How to Use Didi in China 2026 as a Foreigner – Full English Guide (International Cards, No Chinese Phone Needed)

In China in 2026, taking a ride basically means using ride-hailing apps. Paying with cash or hailing a taxi on the street has almost completely disappeared. In terms of market share, Didi Chuxing firmly holds the top spot (over 70%), operating in more than 400 cities—from megacities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou all the way down to small county towns

Among all the ride-hailing apps, Didi is by far the most foreigner-friendly:

• It allows registration with an international mobile number
• Just like Uber, it offers multiple ride options: Express (budget), Premier (comfort), and traditional taxis
• Like Grab in Southeast Asia, it deeply integrates local payment methods and specifically provides an English interface + international credit/debit card support
• Although China’s overall public safety and travel environment are already extremely safe, Didi’s safety features are especially comprehensive: trip sharing, emergency contacts, one-tap alarm (directly connected to 110 police), number privacy protection, in-car audio recording—all included. You can travel solo with peace of mind

One sentence summary: If you can only download one ride-hailing app in China, choose Didi—it’s the most practical, safest, and has the widest coverage

Now, let’s get to the main point: How foreigners can use Didi in China from zero to successfully booking a ride (step-by-step)

Two Ways to Use Didi

1. Mini Program

How to register and use WeChat/Alipay, see:

1. A Foreigner’s Guide to Registering and Using Alipay in China
2. How Foreigners Can Sign Up for WeChat Pay (WeXin Pay) and Use It in China

If you have already registered WeChat or Alipay, completed real-name verification, and linked a bank card, you can directly use the Didi Mini Program. The advantage of this method is that there’s no need to download an extra app, saving phone storage space

However, since the Mini Program is embedded in WeChat or Alipay, you can only use that platform’s own payment method — for example, only WeChat Pay in the WeChat Mini Program and only Alipay in the Alipay Mini Program — which limits payment flexibility to some extent

Additionally, because the Mini Program is inside another app, finding and launching it can feel a bit more cumbersome

2. Download the App

The app provides a noticeably better user experience. Moreover, the Didi app supports more diverse payment methods — not only WeChat Pay and Alipay, but you can also bind credit\debit cards directly. This makes payment options much more flexible and unrestricted by a single payment channel

Registering and Using Didi

The user interface of the Didi Mini Program and the full app is essentially identical, so the following steps will be demonstrated using the app

Registration

If you choose the Didi Mini Program, you can log in directly with WeChat or Alipay (no extra registration needed), but registering with a phone number is also supported

1. After downloading, open the app and tap [Account] in the bottom-right corner to go straight to the login page
2. Select your country’s phone code, enter your mobile number, complete the SMS verification, and registration is done

Setting Up Payment Methods

Didi is almost entirely an online ride-hailing service. Currently, only traditional taxis accept cash — if you want more comfortable and faster ride options, you must set up an online payment method

1. Tap [Account] → [Wallet] → [Payment Methods]

2. Choose and add your preferred payment method.

   Supported options include Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club credit/debit cards, as well as WeChat Pay, Alipay, Apple Pay, etc

   Recommendation from the author: Enable password-free automatic payment. This way, Didi will automatically deduct the fare when your trip ends, letting you hop off and go straight to your next destination. Password-free payments are capped at 500 RMB per transaction, making it both extremely safe and convenient

Start Booking a Ride

The author recommends granting Didi permanent access to your location. This allows Didi to quickly detect your position and makes it easy to see the real-time distance between you and the driver

1. On the home screen, enter your destination

   Tip: It’s best to look up the address in another map app first, copy it, then paste it here and select the best-matching result. Compare the pin Didi places with the location in your other map app to confirm it’s correct

   If location services are enabled, your current position will automatically be set as the pickup point. Otherwise, you’ll need to manually enter both the pickup and drop-off locations

   Friendly tip: You can drag the map pin to choose a more convenient nearby spot for the driver to pick you up

2. Choose your preferred route and vehicle type

   Vehicle types generally include Economy, Comfort, and Premier, with prices increasing in that order

   Didi has very comprehensive safety features. Tap the Safety button to access the safety settings page, where you can enable various safety options, read safety tips, share your trip with others, or use the direct emergency alarm function if needed

3. After tapping Confirm, the app will automatically match you with a driver. Once successful, you’ll see the following page showing the real-time distance to the vehicle, vehicle type, license plate number, and car color. Now just wait for the car to arrive

   In China, ride-hailing matches are usually very fast, but it’s a good idea to order 5–10 minutes in advance so you have time to get ready. Of course, Didi also supports scheduling rides for a later time

   You can message the driver in real time — messages are translated instantly, so no need to worry about language barriers

4. When the vehicle arrives, use the car details shown on your phone to locate it. After you get in, the driver will need to enter the last 4 digits of your phone number into their own app to verify that they’ve picked up the correct passenger

   In China, most ride-hailing drivers do not speak English. It’s recommended to save a screenshot of the last 4 digits of your phone number. That way, every time you get in, just show the picture to the driver — quick and hassle-free

5. When you reach your destination, unless you deliberately chose a taxi that accepts cash, you can simply get out and leave. If password-free payment is enabled, the fare is deducted automatically. Otherwise, you can pay manually the next time you open the app (Didi will remind you of any outstanding amount before your next ride)

Ride-Hailing Costs

Since fares vary by city and vehicle type, it's impossible to list them all individually, but Didi provides detailed pricing rules directly in the app

1. Set your Didi app's location to the city where you want to check fares
2. Tap [Account] → [Settings] → [User Guide]
3. Select the vehicle type you want to view, and you'll see the base fare along with applicable surcharges

The image below shows Beijing's standard Express ride pricing rules for everyday use in 2026

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if there’s a problem with the trip, fare, or a dispute with the driver?

You can contact Didi customer service directly through the in-app support page, and they will help resolve the issue

Is ride-hailing safe?

In 2026, ride-hailing in China is very safe. Platform compliance exceeds 85%. Didi provides full-trip monitoring, one-tap emergency alarm directly connected to 110 (police), in-car audio recording, emergency contacts — everything is covered. China already has excellent public security, and Didi pushes safety features to the maximum. You can use Didi with complete peace of mind

Can I pay with cash on Didi?

Only traditional taxis currently accept cash. Because cash payments bypass the platform, Didi cannot fully protect your rights in case of issues. Plus, China is essentially a cashless society — drivers often can’t give change. It’s strongly recommended to set up online payment for maximum convenience

Is password-free automatic payment safe?

Yes, it’s very safe. There’s a maximum limit of 500 RMB per transaction. You can turn off auto-payment anytime in the payment settings after your trip

How widespread is Didi?

Didi holds over 70% market share nationwide. However, in small county towns, wait times may be longer. In those areas, you can simply hail a traditional taxi on the street

How to take a ride-hailing car at the airport?

Chinese airports have designated ride-hailing pickup zones. Follow the airport signs to the correct area, then set the zone number (usually displayed on signs) as your pickup point in the app