Gone are the days of hailing taxis by waving. In major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, it’s nearly impossible to flag down a taxi on the street, especially during peak hours—you’ll see countless cars passing by, but none will stop for you. Today, ride-hailing via apps dominates, similar to Uber abroad. You book a ride on your phone, and a driver will pick you up at your GPS location and take you to your destination. Below is a detailed guide to the most common ride-hailing apps in Mainland China, their payment methods, and answers to frequently asked questions like whether foreign currency or credit cards are accepted, and how to request invoices. This is essential information for anyone planning to visit Mainland China—let’s dive in!
How Do Foreigners Book Rides in Mainland China?
Ride-hailing is now primarily app-based. Foreign visitors need to prepare a passport or other valid identification documents, as these are required for verifying your identity on ride-hailing apps. You’ll also need a Chinese mobile phone number for registering on the platforms and booking rides. Once registered and verified, you can start booking:
- Open the ride-hailing app—your location will be automatically detected.
- Enter your destination, select your vehicle type, and request a ride.
- After a driver accepts your request, you’ll see their details (license plate, car color, brand, etc.).
- Wait at your location. When the driver arrives, they will confirm your phone number’s last digits, and then you’ll head to your destination.
For information on how to purchase a Mainland China SIM card, you can click here to check it out.
What Are the Main Ride-Hailing Apps in Mainland China?
Here’s an introduction to the most commonly used apps:
1. DiDi Chuxing
Official Website: https://www.didiglobal.com/
Platform Overview: DiDi Chuxing (formerly known as Didi Dache) is a mobile app based on the sharing economy for booking or carpooling transportation at a future time. Developed by Beijing Xiaoju Technology, it’s an all-in-one platform offering taxi, premium car, DiDi Express, carpool, chauffeur, bus, and freight services.
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the DiDi mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the DiDi mini-program on Alipay.
Note: If you have WeChat or Alipay, you can directly search for “DiDi Chuxing” in these apps, and the system will auto-locate you. Enter your destination, choose your vehicle type, and confirm the ride.
Verification Steps for Foreigners:
- Prepare documents: Passport, driver’s license (if applicable for drivers; passengers don’t need this).
- Register a DiDi account and fill in your details.
- Upload scanned copies or photos of your passport, driver’s license, etc.
- Wait for verification (usually takes a few working days).
- Once approved, you can start booking rides.
Note: Verification requirements may vary by country/region. Contact DiDi customer service for details.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: +86 400 0000 999
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
2. Caocao Mobility
Official Website: https://caocaokeji.cn/
Platform Overview: Founded on May 21, 2015 (formerly Caocao Premium Car), it’s a ride-hailing platform offering personalized, group, scheduled, and safe driving services. It also provides airport transfers, half-day rentals, and chauffeur-guide services. All vehicles are white with unified “Caocao Premium Car” signage for easy identification.
Operates in 62 cities nationwide, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Tianjin, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Xi’an, Qingdao, Xiamen, Chongqing, Kunming, Nanjing, Wenzhou, Zhengzhou, Dongguan, Nanning, etc., serving over 140 million users.
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the Caocao mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Caocao mini-program on Alipay.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: +86 400-608-1111
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- New user discounts, limited-time price cuts, ride cashback coupons, invite-friends-for-cash rewards, group discounts, etc.
3. T3 出行 (T3 Go)
Official Website: https://www.t3go.cn/
Platform Overview: A smart mobility platform by Nanjing Lingxing Technology. With the vision of “becoming the most trusted travel service enterprise,” it aims to provide “safe, convenient, and high-quality” travel through a powerful app, close collaborations with local transportation firms, integrated service resources, and customized products.
All vehicles are connected to the platform in real time via IoT technology for driver and vehicle management, enhancing safety. Equipped with 4 one-touch emergency alarms, they offer low-learning-threshold emergency communication. In emergencies, the platform can even intervene (e.g., flashing lights, honking, or restricting restart).
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the T3 Go mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the T3 Go mini-program on Alipay.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: 950520
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- Get coupons via the official WeChat account.
- Invite friends to earn coupons.
- Daily check-ins in the app for coupons.
- Festival promotions, new user exclusives, etc.
4. Shouqi Car Service
Official Website: https://www.01zhuanche.com/
Platform Overview: A premium ride-hailing platform focusing on mid-to-high-end markets and corporate/institutional needs, offering instant booking, scheduled rides, proxy booking, airport transfers, daily/half-day rentals, etc. Launched in September 2015, its vehicles are government-licensed rental cars (e.g., Beijing’s “京 B” plates), with drivers holding professional permits. Drivers don’t pay franchise fees or cover fuel/maintenance costs. In May 2017, it established the “Shouqi Quality Travel Academy” to recruit individual drivers.
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the Shouqi mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Shouqi mini-program on Alipay.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: 10105678-1
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- New users get up to 50% off on their first ride.
5. Shenzhou Premium Car
Official Website: https://www.10101111.com/
Platform Overview: A B2C mobility brand by China Auto Rental and Youche Technology. Targeting mid-to-high-end users, it uses new (within 1 year) premium business vehicles, with clean interiors, free nationwide WiFi, and professional, uniformly dressed drivers.
