Best Maps for China Travel: Amap vs. Apple Maps, Baidu Maps & Google Maps

The easiest way for most first-time visitors to get a taxi in China is to use DiDi, the country’s widely used ride-hailing app. You can enter your destination before getting in, see a fare estimate, and check your driver’s license plate. Many overseas visitors can register with an international phone number and use an eligible international bank card. Alipay and WeChat also provide ride-booking options. If you prefer not to use an app, official metered taxis remain a good choice at airports, railway stations, and designated street pickup points.

For visitors who don’t speak Mandarin, getting a taxi in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, or Chengdu can sound intimidating. Will the driver understand your hotel? Where exactly do you wait? How do you know what you should pay?

As someone familiar with traveling around China, my advice is simple: learn the basic DiDi process before you arrive, and know how to recognize an official taxi. Neither option requires fluent Chinese.

This guide walks through booking, pickup locations, fares, cash and card payments, useful Chinese phrases, and the mistakes you can avoid.

1. DiDi vs. Regular Taxis: Which Is Better in China?

There are two main ways to travel by car in Chinese cities: ride-hailing, typically ordered through an app such as DiDi, and traditional metered taxis, which you can find at taxi ranks or hail where stopping is permitted.

Feature	DiDi and other ride-hailing	Regular taxi
How to book	App-based request	Taxi rank, street hail, sometimes an app
Fare visibility	Usually shows an estimate before booking	Normally calculated by a meter
Language barrier	Destination entered in advance	Show the driver a Chinese address
Payment	Methods available in the booking app	Often Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash
Vehicle identification	Plate number and driver details in the app	Official markings, roof sign, and driver information
Best use	Most everyday city journeys	Airports, train stations, and spontaneous trips

My recommendation: Use DiDi for normal journeys around town. At an airport or railway station, compare the DiDi wait with the queue at the official taxi stand. When it rains or a concert ends, a metered taxi may actually be quicker.

2. How to Use DiDi in China: A Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Tourists

DiDi works broadly like Uber: enter a pickup point, choose a destination and service level, check your ride details, and meet the vehicle. The Chinese-government travel guide confirms that the DiDi-Greater China app supports registration with overseas numbers and eligible international credit cards. Availability of any particular card or feature still depends on your account and payment provider.

Step 1: Download the correct official app

Search the Apple App Store or Google Play for DiDi or DiDi: Ride Hailing in China. Choose the official passenger app serving mainland China; DiDi has operated separate products in other markets, so check the app listing.

Install it before flying. You can look for an English-language setting in the app; the exact menus may vary by version and region.

Step 2: Register with your phone number

Open the app, choose your country or region code, and enter a number that can receive a verification text. For example, a visitor with a US number may select +1.

You usually do not need a Chinese +86 number just to create a passenger account. However, you do need a working method of receiving verification codes. Many travel eSIMs are data-only and cannot receive ordinary SMS messages, so keep your original phone number active for essential codes.

If you haven’t chosen a mobile-data plan yet, read our guide to getting internet in China with an eSIM, SIM card, or roaming before your trip.

Step 3: Set up payment before ordering

Depending on your account, app version, and card issuer, you may be offered international card payment or other supported methods. Confirm that your payment method is properly added before you are standing outside an airport waiting for a ride.

If you’ve already set up Alipay, you may find its built-in ride-hailing service convenient. Our China tourist payment guide explains how Alipay, WeChat Pay, international bank cards, and cash work in everyday situations.

A card that works for shopping in Alipay won’t necessarily work for every service inside every mini-app. Always check the payment options for your actual booking.

Step 4: Double-check your pickup point and destination

DiDi may detect your location automatically, but don’t assume the pin is on the correct side of the road. Your phone could place you behind a hotel, on a different level of a shopping center, or at a door where cars can’t stop.

Enter your destination in the app. In Xi’an, for example, the correct Chinese name of the Terracotta Army Museum is 秦始皇兵马俑博物馆. Chinese names are often easier to match to the right location than translated English names.

If searching is confusing, use the three-point method: check the Chinese name, check the district, and check the actual entrance. Our guide to Amap, Apple Maps, Baidu Maps, and Google Maps in China explains this in more detail.

