Getting Around in China: DiDi, Taxis, Metro and Maps That Work

DiDi: how it actually works

DiDi is China's Uber and it works in English — either the standalone app or the DiDi mini-app inside Alipay (no extra signup). Fares are low by Western standards. Four quirks catch every first-timer:

• Payment is not always automatic at drop-off — open the app after the ride and tap pay, or your next booking may be blocked.
• Drivers confirm you by the last 4 digits of your phone number — memorize them or show your screen.
• The GPS pin can drift — set the pickup point manually on the map and stand where the pin is, or cancellation fees follow.
• Remote scenic areas have no return drivers waiting. Book the return in advance, ask your driver to wait, or add them on WeChat — travelers get stranded this way every week.

Taxis without getting stung

Regular taxis are metered and honest in most of China. The exceptions cluster exactly where you'd expect: airport arrivals halls and tourist hotspots, where touts offer "taxis" at 4–6× the meter price. One traveler who paid ¥680 for a ¥120 airport ride got ¥480 refunded within days after reporting it — the system does work, but not getting stung is easier.

• Ignore anyone approaching you with "taxi?" — use the official taxi queue or order a DiDi.
• In the car, check the meter is running (打表 dǎ biǎo); if not, ask or get out early.
• If something goes wrong: photograph the plate and driver card, ask for a receipt (发票), and call 12345 (city service hotline) — refunds do happen.

Metro: the cheat code

Every big Chinese city has a modern metro with English signage, fares of ¥2–7, and security screening at entrances (bags through a scanner — it's quick). Skip the ticket machines entirely: activate the free transit QR inside Alipay (Transport tab → pick the city) and scan through the gates. In Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou you can even tap a foreign Visa/Mastercard directly on the fare gates.

• Last trains run early by nightlife standards — roughly 22:30–23:00 on many lines. Check the last departure for your line.
• On a few lines you change trains mid-route while staying on the "same" line — follow the crowd across the platform when everyone gets off.
• For maps, use Amap (高德地图) — Google Maps is unreliable on the mainland (offset positions, missing businesses, wrong transit). Apple Maps works acceptably. Save your hotel and sights in Chinese characters.
• At big scenic areas, grab the paper English map from the visitor center or your hotel — in-park navigation lives in Chinese apps and English versions are scarce.

Before you go

City guides