Use Didi or AMap in China.
Match the car.
A practical foreign-visitor guide to mainland China’s Didi and AMap Global services, Alipay and WeChat ride-hailing entries, official taxi ranks and the handoff where most trips go wrong.
- 01PICKUPExact entrance入口
- 02VEHICLEPlate and car match车牌
- 03DESTINATIONChinese address saved地址
Illustration only — always use the live order and official pickup signs.
For mainland China, use 滴滴出行, AMap Global, or a ride-hailing entry inside Alipay or WeChat. The overseas DiDi Rider app is not the mainland Didi service.
The difficult part is not tapping “book.” It is making the same real-world place visible to you, the app and the driver. Treat the pickup point as a meeting appointment—not a general location.
Airports, railway stations, malls and attractions may separate ride-hailing cars from taxis and private vehicles. Match the app’s zone, floor, gate or landmark with current signs before requesting.
Start with the route you can recover
滴滴出行
Use Didi’s passenger service for mainland China. The official visitor guide says foreign mobile numbers and international credit cards are supported, but the exact registration and checkout result still depends on the live flow.
Open Didi’s official download page ↗AMap Global · 高德地图
The English AMap service now includes ride-hailing for international visitors. Use the current Ride Hailing entry, then confirm pickup, destination, service and payment on the live screen.
Alipay
The government visitor guide describes the route as Transport → Taxi, then pickup and destination. Labels can move as the app changes.
Prepare Alipay before arrival →The official route is described as Me → Services → Mobility / Ride Hailing. Availability and labels can vary by account and current interface.
Staffed taxi rank
At an airport, station or major venue, follow the official taxi signage and queue. Ignore people who approach you away from the official pickup route.
Prepare both ends of the journey
Example: Terminal 3, P5 car park, Zone D—not only the airport name.
Save the accommodation or venue name in Chinese and a phone number when appropriate.
Keep the live order reachable
You may need mobile data to receive updates, contact the driver and complete payment. Save the Chinese addresses offline as a fallback.
Keep the registered number active
Registration or recovery may require a message. Do not assume an eSIM without voice/SMS can receive every code or call.
Carry an independent backup
A listed international-card route is not a guarantee that every card or issuer will approve. Keep another card and RMB cash for a staffed taxi or other supported option.
Choose from the live offer—not the label alone
China’s official visitor guide names four Didi categories. The current mainland screen controls what is actually available, what vehicle accepts the request, its displayed capacity and estimate.
Standard app ride
Use when the live offer fits the number of passengers and luggage. Read the displayed capacity and pickup details before requesting.
Licensed taxi through the app
The app can provide the dispatch route, but the current screen and local taxi pricing method control the actual fare and payment flow.
Higher-service category
Compare the current estimate and vehicle information. The name alone is not a promise of a particular model, seats or luggage space.
Premium live option
Availability can be limited by city, time and account. Confirm the final offer rather than planning around this category in advance.
How to use Didi or AMap in China, step by step
These are original, privacy-safe interface diagrams—not provider screenshots. Labels and layout can change by app version, account, language and city. Read the current price, consent and payment screen before confirming.
Didi · 滴滴出行
- WELCOME+44 7••• ••• ••18SMS code: ••••••CONTINUE01
Install the mainland service and sign in
Open Didi’s official download page and choose the mainland passenger service, not overseas DiDi Rider. Select your country code, enter a reachable mobile number and complete the SMS step. Review permissions instead of granting everything automatically.
- BEFORE THE RIDEPayment methodInternational card •••• 2048READY02
Prepare payment before requesting
Add only a payment method offered in the current mainland flow. Complete issuer verification yourself; never give a driver or “helper” a card photo, SMS code, password or payment QR code. Keep another card and RMB cash for a staffed taxi.
- PICKUPTerminal 3 · Zone DWhere to?SET DESTINATION03
Set pickup first, then destination
Place the pin on the real entrance, road side, floor or numbered ride-hailing zone. Enter the destination and compare its Chinese name and address with your booking. Do not accept a similar English place name without checking.
