How to Use Taxis and DiDi in China as a Foreigner (2026)

Last reviewed: August 5, 2026

Best for: First-time international visitors who want to use street taxis, DiDi, or Amap ride-hailing in mainland China.

Foreign visitors can get around Chinese cities by hailing a licensed taxi, booking a ride through DiDi, or using the ride-hailing section of Amap (Gaode Maps). The main difficulties are usually not finding a car—they are entering the correct destination, choosing the right service type, meeting the driver at a large station or airport, and completing payment.

For most first-time visitors, DiDi is the easiest app-based starting point when an English interface is available. Amap is useful because it can compare quotes from multiple ride providers, but parts of its ride-hailing interface may appear in Chinese. A licensed street taxi remains a practical backup when your phone, account, or payment method fails.

Prepare before arrival: Read Apps to Download Before Visiting China → and How to Pay in China as a Foreigner →

Quick Answer

DiDi: Usually the simplest ride-hailing option for an international visitor, especially if the interface displays English.
Amap (Gaode Maps): A map and ride-comparison platform that can request quotes from several providers at once.
Street taxi: Useful at official airport and railway-station ranks or when an app is not working.
Express (快车): The normal economy ride-hailing category and the best default for most city trips.
Premium (专车): A more expensive category intended to offer a better vehicle and higher service standard.
Hitch (顺风车): Private-car cost sharing with a driver already traveling in a similar direction; it is not the same as an on-demand taxi.
Check the app quote before booking. Ride-hailing prices vary by city, distance, demand, time, provider, vehicle category, tolls, and discounts.

Taxi, DiDi, or Amap: Which Should You Use?

Method	Best For	Main Advantage	Main Limitation
DiDi	Most everyday city trips	Destination, vehicle, route, estimated fare, and payment remain in one booking	Account, phone, location, and payment setup can fail
Amap ride-hailing	Comparing providers or finding a car during busy periods	Can show multiple providers and service levels	More Chinese text and more choices to review
Street taxi	Official airport ranks, railway stations, or app failure	No ride-hailing account is required	You need to communicate the destination and confirm payment options
Hotel-arranged car	Very early departures, large luggage, or travelers needing assistance	The hotel can explain the pickup and destination	May cost more and should be priced in advance

Keep at least two methods available. For example, prepare DiDi but save the destination in Chinese in case you need a street taxi.

What Express, Premium, Hitch, and Taxi Mean

Chinese Label	Common English Label	What It Usually Means	Typical Price Level
特惠快车	Discount Express	A discounted economy order; matching or pickup may take longer and conditions can differ	Lowest on-demand option when available
快车	Express	Standard economy ride-hailing in an ordinary private vehicle	Low to medium
出租车	Taxi	A licensed metered taxi, either hailed on the street or dispatched through an app	Government-regulated local meter rate
专车	Premium	A higher service category, generally with a better vehicle and higher service expectations	Medium to high
豪华车	Luxury	A luxury-vehicle category available in selected places	Highest
顺风车	Hitch or carpool	Cost sharing with a private driver whose own route is similar to yours	Often cheaper, but not directly comparable with an on-demand ride

Names and availability change by platform and city. “Express” is the best default when you simply need a normal ride. “Premium” can be useful for business travel, extra comfort, or a more formal pickup. “Hitch” requires flexibility because the driver is not operating like an on-demand taxi and may negotiate the pickup point or timing through the platform.

Do not confuse Hitch with Express. Chinese transport rules define private-car pooling, also called 顺风车, as cost sharing between people traveling along a similar route. It is legally distinct from commercial ride-hailing. For a first airport arrival, a taxi or standard ride-hailing order is normally more predictable.

How Much Do Taxis and Ride-Hailing Cost?

There is no single nationwide DiDi or Amap price. Ride-hailing platforms calculate an estimate using the route, local provider, vehicle type, traffic, real-time supply, demand, tolls, promotions, and other disclosed charges. Review the estimated total and selected service before tapping the confirmation button.

Street taxis use the local meter and government-published fare rules. As a concrete Shenzhen example, the posted basic fare is RMB 10 for the first 2 kilometers and RMB 2.60 for each additional kilometer. A simple 10-kilometer daytime journey is therefore about RMB 31 before waiting time, long-distance surcharges, tolls, airport or station charges, and other applicable items. Shenzhen also publishes a 30% night surcharge from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

The table below is only a planning example for an approximately 10-kilometer, off-peak urban trip in a major mainland city. It is not a guaranteed quote:

Ride Type	Illustrative Range	What Can Change the Total
Hitch	About RMB 15–35	Whether a suitable driver accepts, pickup flexibility, route match, and shared costs
Discount Express	About RMB 20–45	Promotions, provider, demand, and the conditions shown for the discounted order
Express	About RMB 25–55	City, traffic, demand, provider, tolls, and pickup fee
Street taxi	Often around RMB 30–50	Local meter rate, waiting, night charge, tolls, and city-specific surcharges
Premium	About RMB 45–90+	Vehicle category, city, demand, waiting, tolls, and pickup arrangements

Use these ranges only to estimate your travel budget. The price displayed in the app immediately before booking—or the official taxi meter and fare notice—is the relevant price for your actual journey. Screenshot an app estimate if you need to compare the final charge later.

