Street taxi or Didi? Pay before you move.
Can you pay here?
Cash works in street taxis. Didi needs Alipay or WeChat Pay with a bound card. Neither needs a Chinese bank account.
Try these in order
Start with the method the staff expect, then fall back to cash.
-
Didi inside Alipay
Call the car in the Alipay mini program and pay in the app.
Works with a bound foreign card. -
Cash for street taxis
Check that the meter is running and pay in RMB at the end.
Works with small notes and no app. -
WeChat Pay
Use the ride-hailing mini program inside WeChat.
Works if your account passed checks. -
Hotel taxi desk
Ask the hotel to book a car and charge your room.
Works at staffed hotels.
What to say
Show the Chinese line to staff. The pinyin is for you.
| English | 中文 |
|---|---|
| Please use the meter. | 请打表。 |
| Can I pay in cash? | 可以付现金吗？ |
| I cannot pay by app. How much is it? | 我用不了手机支付。多少钱？ |
| Please take me to this address. | 请带我去这个地址。 |
If payment fails here
Each error page gives three steps and a fallback for this situation.
Payment failed
Didi, Trains and Attractions: Paying with a Foreign Card
Transaction declined by issuer
Card Declined in China? Your Bank Is Blocking It (2026)
No change available
Do Shops in China Still Take Cash? Yes, and Here Is How
Code expired
Alipay Verification Code Not Received? Fixes for Visitors
Network unavailable
Paying in China Without Internet: What Still Works
Transaction declined
Apple Pay Not Working in China? 3 Fixes for Visitors
Backup options
Get out of the queue first. Solve the payment later.
- Ask the hotel to book a car
The fare goes on your room bill.
- Use the subway or airport shuttle
Both take cash or a ticket machine with English.
- Carry small notes for the fare
Drivers may not have change for a large note.
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or any card network. Rules checked 2026-10-26 (version 2026-10). Staff may ask for a different method. Tell us what happened.