Getting Around: DiDi, Metro and Taxis

Use ride-hailing when you need a precise pickup, the metro when its route fits, and a marked taxi when that is the safer available option. Payment and app support vary by city and operator, so keep a ticket-window or taxi alternative rather than relying on one QR code. Official guidance below was checked on 22 October 2026.

1. Hail a ride through an official app

The 2026 multi-department guide lists these routes:

• Alipay: open Transport (出行), choose taxi or ride-hailing, and enter the pickup and destination.
• WeChat: open Me → Pay and Services and use the available travel or DiDi service.
• DiDi app: the guide says the dedicated app supports registration with an overseas phone number and bank card.

Paste or enter the destination in Chinese where possible. Before getting in, compare the plate and vehicle details with the app and confirm the pickup point. Use the payment method shown as available in your account; registration and card linking do not guarantee that every transaction will be approved.

If the driver cannot find you, send the pickup information through the app or ask your hotel or a nearby member of staff to explain it. Useful Chinese: 请到这个定位接我，谢谢。 (“Please pick me up at this location.”)

2. Use a city-specific metro method

At the station, choose one of these:

1. Buy a single-journey ticket or card at the ticket counter or machine. Ask which payment methods are accepted if your first choice fails.
2. Activate that city’s transit code in a supported payment or metro app. In Alipay, for example, the official guide describes Transport → select the city → identity verification → metro QR code.
3. Follow the gate’s acceptance marks and staff instructions for any bank-card or other option. Do not infer nationwide support from another city’s experience.

A code activated for one city is not a nationwide metro pass. If activation or identity verification fails, use the station counter or machine instead. Useful Chinese: 请问这个城市的地铁乘车码在哪里开通？ (“Where do I activate this city’s metro code?”)

3. Take a marked, metered taxi

Use an official queue where available and avoid unmarked or unmetered vehicles. Show the full destination in Chinese, including the hotel name and address, rather than relying on pronunciation alone.

UK government travel advice recommends paying the metered fare and asking for a receipt, which can also identify the taxi if you need follow-up help. Say 请打表，并给我发票，谢谢。 (“Please use the meter and give me a receipt.”) If the driver will not use the meter or you feel unsafe, choose another available ride and avoid a confrontation.

4. Keep a local fallback

There is no single cash amount or payment method that fits every city. Ask before the journey when possible, keep a physical card and some small RMB notes as backups, and do not assume a driver can change a large note. Save the destination and your accommodation’s phone number offline so you can ask staff to explain the route.

If the app cannot find a driver, the QR code cannot be activated, or your payment fails, switch to the station ticket window, an official taxi queue or another confirmed transport option. Useful Chinese: 请带我去这个地址，谢谢。 (“Please take me to this address.”)