What to Prepare Before Requesting a Ride

Working mobile data: You need it to locate the car and receive driver messages. See the guide to internet access in China.
A reachable phone number: Drivers sometimes call when a pickup point is unclear.
Location permission: Check the pickup pin rather than assuming GPS chose the correct entrance.
A prepared payment method: Connect Alipay, WeChat Pay, or another method accepted by the service before an urgent trip.
The destination in Chinese: Save the property or station name and full street address.
A backup plan: Save the nearest official taxi rank or ask the hotel reception for help.

How to Use DiDi Step by Step

1. Open DiDi

Depending on your device and account, you may use the DiDi app or access DiDi through a supported Alipay or WeChat entry. Interface language and available services can differ by version and location, so complete setup before you are standing at an airport pickup zone.

2. Confirm the pickup point

Zoom in and move the pin to the correct side of the road, building gate, hotel entrance, airport zone, or railway-station level. The nearest road is not always accessible from your actual position.

3. Enter the destination

Search for a recognizable place name, then compare the Chinese name, district, and map location. For a railway trip, confirm the exact station—for example, Shenzhen North is not Shenzhen Railway Station. Read the China train-ticket booking guide before planning a station transfer.

4. Choose the service

Select Express for a normal city ride. Choose Premium only if the extra comfort and service justify the displayed price. If you select multiple providers or categories, understand that the first available eligible driver may accept the order.

5. Review the estimate and payment method

Check the vehicle category, estimated fare, discounts, payment method, and any notice about tolls or additional charges. A foreign card linked to Alipay or WeChat may work for many transactions, but acceptance is not guaranteed for every service or account.

6. Match the vehicle

Before entering, compare the license plate, vehicle color and model, and driver information with the order. Do not enter a different car because someone says they are your driver.

7. Confirm the trip and final charge

Follow the route in the app. At the end, review the final amount and any toll, waiting, or parking charge. Keep the electronic receipt or trip record until you are satisfied that payment is complete.

How to Request a Ride in Amap

Amap is called 高德地图 in Chinese and may also appear as Gaode Maps. Its ride-hailing section is commonly labeled 打车. Unlike a single-fleet operator, Amap can act as an aggregator and display offers from multiple ride providers.

Open Amap and verify your current location.
Tap 打车 if it is not already shown on the main screen.
Enter the Chinese destination and check the map result.
Review the providers and vehicle categories selected.
Compare estimated prices and waiting times.
Confirm the order and watch which provider accepts it.
Match the plate, vehicle, and driver shown in the accepted order.
Complete payment through the method presented in your account.

Amap can be useful when one platform has no nearby cars, but more providers also mean more fare rules and service names to review. Do not select every option blindly. Check the quote, cancellation conditions, and accepted order before pickup.

How to Take a Street Taxi

Use a marked, licensed taxi or an official taxi queue. At an airport, railway station, or border terminal, follow signs for Taxi or 出租车. Do not follow an unlicensed driver who approaches you inside the terminal and offers a “special price.”

Show the Chinese destination name and full address.
Make sure the meter is used unless an official local rule says otherwise.
Keep the route open on your map if possible.
Pay the metered fare plus legitimate tolls or published surcharges.
Ask for the printed or electronic receipt before leaving.

Ask about payment before the taxi departs if you only have an overseas card. RMB cash is an important backup. Prepare payment with the guide to Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards, and cash in China.

Airport and Railway-Station Pickups

App-based cars often cannot stop at the same curb as ordinary arrivals traffic. Airports and major stations may assign specific ride-hailing garages, floors, zones, or numbered pillars. After requesting the car, follow signs for 网约车 and read the pickup instructions shown in the order.

For a first arrival with heavy luggage, compare two options:

Official taxi rank: Easier to locate, but there may be a queue and the driver may not speak English.
Ride-hailing pickup: The destination and payment are recorded, but finding the correct garage or zone can take longer.

Do not request a car until you have collected luggage and can reach the designated pickup area. Excessive driver waiting may lead to cancellation or additional charges.

Payment, Tolls, and Receipts

For ride-hailing, the app usually presents the payment method and final bill. Depending on the service, account, and platform, payment may be automatic or require confirmation after the trip. Check that the selected method works before traveling late at night.