Step 5: Compare vehicle types and estimated fares

Options vary by city and time, but commonly include:

Option	What it generally means
Express (快车)	Standard ride-hailing; often the economical choice
Taxi (出租车)	A regular taxi booked through the platform
Premier / Comfort (优享 or similar)	Extra-comfort services where available
Luxe (豪华车)	Premium vehicle service at a higher price

For two adults with ordinary backpacks, Express is usually fine. A family of four with several large suitcases should check seating and luggage capacity before requesting a car, and consider a larger vehicle when available.

Check whether a displayed fare is fixed or only estimated; tolls, parking, waiting charges, and other adjustments may be handled differently across products.

Step 6: Verify the car before you get in

Once a driver accepts the request, the app should show the license plate, vehicle details, driver information, position, and approximate arrival time.

Compare the actual license plate with the plate in your booking. Do not enter a car simply because someone says, “I’m your driver.” Some trips may also use a verification code or the last digits of your phone number.

Step 7: Check the final fare and payment status

After reaching your destination, look at the completed trip in the app. For an online-paid order, do not automatically pay the driver again through a personal QR code.

If the driver claims the payment has failed, check your app and bank record first, then use the platform’s help or dispute function. Keep the trip details in case you need them later.

3. Can You Book a Taxi Through Alipay or WeChat Instead?

Yes. The Chinese government’s travel guidance lists ride-hailing access through Alipay, WeChat, and DiDi-Greater China.

In Alipay, look for Transport (出行) and then a taxi or ride-hailing option. In WeChat, relevant services may appear under Me → Services → Mobility / Ride Hailing. Names and placement can change as the apps are updated.

Enter your pickup location, choose your destination, select an available car type, and follow the service’s payment instructions. This can save you installing a separate app for a short, one-week trip.

But remember: being able to scan and pay at a shop doesn’t automatically mean every ride-hailing service accepts the same foreign card. Test the available methods in advance. If one booking service doesn’t work, try DiDi directly or use an official taxi rank.

4. How to Take a Regular Metered Taxi in China

Chinese city taxis normally have official roof signs or company markings, driver identification, and a meter. They can be useful when your phone has no data, when the DiDi pickup area is hard to find, or when a staffed taxi queue is right outside the terminal.

Step 1: Show the destination in Chinese

Many taxi drivers won’t feel comfortable speaking English. Instead of relying on a spoken English hotel name, save the full Chinese address and show it to the driver.

For example:

我要去西安钟楼。 — “I’d like to go to Xi’an Bell Tower.”

For a small hotel, use the hotel’s full Chinese name and address—not only its international brand name. You can find practical tips for choosing a convenient base in our Xi’an accommodation guide comparing the Bell Tower, Yongning Gate, and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda areas.

Step 2: Check that the meter is being used

Traditional street taxis normally charge according to local meter rules. Check that the meter is working after the journey begins.

If a driver insists on turning the meter off and asks for an unexplained high fixed price, you can decline the ride before it starts. Use an officially designated taxi stand at airports and train stations.

Step 3: Pay and keep your receipt

Taxi drivers commonly accept RMB cash, and many accept Alipay or WeChat Pay. Don’t assume the driver can take your overseas Visa or Mastercard directly.

Carry smaller notes such as ¥10, ¥20, and ¥50. You can ask for a printed receipt, called a fapiao (发票). If you leave something behind or need to raise a fare complaint, that record can help identify the vehicle.

5. How Much Does a Taxi Cost in China?

There’s no single nationwide taxi tariff. Cities have different base fares, per-kilometer prices, traffic and waiting charges, night surcharges, and longer-distance rules.

For ordinary metered taxis, these are published reference rates for two major cities:

City	Base fare	Basic rate after the initial distance
Beijing	¥13 for the first 3 km	¥2.30 per km
Shanghai	¥14 for the first 3 km for standard taxis	¥2.70 per km

The figures above are based on government-published fare information, not a guaranteed quote for your exact ride. Beijing also lists a fuel surcharge and charges for waiting and night rides. Shanghai has different starting rates for certain vehicle classes, plus surcharges that vary with the journey and time.

