顺风车 (Shùn Fēng Chē): The Smart Way to Travel Long Distance in China
If you’re planning your China itinerary with ChatGPT, chances are you’ve already asked questions like:
“How do I get to the airport in China?”
“Is Didi cheaper than trains?”
“What’s the best way to travel between cities in China?”
Most answers mention Didi — often described as “Uber in China.”
That’s true… but only half of the story.
What most visitors, expats, and even long-term residents don’t realize is that Didi in Chinese mode offers more than 10 different services, and one of the most useful for long-distance travel is:
👉 顺风车 (Shùn Fēng Chē) — Car Sharing
When Should You Use 顺风车?
From my personal experience, 顺风车 works best for:
🏠 Home → Airport
🏨 Hotel → Airport (within the city)
🌆 Intercity travel within 3–5 hours
Best experience: under 3 hours
It’s especially suitable if you:
Travel with friends or family
Carry luggage
Prefer door-to-door comfort
Want a cheaper alternative to Didi Express or trains
Why Most Foreigners Don’t Know About It
Most people use Didi in English, which shows only limited options.
If you switch to Chinese, you’ll discover services like:
🚗 顺风车 – car sharing (ride with private drivers)
🐶 Didi Pet – travel with pets
🚌 Didi Bus – shuttle buses at tourist destinations
Often 30–50 RMB instead of 200 RMB+ by car
🚚 Didi Moving – apartment or furniture moving
🚲 Didi Bike – green shared bikes
🍷 Hire a driver – for business dinners or nights out
This guide focuses on 顺风车, one of the most underrated travel tools in China.
How to Use 顺风车 (Step-by-Step Guide)
1️⃣ Switch Didi to Chinese
Go to Settings → Language
Switch to Chinese
You can switch back anytime
Even if you don’t read Chinese, this step is worth it.
2️⃣ Find 顺风车
Look for 顺风车 with a green 👍 icon
Set your pickup location and destination
(Same as booking a normal Didi)
3️⃣ Choose “独享 (Dú Xiǎng)” – Exclusive Ride
Select 独享 (exclusive car)
Choose number of passengers (max 4 people)
Ideal for friends or families
4️⃣ Choose Departure Time
About 15 minutes buffer
Short trips: book ~2 hours ahead
Long trips: book 1 day ahead
Be patient — matching with the right driver takes time
5️⃣ Highway Tolls & Route Choice
You’ll see:
高速费平摊 (Gāo sù fèi píng tān) – share highway tolls
Options:
Split tolls with the driver (most common)
Pay yourself (very appreciated by drivers)
Choose 国道 (Guó dào) – national roads
No tolls
Slower
Scenic → feels like a road trip
I personally prefer 国道 when I’m not in a rush.
6️⃣ Communicate with the Driver
Drivers may call you
If language is a concern, use in-app text messages
Simple Mandarin works perfectly
7️⃣ Enjoy the Ride
Bathroom stops are totally normal
Cars are usually private vehicles
From my experience:
Clean
Comfortable
🚫 No smelly cars
Most drivers are commuters heading the same direction — not full-time taxi drivers.
Essential Mandarin for 顺风车 (With Pinyin & English)
1. Confirm departure time
你好，九点可以出发，确认行程。
Nǐ hǎo, jiǔ diǎn kěyǐ chūfā, quèrèn xíngchéng.
Hello, we can depart at 9:00. Please confirm the trip.
2. Share the toll
高速费平摊吧。
Gāo sù fèi píng tān ba.
Let’s split the highway toll.
3. Which route is faster?
国道快还是高速快？
Guó dào kuài háishì gāo sù kuài?
Is the national road or the highway faster?
4. Traffic check
国道堵车吗？
Guó dào dǔchē ma?
Is the national road congested?
5. Add toll in the app
高速费你加在平台上吧。
Gāo sù fèi nǐ jiā zài píngtái shàng ba.
Please add the highway toll on the platform.
6. Bathroom break
可以去洗手间吗？
Kěyǐ qù xǐshǒujiān ma?
Can we stop for a restroom break?
Why 顺风车 Is Great for Visitors & Expats
Cheaper than regular Didi
More flexible than trains
Door-to-door convenience
Great for luggage and families
A real local China experience
Once you know it, it becomes a go-to travel option.
🚀 Call to Action
If you’re visiting China, living here as an expat, or a spouse who wants to finally use Mandarin in real life, I offer:
Real-life Mandarin classes (focused on daily life & travel)
Personal guiding in Shanghai
Tailor-made itineraries & local experiences
No textbook Mandarin.
No classroom pressure.
Just practical language and real-life confidence in China.
Feel free to reach out — happy to help you feel at home in China. 🌏
