Is Didi required a Chinese phone number?

You certainly need mobile data to use it on the street. Both my son and I had China sim cards and I am not aware on anyone who has used it without.

Didi service is meant for locals, not for tourist. Maybe exception for long-time foreign residents but still tricky to use. Don't consider it as your primary solution to getting around. In urban area at large cities, subways are good and taxis. In suburbs and remote area, small village, hire a private driver in advance.

I strongly disagree with #4. English language worked fine for us in five cities - not at all tricky to use.

My son is not a long-term foreign resident and he was using it independently, before showing me how to use it. It would be helpful if you could say what aspects you have found tricky and I can tell you how we dealt with them.

Didi works with foreign phone numbers and foreign credit card

The English version works fine for tourists. I installed it last times when I was for 4 weeks in China in different cities. In the end, I used the app only twice, because I had no problem hailing taxis in Foshan, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Beijing.

Not having to pay in cash makes Didi easier. But I have wechat wallet, so for me there was no difference.

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Last august I was not able to use DIDI with my italian visa credit card, since it was not accepted.

What a pity :(