Didi (滴滴, DiDi Chuxing) is China’s dominant ride-hailing platform, comparable to Uber but significantly larger in its home market. In 2026, Didi operates in over 400 Chinese cities and handles hundreds of millions of trips per month.
For foreign visitors, Didi solves several practical problems simultaneously: the language barrier with taxi drivers, the difficulty of street-hailing in unfamiliar areas, and the uncertainty about fare calculation. With Didi, you enter your destination, the app shows you the fare estimate before you confirm, your driver’s route and location are tracked in real-time, and payment is automatic through the app.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Downloading & Setup
Download: The DiDi Global app (also called DiDi International) is available in international App Store and Google Play. This is the international version designed for foreign visitors — download this rather than the Chinese-language domestic app.
Registration:
- Open the app and register with your international phone number
- Enter SMS verification code
- Create a profile with your name
- Link a payment method: the app accepts international Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal in the international version
Language: The DiDi Global app is in English. Drivers receive your destination in Chinese, so there’s no need for you to communicate the address directly.
Booking a Ride
Basic process:
- Open the app and allow location access — the app detects your current position
- Enter your destination (you can type in English or Chinese, or drop a pin on the map)
- The app shows available ride types and estimated prices
- Choose your ride type (Express is standard; Premier if you want a slightly better car)
- Confirm the booking
- The app shows your driver approaching on the map
- Driver arrives, you get in, the route is tracked
- At destination, payment is automatic — no cash needed
Finding your driver: The app shows the driver’s photo, car model, and license plate. Match these before getting in.
Ride Types
Express (快车): Standard Didi. Regular cars (Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Lavida, etc.). Cheapest option. Suitable for most journeys.
Premier (优享): Better cars, higher-rated drivers. Slightly more expensive. Good for airport transfers when you have luggage.
Didi Taxi (出租车): Hails actual licensed taxis through the app. Useful when express cars have surge pricing.
DiDi Luxe (豪华): Premium cars (business class sedans). Significantly more expensive. For special occasions.
DiDi Bus (拼车/顺风车): Shared rides — Didi pools multiple passengers going similar directions. Cheaper but slower and less predictable.
Fares
Didi fares are typically 20–30% cheaper than hailing a taxi on the street, and more predictable.
Example fares in Beijing:
- Airport (PEK) to city centre: ¥85–120 (approximately)
- Cross-city journey (30 minutes): ¥35–55
- Short inner-city trip (10 minutes): ¥15–25
Surge pricing: Didi has surge pricing during peak hours (7–9am, 5–8pm on weekdays) and in heavy rain. The multiplier is shown before you confirm.
Base metering: Standard fare is based on time + distance. There’s a base fare of ¥9–12 in most cities.
Communication with Drivers
The DiDi Global app has a built-in translation function for messaging your driver. If you need to communicate something (e.g., “I’m at the back entrance”), you can type in English and it sends in Chinese.
For airport pickups where there are multiple exits, the app lets you add a note with your specific location.
If there’s a communication issue: Drivers have experience with the Didi system and will generally manage. Your destination is already entered; they just need to drive there.
Airport Pickups
For arrivals at major airports:
- Book a Didi before you leave the terminal (you need to be in China for the app to connect, so book once you land)
- At large airports, there are designated Didi pickup zones — follow the signs for “网约车” (ride-hailing pickup)
- Match your driver’s license plate in the pickup zone
- Do not get in taxis from touts in the arrivals hall — use only the Didi zone or official taxi rank
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK): Ride-hailing pickup is in specific parking sections. The signage to the network appointment vehicle area (网约车) is in Chinese and sometimes not obvious. Ask airport staff if unsure.
Pudong Airport (PVG): Well-organised. The Didi pickup area is adjacent to the taxi rank.
Practical Tips
- Have your destination written in Chinese. If the app can’t find your destination, showing the driver a Chinese address helps. Most hotels will provide their address in Chinese on their booking confirmation.
- Set up Didi before you need it — not while standing on a rainy street trying to get a car.
- Star drivers: After each trip, you can rate the driver. Better-rated drivers often get more bookings, so the feedback loop works.
- Cancellation fees: Cancelling after a driver accepts incurs a small fee (¥5–10). Minimise unnecessary cancellations.
- Lost items: The app has a lost and found process. Contact through the app if you leave something in a car.
- Safety features: The app tracks your route and has an emergency button. Share your trip status with contacts for added peace of mind on longer or late-night journeys.
When Didi Might Not Work
- Very rural areas may have limited Didi supply. Local taxis or guesthouses can arrange transport.
- During major national holidays, surge pricing can be very high and wait times long. Taxis and metro may be more practical.
- Very short distances (under 1km) — sometimes drivers prefer not to accept very short trips. If this happens, walk or take a bike-share.
- Night in small cities — supply drops after midnight in smaller cities. Have a backup plan for late-night travel.