How to Book a Taxi or Didi at Canton Fair?

By Yaurapulse

Published 2026-10-26 Updated 2026-10-26Supplier Verification & Communication

You finish a long day at the Canton Fair. It is 6:00 PM, the halls are closing, and 50,000 people are trying to leave the venue at the same time. The metro station is packed. Taxi lines stretch for hundreds of meters. You have a dinner meeting with a supplier in 45 minutes. You need to get out of here fast.

How do you book a taxi or Didi at the Canton Fair?

The best option is Didi, China's version of Uber. Didi works with international phone numbers and credit cards, has an English interface, and offers real-time translation between you and the driver. Street taxis are also available but harder to find during peak hours. In this guide, I will cover how to set up Didi, how to use it at the Canton Fair, taxi pickup points, traffic tips, and what to do when demand is high.

Why use Didi instead of hailing a taxi on the street?

In Guangzhou, you can hail taxis on the street, but there are good reasons to use Didi instead:

Fixed price before you ride. Didi shows you the fare upfront. No surprises, no haggling, no being overcharged.
No language barrier. Didi has an English interface and a built-in translation feature for messages between you and the driver.
Cashless payment. Pay with your international credit card, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. No need to carry cash or worry about having exact change.
Better availability during peak hours. During the Canton Fair, taxi lines can be very long. Didi connects you with nearby drivers directly.
Safety. You see the driver's name, photo, license plate, and car model before getting in. You can share your trip with someone back home.
7x24 English customer service. Didi provides 24/7 English online customer support for international users.

How to set up Didi before your trip

Do this before you fly to China. Set up Didi at home where you have reliable internet.

Download the Didi app. Search for DiDi in the App Store or Google Play. Download the app.
Register with your phone number. Didi accepts international phone numbers. Enter your country code and phone number. You will receive a verification code via SMS.
Set the language to English. Go to Settings and select English. The app interface will switch to English.
Add a payment method. Go to Me, Wallet, Payment Methods. Options include:

International credit card: Visa, Mastercard, JCB (Amex support is inconsistent).
Alipay: If you have an Alipay account, link it.
WeChat Pay: If you have WeChat Pay, link it.

Enable auto-pay (recommended). Go to Wallet, Payment Methods, toggle on auto-deduct. Payment is automatic after each ride.

TIP: The easiest and most reliable option for foreigners is using the Didi mini-program inside Alipay. If you already have Alipay with an international card linked, you can use Didi without downloading a separate app.

How to use Didi at the Canton Fair

Open the Didi app. The app will use your phone's GPS to detect your current location.
Enter your destination. Type your hotel name or address in the destination field.
Choose your ride type:

Express: The cheapest and most common option.
Premier: A more premium option with newer cars. Costs about 1.5x Express fare.
Taxi: Hails a regular taxi through the app. Meter fare plus small booking fee.
Luxury: High-end cars. More expensive.

Confirm your pickup location. Make sure the pin is at a designated pickup point.
Confirm and wait for a driver. The app shows estimated fare, wait time, and driver details.
Track the driver approaching on the map in real time.
Board the car. Check the license plate and driver name before getting in.
Arrive and pay. If auto-pay is enabled, payment is automatic.

Designated taxi and ride-hailing pickup points at the Canton Fair

During the Canton Fair, traffic around the Pazhou complex is heavily regulated. There are designated pickup points:

Taxi pickup points:

Zhanchang Middle Road
Zhanchang West Road
Hall C, Huizhan South 3rd Road

The transportation department organizes additional taxis to the venue during closing time (17:00-18:00) to handle the evening rush.

Didi / ride-hailing pickup points during peak hours (16:00-19:00):

Canton Fair Hall North Plaza
Pazhou Avenue East (near Gate 3)
Huizhan South 2nd Road
Huizhan South 3rd Road

IMPORTANT: During the evening rush (16:00-19:00), ride-hailing cars are NOT allowed to pick up passengers on Xingang East Road, Yuejiang Middle Road, Huizhan East Road, or Nanfeng East Road. You must go to one of the designated pickup points.

TIP: These designated areas can be crowded. If you cannot find your driver, call or message them through the app. Didi's translation feature will help you communicate.

How to communicate with your Didi driver

Most Didi drivers in Guangzhou speak only Chinese. Do not worry - Didi has features to help:

In-app translation: Didi provides real-time translation for messages between you and the driver.
Show your destination: The driver already sees your destination on their app. You do not need to tell them where to go.
Use voice messages: The app can translate voice messages too.
Show your booking details: If there is confusion, show the driver your phone screen.
Use simple Chinese phrases:

ni hao = Hello
xie xie = Thank you
dao le ma = Have you arrived?
wo zai zhe li = I am here

TIP: Save your hotel's name and address in Chinese characters. Show it to the driver if needed.

