My friend used Didi for the first time in China. The driver called and she panicked.

ChinaTravelMemo

My friend from Mexico downloaded the DiDi app before her China trip. She registered with her Mexican phone number. Everything seemed fine.

Then she booked her first ride in Shanghai.

The panic:

30 seconds after booking, her phone rang. A Chinese number. She answered.

The driver spoke rapid Mandarin. She understood nothing. She panicked and hung up.

The driver cancelled the ride. She got a ¥5 cancellation fee.

What actually happened:

The driver was calling to confirm her pickup location. In busy areas with multiple exits, drivers often call to ask \"Which exit?\" or \"What color building?\"

For a foreigner who doesn't speak Chinese, this is terrifying.

How to use Didi as a foreigner (2026):

Option 1: DiDi International App (Recommended for tourists)
• Download \"DiDi - Greater China\" from App Store/Google Play
• Full English interface
• Register with ANY international phone number
• Link Visa/Mastercard directly
• Type destinations in English
• In-app chat auto-translates English to Chinese

Option 2: DiDi via Alipay Mini-Program (Most stable)
• Open Alipay → Transport → DiDi
• No separate app needed
• Payment through your linked Alipay card
• More reliable than the standalone app
• Better translation features

Option 3: DiDi via WeChat Mini-Program
• WeChat → Discover → Mini Programs → Search 滴滴出行
• Pay with WeChat Pay
• Chinese interface but works with translate tools

When the driver calls:

Don't panic. Don't answer.

Instead, open the in-app chat. Tap the quick message button. Select:

\"I am a foreigner and cannot speak Chinese. Please follow the navigation map to pick me up.\"

It's pre-translated into Chinese. The driver reads it. Problem solved.

Pro tips:

• Screenshot the driver's license plate (e.g., 沪A·12345). Show it to the security guard if you're at a hotel.
• Have your phone's last 4 digits ready. Some drivers ask for confirmation.
• Pin your pickup location precisely. In places with multiple exits, being 50 meters off means a 10-minute search.
• Type destinations in English for major landmarks (\"The Bund\", \"Forbidden City\"). For smaller places, copy the Chinese address from your hotel booking.
• Express (快车) is cheapest. Premier (专车) is nicer but 2x price.
• Tolls are paid in cash to the driver. The app warns you if tolls apply.

Costs:

• Short trip (under 5km): ¥15-25
• Airport to city center: ¥80-150
• Cross-city (Shanghai Pudong to Hongqiao): ¥180-250
• Much cheaper than taxis and no haggling

The backup plan:

If DiDi fails, use the Meituan app. It also has ride-hailing. Sometimes one works when the other doesn't.

My Mexican friend's new rule:

\"I don't answer Didi calls anymore. I just tap the 'I'm a foreigner' message in the chat. It works every time. And I always screenshot the license plate.\"

Anyone else had a Didi panic moment? How did you handle it?