How to Book a Taxi in China with AMap
- Topic
- Transport· Essential
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time needed
- 10 minutes to set up, 2 minutes per ride
- Last updated
- Aug 6, 2026
Quick answer
- Install AMap Global — not the mainland AMap — and register with your own foreign phone number. No Chinese number or ID needed.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you need a car. AMap ride-hailing does not take a foreign card, and many rides ask you to prepay.
- Search the destination, confirm the pick-up point, call the car, match the license plate, then give the driver the last four digits of your phone number.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Install AMap Global
AMap Global is the English build of AMap (高德地图), China's most-used navigation app. It does two jobs for a visitor: it plans routes, and it calls cars. Install this version rather than the mainland app.
Step 2
Open phone number login and pick your country code
You need an account before you can call a car. Route planning works logged out; ride-hailing does not. Open Phone number login and scroll the region list to your country.
Step 3
Enter your number and agree to the terms
Check the country code, type your number, and tick the agreement box. Read the wording: an unregistered number is auto-registered, so this single step both creates your account and signs you in. Tap Get verification code.
Step 4
Enter the verification code
AMap sends a four-digit code by SMS — shorter than the six-digit codes Alipay and WeChat use. Type it into the boxes and you are in.
Step 5
Search your destination and check the pick-up point
Type where you want to go. AMap fills in your current location as the starting point and lists recommended pick-up points underneath. Choose the one that matches where you are actually standing.
Step 6
Review the ride screen
The top shows your starting point and destination. The tab row below switches between ride-hailing, driving, cycling, and walking, so check the ride-hailing tab is selected. The map shows the route with distance and time, and the panel underneath lists car types with prices.
Step 7
Choose your car types and call the vehicle
Tick the car types you are willing to accept — selecting more gets you matched faster. Discount Express is usually the cheapest. You can compare route alternatives here too. When you are ready, tap Agree and call vehicle.
Step 8
Prepay with Alipay or WeChat Pay
Some rides ask you to pay up front. The amount is an estimate based on the expected fare, and the unused portion is refunded within about one business day. Choose Alipay or WeChat Pay and tap Confirm Payment.
Step 9
Match the license plate before you get in
Once a driver accepts, the screen shows the license plate, car colour and model, how far away they are, and the arrival time. Check the plate against the car in front of you before you open a door. Use Message for preset phrases that translate automatically, or Call to reach the driver.
Step 10
Give the driver the last four digits of your phone number
As you sit down the driver will usually ask a short question in Chinese: 尾号多少 (wěi hào duō shǎo) — what are the last four digits? This is how Chinese ride-hailing confirms it is the right passenger, and the trip will not start until you answer. Say or show the last four digits of the number you registered with.
Keep going
Related practical guides
How to Set Up and Use AMap in China
Set up AMap Global with a foreign phone number, then search places, read a location page, compare metro, driving, walking, and cycling routes, and get around China in English.
How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner in China
Set up Alipay before you arrive: register, verify your passport, and link a foreign card so you can pay by QR code from your first day in China.
How to Board a High-Speed Train in China
Get from station entrance to your seat: passport identity check, security, reading the departure board, finding your boarding gate, standing at the right carriage position, and storing luggage.
Before you rely on it
Q&A
Do I need a Chinese phone number to use AMap ride-hailing?
No. AMap Global accepts an international number and auto-registers it during login. This is its main advantage over DiDi's own app for short-term visitors.
Do I need a Chinese bank account?
No, but you do need Alipay or WeChat Pay. AMap will not charge a foreign card directly, so set one of the payment apps up before you rely on ride-hailing.
Why does the driver ask for the last four digits of my phone number?
It is the standard passenger check in Chinese ride-hailing. The driver sees only the last four digits of the booking number and confirms them out loud so the right person gets in. Answer with the last four digits of the number you registered with, or show your phone.
Is AMap Global the same as the Chinese 高德地图?
Same company, different build. AMap Global has an English interface and accepts foreign phone numbers; the mainland app is built around Chinese numbers and ID cards.
Why am I asked to prepay?
Some rides require payment up front. The charge is an estimate of the fare, and any unused amount is refunded, usually within about one business day.
How much does a ride cost?
Far less than in most Western cities. Short trips within a city are often only a few yuan, and the app shows an estimate before you confirm.
What if the driver calls me and I do not speak Chinese?
Do not try to hold the call. Hang up and use the in-app Message function, which has preset phrases and translates automatically.
Is AMap or DiDi better for foreigners?
AMap Global is usually easier to get started with because it accepts a foreign phone number. DiDi works well once you have a Chinese number and mainland payment, so it suits longer stays.
What if no driver accepts my ride?
Select more car types to widen the pool, check your pick-up point is reachable by car, or flag a street taxi instead. Demand spikes in rain and at rush hour.
Is ride-hailing safe in China?
It is widely used and heavily regulated, with the driver, plate, and trip all recorded in the app. The usual precautions apply: match the plate, sit in the back, and share your trip if you are travelling alone at night.