For example, Shanghai’s official visitor guidance estimates a taxi from Pudong International Airport to People’s Square at around ¥180, subject to traffic and conditions.

Official fare references: Beijing taxi price standards and Shanghai taxi fares.

Is DiDi always cheaper than a regular taxi?

No. App prices can vary with the time, location, ride type, number of available drivers, and demand. Heavy rain, major holidays, and stadium events can increase prices or waiting times.

Look at the estimated price before ordering and compare the regular Express and Taxi choices. Read the fare details carefully to see whether tolls, waiting, or parking are included or may be added.

Do you need to tip taxi drivers in China?

Usually, no. Tipping is not a standard expectation for ordinary taxi and ride-hailing trips. Pay the metered amount or the completed app fare. Being a tourist does not mean you have to add an extra gratuity.

6. Taking a Taxi from an Airport or High-Speed Railway Station

This is where first-time visitors are most likely to stand in the wrong place. At major transport hubs, the taxi rank (出租车候车区) and the ride-hailing pickup area (网约车上车点) may be in completely different buildings or on different floors.

Using DiDi after arriving at an airport

Imagine you’ve just landed at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Collect your luggage, open the app, enter your hotel, and check the airport’s official ride-hailing pickup instructions.

At some airports, app-booked cars must collect passengers in a particular parking building or designated pickup zone—not directly outside the arrivals door.

My suggestion: find the correct pickup zone first, then confirm your precise position in the app and order your car. That reduces the chance the driver arrives while you’re still searching for the meeting point.

Is taking an airport taxi simpler?

It often is, especially when you’re tired, carrying large suitcases, or arriving late without mobile data. Follow the airport’s Taxi / 出租车 signs, line up at the official taxi rank, and use the regulated service.

Shanghai’s official airport transport guidance, for example, lists dedicated taxi pickup points at Pudong Airport terminals. Terminal layouts and pickup doors can change, so use the current terminal signs rather than an old blog photo as your sole guide.

Avoid people inside the arrivals hall who approach you unsolicited with vague promises of a special private car.

What about a high-speed rail station?

It’s the same idea. At a large station, follow the signs for either 出租车 (Taxi) or 网约车 (Ride-Hailing), depending on the service you’ve chosen. The ride-hailing zone may be in an underground parking area.

If you arrive at Xi’an North Railway Station, check the actual pickup location shown in DiDi. Save time for the walk: a large station can take longer to navigate than the map suggests.

For details on getting off a train, following exit signs, and distinguishing Xi’an North (西安北站) from Xi’an Railway Station (西安站), see our first-timer’s guide to high-speed trains in China.

7. What If the Driver Calls and You Don’t Speak Chinese?

Some drivers call to confirm a pickup point or ask exactly where you’re standing. If you can’t speak Mandarin, try the in-app text messaging feature. Some versions offer translation support, but don’t count on every message being translated perfectly.

Save these phrases on your phone and show or send them if necessary:

Chinese phrase	What it means
我不会说中文，请发消息。	I don’t speak Chinese. Please text me.
我在酒店门口。	I’m at the hotel entrance.
我在网约车上车点。	I’m at the ride-hailing pickup area.
我正在过来，请稍等。	I’m on my way. Please wait.
请按照导航走。	Please follow the navigation.
请在这里停车。	Please stop here.
请帮我打开后备箱。	Please open the trunk.
请问可以开发票吗？	Can I get a receipt?

If you can’t find the driver, use the app’s location or messaging tools. Don’t run across a busy road or walk into traffic looking for the car. Ask station or hotel staff to help if you’re stuck.

8. Six Common Taxi Scams and Mistakes to Avoid in China

Mistake 1: Accepting an unsolicited private ride at an airport

Use the official taxi queue or an app-booked car with verifiable information. If you can’t confirm the operator or price, don’t get in.

Mistake 2: Getting into a car without checking the plate

Even if someone knows your destination, that doesn’t prove they are your booked driver. Compare the license plate and vehicle details with your ride-hailing order.

Mistake 3: Canceling an app booking to pay privately

A driver may sometimes suggest canceling your booking and paying directly. I wouldn’t agree: doing so can remove normal fare records and some platform protections.

