Taxis in China are a convenient, accessible and relatively inexpensive way to get around. In this guide I explain in detail how a foreigner (including travelers from Russia) can order a taxi through DiDi, what options are available, and what to watch out for on the road.
1. Ordering a DiDi Taxi through Alipay
For getting around the city, the most convenient option is DiDi — China's largest ride-hailing service, the local equivalent of Uber. You can order a car through the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay.
In this guide we'll show you how to order a taxi specifically through Alipay. Alipay (支付宝) is the most popular payment app in China. Foreigners can link a Visa card to it and pay almost everywhere: not only for taxis, but also in shops, cafés, restaurants, the metro, buses, vending machines and even with street vendors, simply by scanning a QR code.
If you haven't set up Alipay yet, I recommend doing it in advance. You can read how to download the app, register, link a Visa card and generally figure out how a foreigner pays in China in our detailed guide: How to Pay in China in 2026.
1.1. Where to Find the DiDi Taxi Booking inside Alipay
Alipay has the DiDi Chuxing (滴滴出行) mini-program built in.
How to find it:
1. Open Alipay.
2. On the home screen, look for the «DiDi» or «Transport» icon. If it isn't on the home screen, type «滴滴出行» («DiDi») into the search bar at the top and select «滴滴出行».
3. Tap the mini-program. You're now inside the DiDi app. If the app is in Chinese, tap «Me» (the figure in the bottom-right corner) → «Settings» (at the top of the page, under your phone number) → «Language» and choose English.
Once you're in, the DiDi interface with a map will open.
1.2. How to Book a Ride
1. Allow access to your location. The pickup point is filled in automatically — you can adjust it manually.
2. In the «Where to» field, enter your destination. In most cases the address or the name of the place can be entered in English. DiDi usually has no trouble finding airports, railway stations, popular hotels, landmarks, large shopping malls and many addresses written in Latin script.
3. Important: if the search in English returns no results (this most often applies to small cafés, shops, residential complexes or local venues), ask the hotel staff to write the name or address of your destination in Chinese. They can, for example, show it on a computer screen or send it to you in a message. Then copy the Chinese name (or use your phone's text recognition feature if the address is shown on a screen) and paste it into the DiDi search bar.
4. Choose the ride type:
Express (快车) — the most popular and usually the cheapest option. Rides are performed by private drivers.
Taxi (出租车) — an official city cab, booked through DiDi.
Premier (专车) — higher-class cars with a greater level of comfort.
5. Before you confirm the order, the app shows the estimated fare.
6. Tap «Call Taxi» (or «Confirm»).
7. Phone number confirmation. Sometimes the driver may ask you for the last 4 digits of the phone number linked to your Alipay account. This is a routine check that helps confirm he has picked up the right passenger.
8. After the ride ends, the final amount is charged automatically to the linked bank card via Alipay.
9. An important nuance: the DiDi driver can see that payment will go through Alipay and will never ask for cash — everything is charged cashlessly.
10. Ride receipt. After the trip, the electronic receipt and order details are saved in the DiDi section inside Alipay.
2. Hailing a Cab on the Street: What You Need to Know
Besides booking a taxi through DiDi in Alipay, in China you can also take an ordinary city taxi by flagging it down right on the street. This method is convenient too, but foreigners should know a few important details so the ride goes smoothly.
1. The address in Chinese. Taxi drivers rarely speak English, so always carry your hotel's card with the name and address in Chinese. If you're heading somewhere else, ask the hotel staff to look it up in Baidu Maps and photograph the screen with the Chinese name and address. If needed, simply show the photo to the driver.
2. Always insist on the meter: if you hailed the taxi on the street or took it from an official airport rank, the fare is calculated from the meter reading.
3. How to ask: “Please turn on the meter” → «请打表» (qǐng dǎbiǎo). You can show this phrase on your screen, any driver will understand it, and it's worth showing or repeating it a few times.
