Getting around · Shenzhen app guide
How to use DiDi in Shenzhen: setup, payment and pickups
DiDi works for everything from hotel-to-meeting trips and rides with luggage to the tricky final stretch to an address not well-served by the metro. If you are visiting Shenzhen for the first time, the preparation is straightforward: download the correct China-specific app, complete the sign-in process, verify your payment method, and understand how to meet your driver. Handle these steps before you need to leave.
Download the Correct DiDi App for China
The official listing on Apple's App Store is DiDi China: Ride Hailing, published by Didi Chuxing (Beijing) Network Platform Technology Co., Ltd. The developer notes that the app supports an English interface, overseas mobile-number login, international bank-card payments, and translated English–Chinese messages. Some visitor guides use the older name DiDi-Greater China.
When you install it, check the developer and the mainland-China service description. Do not assume an app with 'DiDi' in the name is the right one for Shenzhen just because you used it in another country. Availability and menu options can change based on the store and version.
Setting Up Your Account, Language, and Payment
Use a phone number you can access during your trip. The app allows overseas-number registration, but having a supported number doesn't guarantee a verification message will arrive on every single connection. Complete sign-in before you leave and ensure you have access to whatever verification method your account requires.
Shanghai’s official guide suggests this language path: Me → Settings → General → Language → English. If your screen looks different, find the language setting within your installed version rather than following unfamiliar instructions.
Add a payment method offered by the app and complete any necessary bank checks. International-card support does not guarantee that every card or transaction will be approved. Before a time-sensitive journey, verify that the selected payment method is the one you intend to use.
- Install the China service and sign in with your own accessible phone number.
- Select English and allow location access for booking from your current position.
- Open the payment settings and add an accepted method.
- Keep your hotel’s Chinese name and address ready for the first ride.
Using DiDi Through Alipay or WeChat
Yes, you can. The Ministry of Commerce’s 2026 visitor guidance lists Alipay, WeChat, and DiDi as ride-booking options. Shanghai’s guide also explains that rides booked through these wallet apps can be paid using the corresponding Alipay or WeChat Pay account.
If you already have a working wallet, this can save another setup task. Open the ride-hailing entry, check which service is providing the ride, and review the payment shown for that order. A wallet that opens successfully does not prove its linked card will pay for every service. Keep the order in the app where you booked it when you need to find the driver or request help.
Booking a Pickup Location Where the Driver Can Meet You
Enter your destination, then check the pickup pin separately. At a hotel or office, ask the reception which entrance cars typically use. At an airport or railway station, follow the current pickup instructions and signs; do not request a car until you know which exit you will use.
For a supplier visit, paste the host-confirmed Chinese address and confirm the district and building. If the business has multiple sites, confirm which specific location is expecting you. For the return trip, agree on a pickup point before you leave the building, especially if a security gate separates reception from the street.
Choose from the services actually offered for your trip and review the displayed price and terms before confirming. Allow enough time for the driver to reach you and for you to reach the pickup point. Do not plan a train connection based only on the drive estimate.
Finding the Right Car and Communicating Clearly
Once a driver accepts, the app shows the vehicle and number plate. Shanghai’s guide advises matching the plate before boarding and confirming the last four digits of your registered mobile number with the driver. Keep those digits easy to find if you are using an unfamiliar travel number.
DiDi’s developer lists bilingual in-app messaging. Use short, concrete messages: 'I am at the hotel main entrance' is better than a long explanation of your journey. Name the entrance or pickup zone shown on the sign. If you need to move, update the driver before you walk away from the agreed point.
What to Do If Payment or Pickup Fails
If the driver cannot find you, compare the named pickup point with the sign beside you before making any changes. A location pin inside a building does not tell the driver which side you can reach.
If payment fails, read the order’s status and the error message before trying again. Keep the trip record and contact support through the booking app if the charge or ride status is unclear. For an urgent departure, ask hotel or station staff about available transport options instead of repeatedly creating new ride requests.
After the trip, check that payment is complete and keep the journey record if you need to reconcile business expenses. Before exiting the vehicle, check the seat and luggage area for your phone, bags, and samples.