Uber does not book mainland China rides. Choose the official DiDi China app or DiDi Travel inside Alipay, then follow this guide from download to pickup, payment and customer support.
The fastest decision is simple: install the official China version of DiDi, or open DiDi Travel inside an Alipay account you have already prepared. Keep an official metered taxi as the no-app fallback.
DiDi app profile and official download →Step 1 · choose your setup
Use the exact China listing. The official store description supports English, international mobile-number registration, international bank cards, bilingual driver messages and 24/7 in-app English customer service.
Standalone app
Install this before departure. A Japan or Latin America DiDi app is not the China listing, and account reuse is not officially confirmed.
No extra app
Choose this if Alipay is already installed, verified and linked to your card. It avoids creating another standalone app setup.
See the five booking steps ↓Before you go
Before you go
The listing is “DiDi: Ride Hailing in China.” Its official pages say international phone numbers and international bank cards are supported.
The Japan app cannot be used in China. Install the China version; DiDi does not officially confirm that a Japan account transfers.
The local DiDi app is not the China listing. Register or sign in with your international number; reuse of a local-market account is not officially confirmed.
After arrival
Select mainland China as the region, then sign in or register with your international mobile number.
International cards are supported, but not every foreign card is guaranteed. If verification fails, try another eligible card.
If Alipay is already verified and funded, search for DiDi Travel there instead of installing another app.
During the ride
Use the bilingual in-app message function to clarify a pickup point in writing.
Read the amount in Chinese yuan and do not expect home-market pricing from another DiDi app.
Availability, tolls and demand can change the final amount. Check the trip breakdown.
Open the completed ride, keep the receipt and screenshots, and contact 24/7 in-app English customer service. A refund is not guaranteed.
Alternative · Alipay mini-program
If Alipay is not ready, complete passport verification and card setup in the Alipay guide before relying on this route.
Find DiDi Travel in the app grid or search for it.
Check the pickup pin. If an English place name fails, paste its Chinese address or place a precise pin.
Compare the options and read the in-app fare breakdown.
Check the car model, color and plate. Do not enter a car that does not match.
Use the bilingual message function instead of relying on a phone call.
During and after the ride
The China app offers 24/7 in-app English customer service. Open the relevant trip, keep the receipt and screenshots, and ask for a review. A review does not guarantee a refund or item recovery.
Why it may happen: You installed a Japan or global-market app.
What to do: Install “DiDi: Ride Hailing in China,” select mainland China, then sign in with your international number.
Why it may happen: The official sources do not confirm transfer into the China app.
What to do: Use the China app login or registration flow; do not assume the old account must transfer.
Why it may happen: The card or issuer verification may not work for this transaction.
What to do: Try another eligible international card or use DiDi inside a prepared Alipay account.
Why it may happen: The map pin did not make the meeting point clear.
What to do: Send a translated in-app message with a landmark or exact gate.
Why it may happen: The pickup, route, tolls or final charge needs a trip-specific review.
What to do: Open the trip, save screenshots and the receipt, and ask in-app support to review it.
Why it may happen: Support needs the completed trip to identify the driver.
What to do: Contact in-app support quickly with the ride time, route and item description. Recovery is not guaranteed.
Ride-hailing zones may be on another floor or separate from the taxi queue. Check the zone after booking.
Show your destination in Chinese and keep yuan or a prepared Alipay payment method available.
FAQ
Background — after the practical guide
Uber merged its mainland China ride-hailing business into DiDi in 2016 and exited standalone mainland service. This is a market exit, not a network block, so a VPN does not restore rides.
The Japan DiDi app cannot be used in China. Replace it with the China app; account transfer is not confirmed.
Use DiDi’s in-app translated messages rather than assuming the same workflow as a Korean app.
Choose between the China app and the Alipay mini-program. Official card support does not guarantee every card.
The China app and local DiDi apps are different. Account reuse is unconfirmed and China rides are shown in CNY.
The Alipay route reduces extra app setup. Your card issuer determines any foreign-exchange fee.
Availability in Hong Kong or Macau does not mean Uber works after crossing into mainland China. Check the app directly before relying on it there.
