How to Avoid Smoky Taxis and Rude Drivers on Didi in Shanghai (Premier Tier, 2026)
Open Didi inside the Alipay mini-program (or the standalone Didi app) and select Premier or Luxe instead of Express. Premium rides cost roughly 1.5x Express (¥21 base versus ¥14) but match the cleaner non-smoking standard you want. Smoking inside taxis has been illegal in Shanghai since 2017, but Express-tier drivers ignore it more often. Premier drivers carry stricter ratings and lose payouts after smoking complaints. Add a written note in Chinese before each ride: 请勿吸烟 (please do not smoke) — the app shows it to the driver in advance. Pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign Visa or Mastercard; cash is rare. If you smell smoke or get attitude during the ride, ask the driver to open the window, then submit a 1-star rating with photos when you arrive. Didi refunds aggressive drivers within 24 hours through the in-app help center. Avoid 8–9 AM and 5–7 PM; surge pricing rises 1.4x and drivers are stressed. Shanghai Metro Lines 1, 2, 10, and 14 cover most tourist areas at ¥3–7 per ride and stay fully smoke-free.
- Pick Didi Premier (¥21 base) or Luxe over Express to cut smoking incidents — premium drivers lose payouts after complaints.
- Pre-paste the Chinese phrase 请勿吸烟 (no smoking) in the ride note; Didi shows it before the driver picks up.
- Submit a 1-star rating with photos in-app within 24 hours for refunds on smoke or rude driver complaints.
- Skip 8–9 AM and 5–7 PM rush hours: surge pricing hits 1.4x and driver patience drops fast.
- Use Metro Lines 1, 2, 10, 14 for ¥3–7 per ride — smoke-free, English signage, runs until 11 PM.
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