Introduction: Barriers Foreign Visitors Face When Using Taxis in China
For foreign visitors traveling in China, securing transportation is one of the major challenges. While ride-hailing apps like “DiDi” may appear usable at first glance, foreign users often encounter the frustrating situation of “no drivers found.”
Using ride-hailing services directly in China typically requires a Chinese phone number or Chinese identification. However, most travelers don’t have these. This is where using ride-hailing services through AliPay comes to the rescue.
Ride-Hailing Services Through AliPay
Using AliPay allows foreign travelers to easily access taxi ride-hailing services within China. The biggest advantage of this method is that it can be used without a Chinese phone number and operates with an English interface. Furthermore, it supports credit card payments, eliminating the need to prepare local currency. This is essentially a “workaround” method that allows indirect access to local ride-hailing services like DiDi.
Step-by-Step Guide to Taxi Booking via AliPay
1. App Download and Initial Setup
First, download the “AliPay” app from the App Store or Google Play. Once you open the app, check your region settings. The ride-hailing feature won’t appear if your region is still set to outside China. Make sure to change it to a city within mainland China.
Change the app’s region settings
Select the city where you’ll use taxi services
2. Accessing the Ride-Hailing Feature
After changing your region settings, look for the “Transport” menu on the home screen and tap it. From the submenu that appears, select the “Taxi” tab at the top to proceed to the ride-hailing screen.
3. Creating a Ride Request
On the ride-hailing screen, first enter your pickup location. You can also automatically detect your current location. Next, enter your destination and select your preferred vehicle type from the displayed options. At this point, estimated fare information is also shown, allowing you to choose based on your budget. Finally, tap “Confirm Request” to execute your booking.
Generally, the cheapest option is sufficient, but if you’re in a hurry, selecting Express will help you match with drivers more easily.
If operated correctly, you’ll usually be matched with a driver within a few minutes. Ride-hailing efficiency in China is excellent, and in urban areas, rides are typically arranged within minutes. It’s not uncommon for rides to be arranged faster than calling a taxi in many other countries.
Once a driver is assigned, the taxi’s current location and estimated arrival time are displayed
4. Communication with the Driver
After matching, you can communicate with the driver using the in-app chat function. This is useful when you need to provide detailed pickup location explanations, when issues like road construction or closures occur, or when you want to change the meeting point.
Even with language barriers, basic communication is possible using the in-app translation feature. You can also send photos of the pickup location, making visual communication effective when verbal explanations are difficult.
5. Boarding and Payment
Board the taxi when it arrives. Upon reaching your destination, the fare is automatically calculated in the app and a payment screen appears. After confirming the amount, complete the payment process within the app.
For smooth payments, we recommend registering a credit card with AliPay in advance. This eliminates the hassle of preparing cash and allows you to complete all operations within the app.
Ride completion screen
Bonus: Airport Transfers Using Trip.com
For predetermined schedules, such as transfers from airports to city centers, we also recommend booking transfer services through “Trip.com.” While rates are roughly equivalent to AliPay ride-hailing, you can book in advance by specifying date, time, and location for added peace of mind.
Using this service eliminates the hassle of searching for taxis when heading to the airport and reduces the risk of not finding available taxis. This method provides security for initial transportation, especially for first-time visitors to China who may feel anxious.
A 65km taxi transfer for about $25 – a reasonable price. This service is recommended when you have predetermined travel times.
Conclusion
For transportation within China, taxi booking through AliPay is an extremely convenient option for foreign travelers. Even when local apps like DiDi can’t be used directly, you can access similar services through AliPay.
By downloading the app in advance and completing necessary settings, your local transportation will become much easier. This method provides a reliable transportation option, especially for those concerned about language barriers or first-time visitors to China.
During your travel planning stage, please consider setting up the AliPay app. It will become a powerful tool for smooth China travel.
