How do you use DiDi in Chengdu?

Download DiDi or use the mini-program inside Alipay. Register with your home phone number and complete verification. Add an international card or Alipay as payment. The English interface shows fare estimates and driver details.

Set up the app before you arrive, when you can receive verification codes and have reliable internet. If your card is declined, try another card or link Alipay.

• English interface
• International card or Alipay
• Set up before arrival

Enter your destination in English or paste the Chinese name. The app shows the fare estimate and pickup pin. Large buildings and stations have designated ride-hailing zones; walk to the pin and check the driver's location on the map.

The driver may call; use the in-app chat if you cannot speak Chinese. Check the license plate and car model before getting in. The app records the route, which is useful at night.

Short central trips cost roughly CNY 10–25; cross-city trips CNY 30–60. Airport trips cost more. Payment is automatic through the app; no cash or tip is needed.

If the driver cannot find you, send a message with a nearby landmark. If the ride is canceled, rebook. Do not accept a ride from someone who approaches you outside the app, even if they claim to be your driver.

• Short trip: CNY 10–25
• Payment automatic; no tip
• Reject off-app drivers

The hardest part is often the pickup, not the booking. At Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, and major malls, drivers cannot stop on the main pedestrian street and may ask you to walk to a side road. Use the app's message function to send a nearby landmark, such as a hotel entrance, metro exit letter, or convenience store name. At airports and railway stations, follow signs to the designated ride-hailing area; drivers may be on a different level from arrivals. Never accept a ride from someone who approaches you saying 'DiDi' before you reach that area. Screenshot the pickup point at night, when street signs are harder to see. The pin can land on the wrong side of a divided road, so check the map before you request.

Link payment before you travel. The international DiDi app can accept foreign cards, but bank verification may fail on the first try; Alipay is often smoother. Check the fare breakdown for tolls or airport fees, and pay only through the app. If a driver asks you to cancel and pay cash, refuse and report it. Match the plate, car model, and driver name before getting in, wear a seatbelt in the rear, and share your trip with someone if you are traveling alone. Keep the in-app receipt for disputes, and use the app's support rather than arguing with the driver. Peak-hour demand can push the estimate up; if the wait is long, compare the metro.