The blue dot is not enough at a Chinese airport or railway station. Drivers may be allowed to stop only in a specific garage, floor, zone or numbered bay. Do not request the car until you know how to reach the ride-hailing pickup area.
Taxi rank and ride-hailing pickup are different
Follow 出租车 (Chuzuche) if you want the official taxi queue. For DiDi and similar services, look for 网约车 (Wangyueche), 网络预约出租车, Ride-Hailing, App-Based Ride or Online Car-Hailing. The two areas may be on different floors or even in different buildings.
Before pressing Confirm
- Check the terminal or station name. Beijing, Shanghai and other cities have multiple airports and railway stations.
- Expand the pickup field and choose the exact terminal, exit, parking area, floor and bay offered by the app.
- Read the walking instructions before a driver accepts. Take a screenshot in case the signal drops inside the garage.
- Only then request the car. Some platforms begin charging waiting time after the driver arrives.
请问网约车上车点在哪里？
Pronunciation: Qingwen wangyueche shangchedian zai nali?
Excuse me, where is the ride-hailing pickup area?
How to read a pickup description
- T1 / T2 / T3: terminal number.
- P1 / P2: parking building or lot.
- B1 / B2: basement level.
- East / West / North / South: side of the building, not your travel direction.
- Zone A / Bay 12: the final meeting area.
- Gate or Exit: confirm whether it is an indoor exit number or an outdoor vehicle bay.
When the driver calls
Do not try to explain the whole airport in English. Send the app’s pickup label, a screenshot of the nearest sign, and your bay number in chat. If the driver sends a different location, compare the Chinese place name character by character before walking away.
Use the vehicle plate, color and model to identify the car. Do not get into an unbooked car because someone says “DiDi” or offers a fixed fare.
If you cannot find the pickup area
- Ask an airport information desk or uniformed station employee.
- Cancel only after checking whether the app warns of a fee.
- If the route is too confusing, use the official taxi queue. It may be simpler after a long flight.
- For a late arrival with children or heavy luggage, consider a hotel pickup booked in advance.
FAQ
Can the driver collect me from any departure door?
Do not assume so. Traffic rules and pickup zones differ by airport, station and terminal.
Why does the app say I am at the wrong pickup point?
Indoor positioning is unreliable. Select the location from the app’s list and compare it with physical signs rather than trusting only the blue GPS dot.
Should I pay a driver who asks me to cancel the app order?
Keep the trip inside the app. If a driver asks for an off-platform ride, decline and return to the official pickup area.
Official information to check
Also save the guide to the phone-number last-four-digits check.