Payment
Alipay, WeChat
Pay in shops, restaurants, transport scenarios, and local mini programs.
Apps
Best Apps for China Travel
A practical app setup guide for first-time visitors, covering payment, taxis, maps, translation, high-speed rail, restaurants, and first-day backups.
App categories
What each app category is for
Transport
Didi, metro apps, local taxi options
Call rides, understand airport transfers, and move around cities.
Maps
Apple Maps, Baidu Maps, Amap
Search locations, check routes, and show addresses to drivers or hotel staff.
Translation
Google Translate, Apple Translate, Pleco
Translate menus, signs, addresses, allergy notes, and basic conversations.
Trains
Trip.com, Railway 12306
Search high-speed rail routes, book tickets, and track station details.
Food
Meituan, Dianping, delivery mini programs
Find restaurants, read reviews, and understand local food options.
Before departure
Set up apps before you fly
App setup is easiest before departure, when you still have your normal phone network, app store access, password manager, and bank verification methods.
- Install the essential apps before flying, while you still have stable access to your usual app store.
- Create accounts for the apps that require phone verification.
- Link payment methods before departure where possible.
- Save hotel addresses, airport names, and first-day destinations in your notes app.
- Keep screenshots of key Chinese names in case mobile data or app search fails.
Common mistakes
Avoid first-day app problems
- Assuming one global app can replace every local China app.
- Waiting until arrival to install payment or ride-hailing apps.
- Not checking whether phone number verification works overseas.
- Relying on one map app without saving important addresses.
- Forgetting that some apps work better when payment is already set up.
Not sure which apps fit your trip?
Ask with your nationality, cities, travel month, and main concern.