Using DiDi in China as a foreigner

Which DiDi app works in China

This is the most common mistake travelers make. DiDi runs two different passenger apps:

The Chinese app appears under slightly different names: "DiDi China: Ride Hailing" in English-language stores (as of 2026), "滴滴出行" in Chinese, and "DiDi Greater China" on DiDi Japan's help page. All of these refer to the same app.

If you already have DiDi Rider from Mexico, Australia or Japan, it will not book rides in mainland China. DiDi Japan, which operates that same app (App Store ID 1362398401), says plainly that it does not work in China and that the Chinese version is needed there. Install the Chinese app at home, while you still have unrestricted internet access and your usual app store.

What the Chinese DiDi app offers foreign visitors

According to the official app store listings (Google Play listing updated July 2026):

• English interface. You can switch the app to English.
• Global mobile numbers. You can register with a non-Chinese phone number.
• Chat translation. Messages between you and the driver are translated between English and Chinese.
• International bank cards are accepted as a payment method.
• 24/7 English customer service inside the app.

The listing's subtitle reads "Ride in Chinese mainland, HK". A December 2025 report from Hong Kong adds that one account works in both places without registering again or changing your phone number.

Before you travel: set-up checklist

1. Download the Chinese DiDi app (DiDi China: Ride Hailing) from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Register with your own mobile number. You will receive a verification code by SMS, so keep roaming on or make sure the SIM you will use in China can receive texts.
3. Switch the language to English if the app opens in Chinese.
4. Add an international bank card under payment methods. Doing this before the first ride avoids problems at the end of the trip.
5. Allow location access. The app uses location to find drivers, plan the route and calculate the fare.

Booking through Alipay or WeChat instead

If you already use Alipay or WeChat Pay in China, you can book rides inside those apps:

• Alipay: open Transport, then Taxi, then enter pickup and destination. China Daily notes that Alipay supports foreign bank cards.
• WeChat: go to Me, then Services, and open the transport or DiDi entry.

These options are handy if your card works in Alipay but you have trouble adding it in DiDi. The standalone DiDi app is the one whose official listing describes English customer service and translated driver chat.

How to book a DiDi in China

1. Enter your destination. Having the Chinese name or address of the place saved makes searching easier.
2. Check the pickup point on the map and move the pin if needed.
3. Choose a ride type. Common options are Express (private car), Taxi (a licensed taxi), and higher categories such as Premier and Luxe.
4. Confirm the request, then check the plate number and car model in the app before you get in.
5. Pay in the app at the end of the ride with the method you set up.

Taxi or Express?

Both are booked in the same app. Taxi sends a licensed city taxi, while Express sends a private car. If you prefer to call, many cities also have a taxi hotline, 95128. Compare the options and estimated prices that the app shows for your trip; this guide does not list Chinese fares because they vary by city and time.

Tips for a smooth ride

• Save addresses in Chinese for your hotel and main stops, so you can show or paste them if the driver asks.
• Use the in-app chat, which translates automatically, rather than calling the driver.
• Check the plate number every time before getting in.
• Hong Kong: the same Chinese DiDi app books taxis in Hong Kong, and a December 2025 report says it accepts WeChat Pay HK, AlipayHK and international credit cards there.
• Macau is not listed by DiDi as a service area. See Where does DiDi work?.

Related guides

• What is DiDi?
• DiDi apps explained
• Where does DiDi work?
• DiDi in Japan