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the Shenzhou Premium Car Go mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Shenzhou Premium Car Go mini-program on Alipay.
- Call 10101111 to book.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: 10101111
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- Currently no ongoing promotions.
6. Huaxiaozhu Ride-Hailing
Official Website: https://hxz.didichuxing.com/
Platform Overview: An independent ride-hailing brand under DiDi, focusing on affordable travel. It aims to “return travel to its essence” by providing affordable, safe, and convenient services. With built-in navigation (selecting optimal routes via big data) and one-touch emergency alarms, it prioritizes user safety.
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the Hua Xia Zhu mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Hua Xia Zhu mini-program on Alipay.
Customer Service:
- In-app live chat.
Promotions:
- New users get up to ¥20 off on their first ride.
- Invite friends for rewards.
7. Meituan Ride-Hailing
Platform Overview: Driven by user demand, Meituan Ride-Hailing aims to innovate the industry and offer an “all-in-one” experience (eat, drink, play, travel) by integrating with Meituan’s local lifestyle services. It supports one-click booking of multiple vehicle types, quick responses, and efficient pickups. Paper and e-invoices are available for easy expense management. You can even call vehicles from multiple platforms simultaneously for lower prices.
How to Book:
- Download the Meituan Dache app.
- Use the Meituan Dache mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Meituan Dache mini-program on Alipay.
- Access via the “Ride-Hailing” service in the Meituan app.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: 101-001-99
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- Random price cuts, new user discounts, etc.
8. Baidu Maps Ride-Hailing
Official Website: https://yongche.baidu.com/
Platform Overview: Integrates premium ride-hailing services from Shouqi, Caocao, Dida, Ctrip, etc., covering taxis, express cars, premium cars, airport transfers, and car rentals. Enter your destination, select platforms/models, and click “Call All” to book across platforms simultaneously. “Full Capacity Mode” ensures you never struggle to find a ride, making it efficient and affordable.
How to Book:
- Download the Baidu Maps app.
- Use the Baidu Maps Ride-Hailing mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Baidu Maps Ride-Hailing mini-program on Alipay.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: 400-099-8998
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- Exclusive discounts for new users.
9. Gaode Ride-Hailing
Official Website: https://www.amap.com/
Platform Overview: A ride-hailing aggregator integrating DiDi, Shenzhou, Shouqi, Caocao, etc. Users don’t need to download multiple apps—its innovative aggregator model is more convenient. In September 2021, Gaode Maps launched an “Elderly Ride-Hailing” feature for one-click booking. In January 2023, it introduced a simplified version for elderly users on Alipay and WeChat mini-programs.
How to Book:
- Download the app.
- Use the Gaode Ride-Hailing mini-program on WeChat.
- Use the Gaode Ride-Hailing mini-program on Alipay.
Customer Service:
- Hotline: 4008802252
- In-app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-program live chat.
Promotions:
- New user discounts.
Other Notable Apps:
- Dida Chuxing: Founded in 2014 (formerly Dida Carpool), it specializes in taxi and carpool services. After DiDi suspended its carpool service in 2018, Dida became the market leader, holding 66.5% of China’s carpool market by ride frequency in 2019. In 2020, its carpool business accounted for 90% of its ¥705 million revenue.
- Hello Travel : Founded in Shanghai in September 2016, it started as a bike-sharing company but expanded to ride-hailing in October 2018. You can book rides via the Hello app or Alipay mini-program. It also offers carpool services for short/medium/long distances.
- Yiwei Chuxing: A sharing economy app focusing on carpooling, ride-hailing, pet transportation, and errands. Users can select convenient drivers from a list for efficient pickups.
What Do Foreigners/Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan Residents Need to Prepare?
- Passport or valid ID: Required for app registration and verification.
- Chinese mobile phone number: Essential for registration to receive verification codes.
- WeChat/Alipay: If you have these apps, you can book rides directly via their mini-programs without downloading additional apps.
How Do Foreigners/Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan Residents Pay for Rides?
Here are the payment options:
1. Bind Bank Cards/Credit Cards
Some apps support foreign bank cards or credit cards (e.g., Visa, MasterCard). Simply bind your card in the app and pay directly.
2. Use WeChat Pay or Alipay
These are China’s most popular mobile payment methods. Foreigners can:
- Verify their identity on WeChat/Alipay using a passport (upload ID page + entry stamp page), Foreigner’s Permanent Residence ID Card, Taiwan Compatriot Permit (Taiwan residents), or Hong Kong/Macao Home Return Permit (Hong Kong/Macao residents).
- Bind international cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) to make payments in ride-hailing apps.
3. Cash Payment
In some cases, you can pay cash in the vehicle. Ensure you carry small denominations, as drivers may not have change for large bills.
How to Request Invoices?
Take DiDi Chuxing as an example:
- Open the DiDi app, tap the profile icon (top left) > “Orders.”
- Select the trip for which you need an invoice > tap “Request Invoice.”
- Choose the order(s) > click “Next.”
- Fill in invoice details (company name, tax ID, recipient info, etc.) > submit.