The displayed estimate may not include every possible change. Legitimate additions can include:

Road, bridge, or expressway tolls
Airport or station parking and pickup charges disclosed by the platform
Waiting time
A destination or route change requested during the trip
Published taxi night or long-distance surcharges

Do not send money to a driver’s personal QR code merely because the app has not yet completed settlement. First review the order and use in-app support if the requested amount does not match the trip record.

Useful Chinese Messages

English	Chinese
I am at the pickup point shown in the app.	我在软件显示的上车点。
I am beside Gate 3.	我在3号门旁边。
Please message me. I do not speak Chinese.	请给我发文字消息，我不会说中文。
Is the license plate ending in 1234?	车牌尾号是1234吗？
Please use the meter.	请打表。
Please take me to this address.	请送我到这个地址。
Please give me a receipt.	请给我发票。

Safety and Scam Prevention

Use the official taxi line or book inside a recognized platform.
Check the plate, vehicle, and driver before entering.
Do not accept an off-platform replacement car.
Wear a seat belt and keep the route visible.
Share the trip record with a travel companion when the feature is available.
Keep your phone and belongings with you before closing the door.
Use in-app support for fare disputes; call police at 110 in an emergency.

For Hitch trips, read the driver, vehicle, pickup, cancellation, and safety information especially carefully. Because Hitch is route-sharing rather than ordinary on-demand transport, allow more time and do not move communication or payment outside the platform.

Common Problems and Fixes

The driver calls but you do not speak Chinese

Send an in-app text message with your gate, pillar, building, or clothing description. Use a translation app and ask hotel or station staff to help identify the pickup point.

The GPS pickup point is wrong

Cancel before matching if possible, move the pin, and select a named entrance. After matching, message the driver rather than expecting them to guess your location.

The destination search shows several branches

Compare the district, Chinese address, telephone number, and map pin. This is especially important for hotel chains, airports with multiple terminals, and cities with several railway stations.

Your payment method fails

Try another method already available in the account, follow the platform’s payment instructions, or contact support. Do not repeatedly create new accounts while an unpaid order remains open.

No driver accepts the order

Try another vehicle category, move to a legal pickup point, compare Amap providers, wait a few minutes, or use an official taxi queue. During severe weather or a holiday, metro or rail may be more reliable.

The final fare is higher than the estimate

Open the itemized bill and check route changes, waiting time, tolls, parking, and surcharges. Screenshot the original estimate and use platform support if an item appears incorrect.

Taxi and Ride-Hailing Checklist

☐ Install or test DiDi before an urgent journey
☐ Save Amap as a comparison and backup option
☐ Prepare mobile data and a reachable phone number
☐ Save the destination and address in Chinese
☐ Check the pickup pin and correct entrance
☐ Select the intended ride category
☐ Review the estimate and payment method
☐ Match the plate, car, and driver
☐ Keep the trip record and receipt
☐ Use an official taxi queue as your backup

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners use DiDi in China?

Yes. International visitors can use supported DiDi access points, but registration, interface language, phone verification, and payment availability can depend on the app version and account. Set it up before you need an urgent ride.

Can foreigners use Amap to call a car?

Yes, when the ride-hailing feature and account setup are available. Amap can compare several providers, although more of the booking flow may appear in Chinese than in an English DiDi interface.

What is the difference between Express and Premium?

Express is the standard economy category for an ordinary city ride. Premium generally costs more in exchange for a higher vehicle and service category. Always compare the live quote and vehicle description.

Is Hitch the cheapest way to travel?

It can be cheaper because riders share part of the private driver’s trip cost, but matching, pickup, timing, and route are less predictable. It is not simply a discounted taxi.

Can I pay a Chinese taxi with an international credit card?

Do not assume a street taxi can accept an overseas card directly. Prepare Alipay or WeChat Pay and carry RMB cash as a backup. Ride-hailing payment availability depends on the platform and your linked method.

Should I take a taxi offered by someone inside the airport?

No. Follow signs to the official taxi rank or designated ride-hailing pickup area. Avoid unsolicited drivers offering an off-meter or off-platform ride.

Final Advice

Use DiDi Express as a practical first choice, Amap when you want to compare providers, and a licensed street taxi as your low-tech backup. Save every important destination in Chinese, verify the pickup point and license plate, and check the displayed fare before confirming.

For the first trip after landing, predictability matters more than finding the absolute lowest price. Choose a normal on-demand ride or official taxi queue; try Hitch only after you understand the platform and can accommodate a more flexible pickup and schedule.

Related China Travel Guides

Last reviewed on August 5, 2026. App interfaces, available providers, fare estimates, discounts, payment methods, and local taxi rates can change. Check the current booking screen and local fare notice before traveling.

Sources: 2026 Taxi and Ride-Hailing Management Rules · Ministry of Transport: Ride-Hailing and Private-Car Pooling Safety · Shenzhen Taxi Basic Fare Notice · Shenzhen Metered Taxi Fare Schedule · Amap Official Website