How much does a Didi ride cost from the Canton Fair?

| Destination | Approx. Distance | Approx. Didi Fare |

| Pazhou area hotels | 1-3 km | 10-25 RMB |

| Tianhe district | 5-8 km | 25-50 RMB |

| Yuexiu/Huanshi Road | 10-15 km | 40-70 RMB |

| Guangzhou Baiyun Airport | 45-55 km | 130-200 RMB |

| Guangzhou South Railway Station | 20-25 km | 60-100 RMB |

Note: During peak hours (especially 6:00-7:00 PM when the fair closes), demand is very high and Didi may apply surge pricing, increasing the fare by 1.5x to 3x. If you can wait 30 minutes, prices usually drop.

Traffic tips for the Canton Fair

The area around the Canton Fair gets extremely congested during the exhibition:

Mornings are worst for inbound traffic. From 8:00 to 10:00 AM, roads leading to Pazhou are heavily congested. The metro is more reliable.
Evenings are worst for outbound traffic. From 17:00 to 19:00, everyone is trying to leave at once. Expect long wait times.
The metro is faster during peak hours. It may be crowded but it is reliable and not affected by traffic jams.
Leave early or late to avoid the rush. Leave at 4:00 PM or wait until 7:30 PM.
Use Didi's scheduled pickup. Book a ride in advance for before or after the peak rush.

Real experience from past visitors: One team split up on day one. The group taking the metro arrived on time despite crowds. The group taking a taxi with heavy supplies got stuck in traffic. If you are in a hurry, take the metro.

What to do when Didi cannot find a driver

During peak hours, Didi may not find a driver immediately. Here is what to do:

Try Premier instead of Express. Premier cars are more expensive but more available.
Walk to a less crowded pickup point. Walking 200-300 meters away may help.
Increase your fare offer. Didi allows you to add a tip to attract drivers.
Try a taxi stand. Go to one of the official taxi pickup points.
Take the metro. Pazhou Metro Station (Line 8) is connected directly to the venue.
Ask your supplier for help. They may be able to call a taxi for you.
Wait it out. If no urgent meeting, wait at a cafe until 7:30 PM when demand drops.

Street taxis at the Canton Fair

Finding taxis:

Use the official taxi stands at Zhanchang Middle Road, Zhanchang West Road, and Hall C Huizhan South 3rd Road.
Taxis are also available at Pazhou Metro Station exits.
During closing time (17:00-18:00), extra taxis are dispatched to the venue.

Paying for taxis:

Guangzhou taxis accept cash and mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat).
Fare starts at 12 RMB for the first 2.5 km, then 2.6 RMB per km.
A fuel surcharge of 1 RMB may apply.

Tipping: Tipping is not expected in China. You pay the exact meter fare.

Language: Most taxi drivers do not speak English. Have your destination written in Chinese characters.

Alternative transportation options

Guangzhou Metro. Pazhou Station (Line 8) is inside the venue. Trains every 2-3 minutes during peak hours. Fare: 2-7 RMB.
Hotel shuttle bus. If your hotel offers a shuttle bus, use it. Free and avoids traffic stress.
Official Canton Fair shuttle bus. Free buses from the venue to downtown hotels.
Ask your supplier to arrange a car. Many suppliers have company cars or know local drivers.

Safety tips for using Didi in China

Check the license plate before getting in. Make sure it matches the plate in the app.
Sit in the back seat. This is safer and standard in China.
Share your trip. Didi allows you to share your real-time location with a friend.
Do not share personal information. You do not need to give the driver your phone number.
Rate your driver. After the ride, rate the driver to maintain service quality.
Use the SOS button if needed. Didi has an emergency button in the app.

Bottom Line

Download and set up Didi before you leave home. Register with your phone number and add a payment method.
Use Didi's Express service - it is the cheapest and most common option.
Didi accepts international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB) and Alipay.
Designated pickup points are at Canton Fair Hall North Plaza, Pazhou Avenue East, Huizhan South 2nd Road, and Huizhan South 3rd Road.
Peak hours are 16:00-19:00 - expect surge pricing and longer wait times.
The metro is faster during peak hours - use it if you are in a hurry.
Didi has English customer service and built-in translation.
Street taxis are available at official stands but less convenient than Didi.
Save your hotel's Chinese address to show drivers if needed.
Have a backup plan - if Didi cannot find a driver, take the metro or wait for the rush to pass.

Didi is the most convenient way to get around Guangzhou during the Canton Fair. Set it up before your trip, and you will have a reliable transportation option throughout your stay.