Is Didi safe for foreigners?

Yes, it is the standard ride app. The app shows the plate, route, and fare, and you pay in app.

Do taxi drivers speak English?

Usually not. Show the destination in Chinese or pin it in the map app and show the screen.

Which subway app should I use?

Most cities use a local metro app, or Alipipay / WeChat mini-programs for QR-code entry. A paper card also works.

Chinese Phrases for Taxis, Didi and Subway in China | Degree in China

Chinese Phrases for Taxis, Didi and Subway in China

Getting around is easy once you know a few words. Didi is China’s ride app and needs no cash; for taxis, showing the destination in Chinese saves a lot of confusion.

When you want to say	中文	Pinyin	English
How do I get to …?	去…怎么走	qù … zěn me zǒu	How do I get to …?
Hail a taxi	打车	dǎ chē	Take a taxi / hail a cab
Please call me a car	帮我叫辆车	bāng wǒ jiào liàng chē	Please order me a car (Didi)
Where do I get on?	我在哪里上车	wǒ zài nǎ lǐ shàng chē	Where do I board?
Please stop here	请在这里停	qǐng zài zhè lǐ tíng	Please stop here
How much is it?	多少钱	duō shǎo qián	How much is it?
Subway station	地铁站	dì tiě zhàn	Metro station
Destination	目的地	mù dì dì	Destination
Navigation	导航	dǎo háng	Navigation
Receipt	发票	fā piào	Receipt / invoice

滴滴 (Didi) is the local ride app: set pickup and destination in the app, pay in app, no cash. For taxis, show the destination in Chinese (a screenshot works) because many drivers do not speak English.

Avoiding unmetered taxis and fake Didi

At airports and stations, ignore anyone who approaches you offering a taxi. Use the official 滴滴 (Didi) app, or join the marked taxi queue and insist on the meter (打表). In the Didi app, confirm the car model and plate before you get in, and share the trip with a friend. Drivers rarely speak English, so pin the destination and show it.

Subway apps and offline navigation

Metro systems are cheap and reliable. Pay with the 支付宝 or 微信 transit code, or buy a single-ride card. For maps, 高德 (Amap) and 百度 (Baidu Maps) work in English and show metro lines; download the offline map for your city before you arrive, because signal underground is poor.

Common mistake: accepting a ride from someone who approaches you at the exit. Use the official Didi app or the airport taxi queue, and only agree to a metered fare. Agreeing on a fixed price with a stranger is how tourists get overcharged.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Didi safe for foreigners?: Yes, it is the standard ride app. The app shows the plate, route, and fare, and you pay in app.
Do taxi drivers speak English?: Usually not. Show the destination in Chinese or pin it in the map app and show the screen.
Which subway app should I use?: Most cities use a local metro app, or Alipipay / WeChat mini-programs for QR-code entry. A paper card also works.