- SELECT A SERVICECurrent optionsCapacity · estimate · paymentREQUEST RIDE04
Read the live offer and request
Choose only from services shown on your screen. Check capacity, displayed estimate, pickup and payment route. Prices and service names change; the live confirmation controls, not an old screenshot or fare table.
- DRIVER ARRIVING京A ••7XWhite sedan · 2 minMATCH BEFORE BOARDING05
Wait safely and match the car
Stop moving after acceptance. Use in-order messaging when possible. Before opening the door, match the full live plate and vehicle details; the masked example here intentionally hides identifying information.
AMap Global · 高德地图
- AMAP GLOBALEnglish+1 202 ••• ••41SIGN IN01
Install the official AMap Global app
Check that the store developer is AutoNavi / Gaode. Open the international app, choose a supported language and sign in with the current country-code and mobile-number flow. The provider says numbers from 65 countries and regions are supported.
- HOMERide HailingMaps · Transit · TaxiOPEN02
Open Ride Hailing
From the current home or transport tools, choose Ride Hailing. If the entry is absent, update the official app and check account, language and city availability; do not install a lookalike APK.
- FROMSouth Gate · RoadsideTO: Hotel Chinese nameCONFIRM ROUTE03
Confirm both map points
AMap is also a map, so verify the road-accessible entrance—not just the building pin. Enter the destination, inspect the Chinese result and compare it with the hotel, venue or booking confirmation.
- RIDE OPTIONSLive providersEstimate · seats · paymentCALL A RIDE04
Select a live option and payment route
AMap may present available ride providers or categories. Read which options are selected, capacity, estimate and payment method; deselect anything you do not want before tapping the final request button.
- RIDE ACCEPTED沪B ••3QBlack MPV · Gate 6CHECK PLATE05
Use the order page through drop-off
Follow the driver marker, stay at the confirmed pickup point and use the official order contact route. Match plate and vehicle before boarding, keep the order open until payment finishes, then preserve the trip record for support or a lost item.
Use the same checks in every app
- 01
Set the pickup pin at the real entrance
Zoom in. Confirm gate, building side, road direction, level and official pickup zone. If unsure, ask staff before requesting.
- 02
Enter the full destination
Compare the Chinese name and address with the accommodation, venue or booking confirmation. Similar English names may identify different places.
- 03
Read the live offer
Choose only among services shown in the current app. Check the displayed price information, capacity and payment route; do not rely on an old fixed-fare table.
- 04
Stop moving once a driver accepts
Watch the car approach from a safe waiting place. If you must move, update the pin or send the exact new landmark through the official order channel.
- 05
Match before opening the door
Compare the live order with the plate and identifying vehicle details. If they do not match, do not board—even if someone knows your destination.
- 06
Confirm the destination, then travel
Show the Chinese destination when needed. Keep the live order available until drop-off and payment are complete.
Navigate to the transport layer—not just the building
Follow ride-hailing signs first
Terminals may direct app-based cars to a car park, floor or numbered zone. Official taxi queues can be elsewhere.
Check the station and exit
Confirm the full station name, then the exact exit, level or pickup area. Large stations may place vehicles on different sides.
Use a named gate or landmark
A map pin inside a large complex may not be accessible by car. Move to an official curb or gate before requesting.
Ask which entrance vehicles use
Some properties have a lobby driveway; others use a nearby public curb. Save the Chinese hotel name and address.
Ride-hailing and taxis solve different failures
Entered before request; verify the Chinese address.
Show the Chinese address to the driver.
Exact pin and designated app pickup zone.
Follow the staffed or signed taxi queue.
Use methods shown in the live order; do not assume cash.
Confirm available payment methods before departure when uncertain.
Useful when destination and order communication are working.
Useful when app login, data, SMS or card setup fails.
If the handoff breaks, protect yourself first
Stop changing locations
Check the pin and zone, send the Chinese landmark, and ask official staff where app cars collect passengers. Keep communication inside the order when possible.