Mistake 4: Assuming the estimated price is always the final fare

A fixed-price booking and a metered or estimate-based ride may work differently. Check any toll, parking, waiting, or demand-related charges shown in the app. If the completed amount looks wrong, dispute it through the official platform.

Mistake 5: Paying twice

For a trip paid through the app, check the order status and bank transaction before handing over cash or scanning a driver’s personal QR code.

Mistake 6: Deleting the trip record or throwing away the receipt

Keep your app booking or taxi fapiao, especially if you carry luggage or valuables. It helps with lost property, unexpected charges, and formal complaints.

If you feel unsafe, prioritize your personal safety and seek help. China’s police emergency number is 110.

9. What If You Think the Driver Is Taking a Detour?

A route different from the shortest line on your phone does not automatically mean a scam. One-way streets, road closures, turn restrictions, and traffic jams often make the fastest legal route longer than the direct one.

But if the car is traveling away from your destination without explanation, check its progress using your ride-hailing app or Amap. If you have concerns, ask the driver to follow the navigation and use the platform’s safety functions.

If you feel threatened, ask to stop at a safe, legal place and seek assistance. Don’t begin a heated argument in a moving vehicle.

To avoid unnecessary costs, I follow three rules:

1. Compare the metro for short trips. In big cities it may be quicker during rush hour.
2. Expect congestion during peak periods. A cheaper-looking journey can become slow or cost more due to waiting charges.
3. Search for the right attraction entrance. A museum or large park may have several gates. Picking the wrong one can mean a long walk or another car journey.

For a longer excursion such as the Terracotta Army, check the return transport before departing. Our complete Terracotta Army visiting guide compares routes from central Xi’an with the museum visit and Lishan Garden.

10. Which Type of Taxi Should You Use in Different Situations?

Situation	Best starting choice
First arrival at a Chinese airport	Official taxi rank, or DiDi if you know the designated pickup area
Hotel to a city-center attraction	DiDi Express or another standard ride-hailing option
Several large suitcases	Vehicle with verified passenger and luggage capacity
You don’t speak Mandarin	App-booked ride with destination entered beforehand
No mobile internet	Official metered taxi at a staffed rank
Heavy rain or national holiday	Compare the DiDi wait and taxi queue
Day trip to a distant attraction	Compare metro, DiDi, shuttle, and reputable private-car options
Traveling on a tight budget	Use the metro when practical; taxi for the final stretch

With distant attractions, don’t assume a return car will be waiting. The outward journey can be easy while getting back is harder.

11. Your Pre-Trip China Taxi Checklist

Before flying to China:

1. Install the official DiDi app for mainland China or learn where to find ride-hailing inside Alipay.
2. Make sure your number receives verification texts, even if your travel eSIM is data-only.
3. Add a supported payment method and check what it can be used for.
4. Arrange mobile internet that works in mainland China.
5. Save your hotel name and full address in Chinese, as well as its phone number.
6. Install Amap, or keep another reliable map for checking pickup points and routes.
7. Carry a little RMB cash for regular taxis or backup.
8. Learn the two pickup signs: 出租车 (taxi) and 网约车 (ride-hailing).

These preparations will make a far bigger difference than memorizing dozens of Mandarin travel phrases.

Final Thoughts: Taking a Taxi in China Is Easier Than You Think

You don’t need to speak fluent Chinese or recognize every street name to take a taxi in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, or Chengdu.

For everyday journeys, I would start with DiDi: enter the destination, confirm your pickup point, compare the fare, and check the vehicle’s plate. At airports and high-speed rail stations, use the official designated pickup areas. If you take a regular taxi, use the meter and save your receipt.

When you’re traveling light, combine the metro with an occasional ride-hailing trip. It’s usually a sensible way to control your budget and avoid getting stuck in big-city traffic.

The aim isn’t always to find the absolutely cheapest car. It’s to reach your destination safely, conveniently, and with a clear understanding of what you’ll pay.

Last reviewed: October 2026. Prices, app interfaces, pickup areas, and payment acceptance can change. Check the booking screen and official airport or station instructions for your actual journey.