One screen, every transport app: Alipay transit QR for metro and bus, DiDi for taxis, Trip.com for high-speed trains. Skip cash; show your passport at the train gate instead of a paper ticket and you’ll be on the platform in 30 seconds.
1 Apps that move you
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| City metro & bus | Local transit card in Alipay/WeChat; or Amap/Baidu maps |
| Taxi / ride | DiDi (set pickup in the app; show destination in Chinese) |
| High-speed & train | 12306 (official) or Trip.com |
| Maps | Amap (Gaode) / Baidu — Google Maps is limited |
| Bikes | Hellobike / Meituan / DiDi Bike mini-programs |
2 How you pay to ride
Metro and buses take the transit QR from Alipay/WeChat or a physical transit card. DiDi charges to the app. HSR is booked online — show your passport at the gate, not a paper ticket.
3 Show-the-driver phrases
- "去…" (qù …) — "go to…" then show the Chinese address.
- "多少钱？" (duōshǎo qián?) — "how much?" (for unmetered rides).
- Use the Taxi Cards tool to print a card with your hotel in Chinese.
4 Quick tips
- Set up the transit QR in Alipay before your first ride.
- Always have your destination in Chinese characters, not English.
- For HSR, your passport IS the ticket — carry it.
One rule covers 90% of transport: get the destination in Chinese on your phone, and let DiDi or the Metro app do the rest.