirmation before requesting the ride.

If the place has multiple branches, use the Chinese address and phone number to confirm the correct one. A precise destination prevents a successful ride to the wrong location.

Match the Chinese hotel or venue name.
Match the district, street, and building number when available.
Compare the map pin with the location in Apple Maps, Amap, or the hotel's booking page.
Keep the phone number ready so a driver or nearby staff member can call the venue.

Step 4: confirm payment before requesting the ride

DiDi's current app listings include international bank cards among the payment options, but a listed option is not the same as approval from your bank. Confirm the card before an important ride and keep access to any bank security prompt.

The fare shown before booking is an estimate. Tolls, parking, waiting time, route changes, or the selected service type can change the final total.

Confirm which payment method is selected before tapping the final request button.
Read the service type and estimated fare; do not select a premium option accidentally.
Keep the ride open until the final fare and payment status appear.
If payment fails, use in-app support and your bank app; do not cancel the ride and pay outside the app.

Step 5: stand at the pickup point before booking

Walk to a legal, visible stopping point before requesting the car. Use a named hotel entrance, mall gate, station bay, or pickup point suggested by the app instead of dropping the pin in the middle of a complex.

On a divided road, place the pin on the same side of the road where you are standing. A driver on the opposite carriageway may need a long detour and may cancel instead of making the U-turn.

Use the main hotel entrance rather than your room-side street or a rear service road.
Choose one of the app's designated pickup points when a venue restricts stopping.
Check the road direction and median before confirming the pin.
Read any photo, level, gate, or bay instructions attached to the pickup point.
Do not keep moving after booking unless you update the driver with a message and a new pin.

Step 6: locate the airport or station pickup zone first

Large hubs may put app-based cars in a numbered parking bay, another floor, or a separate building. Collect luggage, connect to mobile data, and follow signs for ride hailing or e-hailing before opening the request screen.

If the walking route is unclear, show uniformed staff the pickup screen and ask for the app-based car area. Switch to the official taxi queue or rail connection before booking if you cannot reach the zone confidently.

Do not request the ride from baggage claim or while still walking through the terminal.
Note the terminal, floor, zone, bay, and nearest numbered pillar or gate.
Send a photo of the sign or pillar when the app allows it.
Allow extra time at railway stations because the pickup area may be several hundred meters from the exit.
Never accept an unsolicited off-app ride inside the terminal.

Step 7: use a failure rule instead of repeated retries

Retry once only when you understand what changed: a corrected pin, restored data, a different payment method, or a clearer message. Repeating the same request usually does not fix an unreachable pickup point or overloaded area.

Stop troubleshooting and switch transport when battery or data is failing, the driver cannot locate you after one clear message, or the delay threatens a flight, train, hotel check-in, or personal safety.

No SMS code: check country code and roaming once, then use another transport route.
No data: connect to official Wi-Fi or use a staffed taxi queue; do not enter a car park offline.
Drivers keep cancelling in rain or a major event: walk to a permitted road only if safe, or use metro/taxi queues.
Payment rejected: try the prepared backup once, then contact support or the bank from a stationary public place.
Pickup dispute: cancel only through the app when appropriate and request again from a clearer point.

Step 8: send a translated message before taking a call

DiDi's app listings advertise bilingual in-app messaging. Use a short translated message and a photo or landmark before attempting a phone conversation.

Save this message in your notes: “I do not speak Chinese. Please message me in the app. I am waiting at [gate/entrance/bay].” Chinese: “我不会说中文，请在App里发消息。我在[门口/上车点/停车位]等您，谢谢。”

Send the terminal, floor, gate, bay, hotel entrance, or shop name.
Send one clear photo of the sign or the place where you are standing.
Do not send a long itinerary or several changing locations.
If a nearby hotel or restaurant employee is willing to help, show them the live pickup screen.

Step 9: match the car and keep the trip in the app

Before opening the door, match the license plate, car color or model, and live location shown in DiDi. Do not use a car simply because the driver calls your name or waves near the pickup area.

Read the full license plate, not only the last two digits.
Check the car description and confirm it arrived through your active booking.
Do not accept off-app ride offers from strangers.
Do not agree to cancel the ride and pay the driver directly outside the app.
Use the in-app trip-sharing or safety tools when appropriate.

Step 10: complete one first test ride

After checking in, request a short daytime ride from the hotel entrance to a named mall, restaurant, or attraction. This first test ride proves whether pickup, messaging, plate matching, route display, final fare, and payment work together on your phone.

Use DiDi for a timed transfer only after the test finishes in the app and you know which fallback you will use if the next driver cancels.

Start with working data, more than 50% battery, and no deadline.
Stand at the hotel entrance before requesting the car.
Send one message only if the driver needs help finding you.
Match the plate, watch the route, and confirm the final payment status.
If any step fails, fix that one dependency before using DiDi for an airport or railway trip.

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FAQ

Common questions

How do I use the DiDi app in China?

Install DiDi China, complete SMS verification, add payment, save the destination in Chinese, stand at a legal pickup point, place the pin on your side of the road, select a ride, match the license plate, and keep the trip and payment inside the app.

Can foreign visitors use the DiDi app in China?

Yes. Foreign visitors can use DiDi in China, but setup can vary by app region, phone number, verification, payment card, and account status. Prepare it before arrival and keep official taxi lines, metro, hotel help, and station staff as backups.

Is DiDi available in English?

DiDi app store listings describe English interface support and bilingual communication features, but travelers should still prepare Chinese addresses, screenshots, and translation backups in case a driver calls or the pickup point is confusing.

Should I use DiDi from the airport?

Use it only after collecting luggage and locating the signed pickup floor, zone, or bay. If you cannot reach that point with working data and enough battery, use the official taxi queue, airport rail, or a prearranged transfer before booking.

Do DiDi drivers speak English?

Do not assume drivers speak English. Send a short in-app translated message with the gate, entrance, floor, or bay, and add a photo of the pickup sign when needed.

What is the safest first DiDi ride?

A simple hotel-to-restaurant or hotel-to-station ride is easier than your first airport pickup. If possible, test the app in a lower-pressure situation before relying on it for a tight transfer.

What should I use if DiDi does not work?

After one informed retry, switch to the official taxi queue, metro or airport rail, a hotel-arranged car, or uniformed station staff. Do not keep repeating the same request when data, payment, pickup location, or battery is still failing.

Sources

Helpful official and payment sources

Google Play: DiDi China ride-hailing app listing Apple App Store: DiDi China ride-hailing app listing Trip.com: how to use DiDi in China for foreigners Recent traveler reports: choosing DiDi pickup points in China

Next steps

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