Do not enter the car
Move to a safe, visible place. Recheck the live order and use the app’s official help route. A spoken destination does not replace the plate match.
Use an independent transport route
Do not hand a stranger your phone, card, passport or verification code. Use a staffed taxi queue, accommodation desk or venue information counter.
Open payment recovery →Preserve the order evidence
Save the trip time, route and vehicle details, then use the provider’s official in-app help or passenger service channel. Share only what support needs.
Leave the unsafe situation
Go to a staffed or public place and call police on 110. Provider support is not emergency dispatch.
Open emergency help →Use the current provider route
Didi’s official site lists the passenger service number +86 400 0000 999. Language and connection availability are not guaranteed; use the live app help when accessible.
Five useful pickup phrases
I am at entrance ____.
Please come to this pickup point.
Please follow navigation to this address.
The plate does not match. I will not get in.
Where is the ride-hailing pickup point?
Show the address or live order with the phrase. Hide unrelated passport, bank-card and verification-code information.
Ride-hailing and taxi FAQ
Can foreigners use Didi in mainland China?
Yes. China’s official visitor guide lists Didi as a ride-hailing route for foreign visitors and says the mainland service supports foreign mobile numbers and international credit cards. Registration and payment can still depend on the current app flow, phone number, card and issuer, so keep a staffed taxi-rank fallback.
Which Didi app should I use in mainland China?
Use the mainland China 滴滴出行 passenger service or a ride-hailing entry inside Alipay or WeChat. Didi’s own privacy notice says the overseas DiDi Rider app does not provide ride-hailing service in mainland China.
Can I book a taxi through Alipay or WeChat?
China’s official visitor guide describes ride-hailing routes in both apps: Transport then Taxi in Alipay, and Me, Services, Mobility or Ride Hailing in WeChat. Labels and availability can change, so follow the current screen rather than an old screenshot.
Can I use AMap Global (Gaode Maps) to book a ride in China?
Yes, where the current AMap Global account and city show Ride Hailing. The English AMap service launched ride-hailing for international visitors in 2026 and supports one-tap login with mobile numbers from 65 countries and regions. Store availability, login, payment, city coverage and labels can still vary, so confirm the live screen and keep an official taxi fallback.
What should I do if the driver cannot find me?
Do not keep moving between curbs. Check the pickup pin, entrance or zone number, send the Chinese pickup-point text, and ask nearby official staff where app-based cars collect passengers. If the order cannot be recovered, cancel only through the live app flow and use a staffed taxi rank or another official provider.
How do I know I am entering the correct car?
Before boarding, compare the live order with the vehicle plate and the identifying details shown in the app. If the plate or car does not match, do not enter. In immediate danger call China police on 110.
Which Didi car type should I choose in China?
China’s official visitor guide lists Express, Taxi, Premier and Luxe as Didi service categories. Use only the options shown in your live mainland-China screen and compare the displayed capacity, estimate, pickup and payment route. A category name does not guarantee a fixed vehicle, seat count, luggage capacity, price or availability.
Official pages checked for this guide
Reviewed 27 August 2026. Live app screens, local traffic rules, airport or station signs and the current order control the actual pickup, available service, capacity, payment route and price. We deliberately do not publish fixed fares, universal vehicle capacity, universal airport zones or guaranteed card acceptance.
- State Council / Ministry of Commerce — 2025 Guide to Working and Living in ChinaDidi, Alipay and WeChat ride-hailing routes for foreign visitors; foreign-number and international-card support statement.
- Didi — Official download pageMainland passenger app and international-version distinction.
- Didi — DiDi Rider privacy notice for users in ChinaOfficial clarification that the overseas DiDi Rider app does not provide ride-hailing service in mainland China.
- Didi — Official global siteCurrent product overview and published passenger service contact.
- China Tourism News / Ministry of Culture and Tourism — AMap Global ride-hailing launchEnglish AMap ride-hailing launch and supported international mobile-number statement.
- Google Play — AMap Global official listingCurrent app identity, developer and China navigation feature listing.