How to get a taxi or DiDi in China
Street taxis are cheap but drivers rarely speak English. Ride-hailing with DiDi is easier: English app, set destination, pay automatically.
Option 1: DiDi (recommended)
DiDi is China's main ride-hailing service. The app has an English interface, auto-translates chat with your driver, and charges your linked card or Alipay.
- 1Install DiDi, or open it as a mini-program inside Alipay (search DiDi).
- 2Type your destination. Chinese names or a pinned map location work best.
- 3Check the license plate before getting in. Drivers usually call or message on arrival.
- 4Payment happens automatically at the end of the ride.
Option 2: street taxis
Licensed taxis use a meter and are inexpensive. Have your destination written in Chinese characters, ideally the hotel's address card. Pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay or cash.
Avoiding trouble
- At airports and train stations, follow the official taxi queue signs and ignore touts in the arrivals hall.
- Save your hotel's Chinese name and address as a screenshot.
- Amap (Gaode) also books taxis and has accurate maps in China.
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