Standing on a street corner in Shenzhen, waving at empty taxis in the rain, I learned a fundamental truth about traveling in China: nobody hails cabs on the street anymore.

Every single taxi — including the official city cabs with meters — is dispatched through ride-hailing apps. If you stand on the street waving, drivers will assume you don’t know how the system works and drive right past you. I watched at least six empty taxis ignore me before a local took pity on me and showed me the DiDi app.

DiDi (滴滴) is China’s dominant ride-hailing platform, equivalent to Uber. It operates in over 400 Chinese cities. There is a fully functional English version, and once you have it set up, getting around China becomes dramatically easier.

Step 1: Download DiDi

Search for “DiDi” in the App Store or Google Play. The app icon is an orange circle with a white “D.” Make sure you download the main DiDi app, not DiDi Driver.

There is also a DiDi mini-program built directly into Alipay — if you already have Alipay set up, you can access DiDi without downloading a separate app.

Step 2: Switch to English

When you first open DiDi, it will default to Chinese. To switch to English:

• Tap the profile icon (top left)
• Scroll down to find “Language” or “语言”
• Select “English”

The app will restart in English mode.

Step 3: Register Your Account

Register using your phone number. DiDi accepts international phone numbers. You’ll receive an SMS verification code.

Step 4: Add a Payment Method

DiDi works best when linked to Alipay, which handles payment automatically. In the app, go to “Wallet” and connect your Alipay account. Alternatively, you can add an international credit card directly, though this is slightly less seamless.

Step 5: Book Your First Ride

Enter your destination in the search bar (English works fine for major hotels and landmarks; for local destinations, use the Chinese name). DiDi will show you available car types and estimated prices. Select your preferred option and confirm.

The driver will arrive at your location. The app shows the driver’s photo, car model, and license plate — match these before getting in.

Useful Tips

Show the driver your destination: Even with the English app, your driver may not speak English. The app automatically shows the driver your destination in Chinese, so no communication is needed.

Rate your driver: DiDi’s rating system keeps quality high. Always rate your driver after the trip.

DiDi Express vs. DiDi Premier: Express is the standard option (similar to UberX). Premier is a higher-end option. For most trips, Express is perfectly fine.

Surge pricing: Like Uber, DiDi has surge pricing during peak hours and bad weather. The app shows you the multiplier before you confirm.

What If DiDi Isn’t Available?

In a few smaller cities or rural areas, DiDi may have limited coverage. In these cases:

• Ask your hotel to call a taxi for you (they can give the driver your destination in Chinese)
• Use the Gaode Maps app, which has a built-in ride-hailing function
• Meituan also has a ride-hailing service in some cities

The Bottom Line

DiDi is one of the most important apps for navigating China as a Western tourist. The English interface makes it genuinely easy to use, and the prices are very reasonable by Western standards. Set it up before you land, link it to Alipay, and you’ll never be stranded in the rain again.

---

For the complete China travel preparation checklist — including Alipay setup, VPN recommendations, and navigation tips — grab the 2026 China Survival Playbook.