Taxis and Didi (ride-hailing)

Metered taxis: the basics

Metered taxis are available in every Chinese city of significant size. They are the simplest way to travel door-to-door when the metro doesn't go where you need, when your luggage is too heavy, or when it's late at night.

**Flag-fall rates** (approximate, verify locally [VERIFY: current rates — May 2026]): - Beijing: ¥13 for the first 3 km; ¥2.3 per km after; ¥1 night surcharge per km after 11pm - Shanghai: ¥14 for the first 3 km; ¥2.5 per km after; ¥3.6 per km at night - Guangzhou: ¥10 for the first 2.5 km; ¥2.6 per km after - Chengdu: ¥8 for the first 2 km; ¥1.9 per km after - Smaller cities: typically ¥5–¥8 flag-fall, ¥1.5–¥2 per km

The meter starts as soon as you get in (or when the driver starts toward you, depending on the city). The meter is in CNY; the total is displayed on the meter and on a separate screen facing the passenger in newer vehicles.

How to use a taxi without speaking Mandarin

1. **Prepare your destination**: Before you get in, open Amap (高德地图) or Google Maps and navigate to your destination. The map shows the address in Chinese characters. Screenshot this or copy the name. Alternatively, type the destination name into Google Translate and show the screen to the driver. 2. **Flag the taxi**: Arm extended horizontally, palm down, in the direction of traffic. Taxis with a lit roof light are available. 3. **Enter and show destination**: Hand the driver your phone or a written note. Do not attempt to explain in English — point to the map route. 4. **Payment**: Most taxis in tier-1 and tier-2 cities accept WeChat Pay and Alipay QR scan (look for the QR code sticker on the seat-back or dashboard). Many still prefer cash. Have both options ready. 5. **Tip**: Not expected or customary. Round up if you like; otherwise pay the meter exactly.

Didi: ride-hailing done simply

Didi (滴滴出行) is China's dominant ride-hailing app, used by roughly 400 million people. For travellers, its advantages over street taxis are:

• English interface: The international version of the Didi app has full English navigation and driver communication.
• Fare estimate before booking: No surprises.
• GPS-tracked route: Both you and the system know where the car is and the intended route.
• Named driver: You can see the driver's rating and share the trip details with someone.
• No language barrier at pickup: The app handles the destination; you just get in the car that matches the plate on your screen.

Setting up Didi as a foreigner — step by step

1. Download **DiDi — Car & Taxi Booking** from the App Store or Google Play (search 'Didi'). The English version is the international app. 2. Open and register with your foreign phone number. A verification SMS will be sent. 3. Set your language preference to English in the settings. 4. Add a payment method: link Alipay (if set up) or WeChat Pay. Some versions of the international app also accept foreign Visa/Mastercard directly [VERIFY: current card support — May 2026]. 5. Allow location access. 6. Test with a short ride from your hotel before relying on it for an airport run.

Booking a Didi ride

1. Open the app. Your current location appears on the map. 2. Tap 'Where to?' and type your destination — English works in most cities; the app translates to Chinese for the driver. 3. Choose a service type: **Express** (cheapest private car), **Comfort** (newer, higher-rated vehicles), **Premier** (luxury vehicles), **XL** (larger groups), or **Taxi** (routes an actual metered taxi through the Didi system). 4. Confirm the fare estimate and tap to book. 5. Wait for a driver to accept (typically 1–3 minutes in cities). The driver's plate number, car model, and current location appear. 6. Walk to the pickup point shown (sometimes a few metres away to avoid impeding traffic). 7. Confirm the plate number before entering. Pay in-app automatically at journey end.

Scams to avoid

The airport tout: Men at arrivals hall doors offering 'taxi to the city'. These are unlicensed drivers quoting fixed fares at 3–5x the metered price. Always use the official taxi rank (排队出口 — 'queued exit'), signposted inside the arrivals hall. The official rank has a numbered queue and marshals.

The unmetered driver: In Beijing and Shanghai in particular, some drivers (often off-duty or unlicensed) accept rides without starting the meter. If you get in and the meter is not running within 30 seconds, say: '打表 (dǎ biǎo) — start the meter' and point at it. If the driver refuses, get out.

The slow or circuitous route: Less common now that drivers know GPS is visible to both parties, but still possible. Keep Amap open on your phone and watch the route. If the driver is going the obvious wrong way, show them your screen.

QR code fraud: Some seat-back QR codes in unmonitored taxis have been replaced with fraudulent ones routing payment to criminals rather than the driver. Pay cash if you're uncertain, or pay via the in-app Didi payment rather than a QR code.

After dark

Taxis are safe to take late at night in Chinese cities. The main risk is scam-pricing at airport and station exits, not personal safety. Using Didi eliminates most of the scam risk because the fare and route are set before departure.

Hong Kong: a different system

Hong Kong taxis are colour-coded by zone: - **Red**: Urban (Kowloon and Hong Kong Island). Flag-fall HK$29 [VERIFY: current rate — May 2026]. - **Green**: New Territories. - **Blue**: Lantau Island.

Colour determines where the taxi can legally operate. A red urban taxi cannot take you from the airport to the city without an airport supplement (or you need a specifically permitted airport taxi).

Apps in Hong Kong: Uber operates (limited fleet); HKTaxi and FlyTaxi are local booking apps. Didi is not available in HK. Taxi metered rates are set by the Transport Department.

Payment: Hong Kong taxis accept Octopus card (the transit card) and some accept credit cards. Cash is still common. No Alipay or WeChat Pay in the standard sense for HK taxis (though some newer taxis have QR capability).

Macau

Taxis are metered. Ride-hailing is not available in the same way as the mainland. Most visitors use the free casino shuttle buses between major hotel properties and the ferry terminals — a practical and completely free alternative for the main inter-point connections.