Getting around China can feel intimidating at first, especially with language barriers and unfamiliar transport systems. Didi Chuxing makes moving around cities, train stations and airports far easier and quickly became one of our most-used apps while travelling in China.
Didi is China’s main ride-hailing app and works in a similar way to Uber or Grab. Once set up, it removes the need to negotiate fares, carry cash or try to explain destinations in Mandarin.
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What Is Didi Chuxing?
Didi Chuxing is China’s largest ride-hailing platform and is used daily by locals, expats and travellers. You can book rides through:
- The standalone Didi app
- Alipay
Although Didi is built into both WeChat and Alipay, we chose to download the separate Didi app. My sister, who lives in China, mentioned that many expats prefer this option as it keeps ride history and transport activity in one place. For short-term travellers, it likely doesn’t make a big difference, but we found the standalone app simple and easy to manage.
Is Didi Available in English?
Yes. The Didi app is available in English and one of its biggest advantages is that you can:
- Enter destinations in English or Chinese
- Choose different ride types depending on budget
- Communicate with drivers using in-app chat with auto-translate
This makes it far less stressful than trying to hail taxis on the street.
Setting Up Didi Before You Go
We recommend downloading and setting up Didi before arriving in China, while you still have reliable internet access.
Basic setup includes:
- Downloading the app
- Linking WeChat Pay or Alipay
- Allowing location access
- Familiarising yourself with the interface
Once this is done, booking rides becomes very straightforward.
Paying for Didi Rides
All payments are handled directly within Didi, whether you’re using the standalone Didi app or accessing it through WeChat or Alipay. Payments are processed via WeChat Pay or Alipay, so there’s no need to carry cash or pay the driver directly.
A few important things we noticed:
- Sometimes payments are deducted automatically
- Other times you’ll need to manually confirm the payment
- If a payment hasn’t gone through, don’t panic
- You’ll receive reminders and won’t be able to book another ride until it’s settled
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your payment history, especially if you’re moving around frequently.
Checking Fares and Toll Charges
Always check the initial quoted fare against the final charge.
Occasionally:
- Tolls are added to the fare
- Drivers should notify you if tolls apply, but this doesn’t always happen
We were once charged for tolls we didn’t pass through. After contacting Didi customer service via the in-app chat and explaining the situation, the charge was refunded without any issues. We’ve experienced similar things outside China as well, so we’re now quite careful about checking fares.
Using Didi in Smaller Towns
Didi works well in most cities, but availability can vary in smaller towns.
For example, in Fenghuang Ancient Town, Didi didn’t always operate fully. In these situations, the app automatically switched to a local taxi option, which still worked well and followed the same payment process.
At airports and train stations, you may be approached by drivers claiming to offer Didi rides. We were advised to avoid these unofficial offers, as the fare won’t appear in the app and charges aren’t transparent. To stay on the safe side, it’s best to always book your ride directly through the Didi app.
Communicating With Drivers
One of Didi’s most useful features is the in-app chat with auto-translation. This makes it much easier to:
- Clarify pickup points
- Explain where you’re standing
- Communicate near busy train stations or tourist areas
Even simple messages become manageable with the built-in translation.When booking a Didi, we often took a quick photo of ourselves standing under a nearby sign so the driver could easily recognise us. In busy areas where lots of people were waiting, this made pickups much smoother. The driver would usually reply with a thumbs-up, and we never missed a ride using this approach.
Rating Drivers and Feedback
At the end of each ride, you’ll be prompted to rate your driver and leave feedback. Taking a moment to do this, it helps improve service standards and supports drivers who provide good experiences.
When Didi Is Most Useful
We used Didi frequently for:
- Train station pickups and drop-offs
- Airport transfers
- Moving between attractions
- Short city trips when public transport felt overwhelming
Didi is generally affordable, reliable and far less stressful than navigating taxis, buses or trains on your own. When travelling as a couple or in a small group, we often found it not only convenient but sometimes cheaper than public transport. Even when it cost a few dollars more, the time saved and reduced hassle made it well worth it.
Final Tohu Tip
Didi quickly became one of the easiest ways to get around China. Once you’re set up, it removes a lot of uncertainty and allows you to focus on enjoying the experience rather than worrying about logistics.
Having mobile data and a backup payment option makes everything smoother, especially in busy or unfamiliar areas.
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