06 — Landing
Getting around in China
出行
Within cities, life is easy once you know the two moves: Didi for cars, metro QR codes for everything else.
Quick checklist
- 01Didi (China's ride-hailing) runs in English inside Alipay — no Chinese phone number needed.
- 02Metros in all major cities accept QR payment via Alipay's transport code.
- 03Airport express trains beat taxis into town during rush hour.
- 04Screenshot your hotel's Chinese name and address — drivers rarely read English.
Didi without a Chinese number
The Didi mini-app inside Alipay has a full English interface and works with your foreign card. You can also message the driver through in-app auto-translated chat.
Always confirm the license plate matches before getting in — standard practice everywhere, including China.
Metro mastery
Chinese metros are clean, cheap (¥3–9 / under $1.50 a ride) and bilingual. Alipay's Transport tab generates a QR code per city; scan in, scan out. Security checks at every entrance are quick bag scans.
Avoid line 1-style rush hour crushes with luggage — airport express lines exist in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and more.
Airport to city
Airport express trains are the fastest, cheapest option in most cities. Taxis use the meter — insist on it (打表). Ignore anyone offering rides inside the arrivals hall.
Landing late or with lots of luggage? A pre-booked pickup with someone holding your name sign removes the hardest arrival moment.
Common pitfalls
- Didi requires a linked foreign card before your first ride. Set it up over hotel Wi-Fi, not standing at the curb with luggage.
- Rush hour (7:30–9:30, 17:30–19:30) brings surge pricing and long waits — the metro is usually faster and always cheaper.
- Drivers almost never speak English. Show the destination in Chinese characters, not pronunciation.
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