4. Make sure the display on the dashboard lights up with the starting price for the first few kilometers (usually 8 to 14 yuan during the day, depending on the city) and the distance.
5. If the driver offers a flat price before switching on the meter — politely insist on the meter or decline the ride.
6. During the ride the meter should be blinking — the amount should increase gradually. If the route uses a toll road, the toll may be added to the final amount separately — that's normal practice.
7. I recommend opening the map in DiDi inside Alipay and following the route. Even if you didn't book through the app, the map helps you confirm the driver is taking an optimal route and not making unnecessary detours.
8. You can pay in cash yuan.
9. A pitfall: there may be no change. Drivers rarely carry a large amount for change. Always keep smaller notes on hand (10, 20, 50 yuan).
10. Paying via Alipay. After the ride, ask the driver to show his Alipay QR code. Open Alipay, tap Scan, scan the QR code, enter the amount from the meter (+ the toll, if there is one — the driver will tell you) and confirm the payment. The money is charged automatically to the bank card linked to Alipay.
11. If you need one, you can ask the driver to print a paper receipt for the ride: «请打发票» (qǐng dǎ fāpiào) — show the driver this phrase.
3. Taxis from the Airport
On arrival at most Chinese airports you'll easily be able to use an official airport taxi. Follow the Taxi (出租车) signs, which lead to the licensed ranks. It's not advisable to use private drivers offering rides right in the arrivals area — such rides usually cost more.
The same rules apply to an official taxi from the airport as to one you flag down on the street: make sure the driver switches on the meter, follow the route to avoid unnecessary detours, take the usual safety precautions and ask for a receipt if you need one. You can pay the same way — in cash or via Alipay.
4. Additional Information
4.1. How to Recognize an Official Taxi
A legal taxi has: a distinctive body color (often green, yellow, yellow-green, blue-white or red-white), a roof sign reading 出租 (chūzū), a license plaque on the windshield, and a sticker inside the cabin with the driver's name and license number.
4.2. Night Rate and Tipping
From 23:00 to 05:00 (the exact hours depend on the city) a night coefficient applies and the meter runs faster. Tipping is not customary in China and may even confuse the driver.
4.3. Safety
Taxis in China are considered a safe means of transport. Still, for your own peace of mind you can photograph the car's license plate or the driver's details displayed inside the cabin — on the dashboard, on a small electronic screen, or on the back of the front passenger seat — before the ride starts.
5. Summary: the Algorithm for a Perfect Ride
1. Make sure Alipay is active and a card is linked.
2. Book the taxi through the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay → you don't need to pay anyone on the spot, everything is charged automatically to the Visa card linked to Alipay.
3. If you're hailing a cab on the street — show the address, say «qǐng dǎbiǎo», watch the meter. Pay with small notes or scan the QR code in Alipay.
4. A receipt and a bit of caution are your friends.
This set of rules makes getting around China by taxi predictable and safe, and noticeably reduces the stress of the language barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a foreigner order a taxi in China? The easiest way is the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay: the interface switches to English, addresses can usually be typed in Latin script, and the fare is charged automatically to your linked Visa card.
Do I need cash for taxis in China? For DiDi rides you don't — the fare is charged cashlessly. If you hail a cab on the street you can pay with cash yuan (small notes are best) or scan the driver's QR code in Alipay.
How do I ask the driver to switch on the meter? Show or say «请打表» (qǐng dǎbiǎo) — “please turn on the meter”. If the driver offers a flat price without the meter, politely insist or decline the ride.
Is tipping expected in Chinese taxis? No, tipping is not customary in China and may confuse the driver. A night surcharge applies from 23:00 to 05:00 and the meter accounts for it automatically.
Planning a trip to China — for a trade fair or for sourcing? Getting around the city is only part of the preparation: the payment guide will come in handy too, as will the Trip Organizer, which pulls your meetings and logistics into a single route. Write to me — let's go through your situation.
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