Quick Answer

Download Alipay, WeChat, Amap (高德地图), Trip.com, Didi, and an offline translation app before you leave home. Some foreign apps and services may be unavailable or unreliable in mainland China, and some Chinese apps can be harder to find from a foreign app-store region after you land.

China operates a separate digital ecosystem from the rest of the world. Google Maps data is unreliable, Google Translate works best if you have downloaded offline Chinese in advance, and WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Instagram, and many Google services may not connect normally on mainland networks. More importantly, some Chinese apps are not consistently available in every foreign App Store region.

The rule: treat your phone like packing your suitcase — everything goes on before you leave the house. An hour of preparation at home saves hours of confusion in China.

Payment apps: Alipay and WeChat Pay

These are not optional. Cash is increasingly useless in China — many restaurants, taxis, and small shops are mobile-payment only. You need at least one of these apps working before you arrive.

Alipay

Start with this one.

China's most widely accepted payment app. Foreigners can link a Visa, Mastercard, or JCB card directly — no Chinese bank account needed. Works at restaurants, taxis, shops, attractions, markets, and street vendors.

Setup time: 15–20 minutes. Do this at home with a stable internet connection.

→ Full Alipay setup guide for foreigners

WeChat

Also essential.

WeChat is China's super-app — messaging, payments, and a gateway to hundreds of mini-programs used for everything from museum ticketing to hotel check-in. Hotels and local contacts will expect to reach you on WeChat. WeChat Pay also works with foreign cards, making it a useful Alipay backup.

Important: Register your WeChat account before you arrive. New accounts registered in China sometimes face verification delays or require a Chinese contact to confirm your account.

Google Maps may load, especially on some roaming or eSIM setups, but the map data is not reliable for turn-by-turn navigation in mainland China. Pins and roads can be shifted because international GPS coordinates and Chinese map-coordinate systems do not line up cleanly. Do not rely on it as your primary map.

Amap (高德地图)

Best overall navigation.

China's most accurate mapping app, used by locals and foreigners alike. The English interface is now full — Gaode launched an English map for overseas users — and there is a dedicated AMap Global app with an English UI and voice navigation. Shows real-time transit routes, walking directions, and is accurate down to individual building entrances. Owned by Alibaba — integrated with Alipay.

Tip: Download offline maps for your destination cities before you leave. Tap your destination city → three dots → Download. This works even without data.

Apple Maps (iPhone)

For iPhone users, Apple Maps now works well in mainland China without extra setup — it uses Amap/Gaode data under the hood but keeps an English interface. It is the simplest English navigation option on iOS. Android users should default to Amap.

Offline maps

For offline navigation, use Amap's own offline map download (above) — it is the reliable option for China. Maps.me has degraded since its 2023 paywall, and its OpenStreetMap successor, Organic Maps, does not offer offline maps for mainland China. If you want a backup that works with zero internet, download your destination cities inside Amap before you fly rather than relying on an OSM-based app.

Get data before you land

You need internet access immediately on arrival to activate Alipay and use maps. Get a China eSIM before your flight.

See eSIM options →

Transport and booking apps

Trip.com

Book trains, hotels, flights.

The most foreigner-friendly Chinese travel booking platform. Full English interface, accepts international credit cards and PayPal. Book high-speed rail tickets, domestic flights, and hotels. 12306, China Railway's official app, now has its own English app too (passport registration, foreign cards, no booking fee), but Trip.com is still the smoothest for many foreigners and needs no separate rail-account verification.

→ How to buy China train tickets as a foreigner

Didi (DiDi Chuxing)

Taxis and ride-hailing.

China's equivalent of Uber, operating in over 400 cities. Shows the price upfront, more reliable than hailing street taxis, with an English interface and 24/7 English support.

Download the right app: get "DiDi China: Ride Hailing" (also listed as DiDi – Greater China). Do not download DiDi Rider or the "International" version — that one is for overseas markets and shows no drivers inside mainland China. The Greater China app has a full English interface, foreign-card support, and in-app English/Chinese driver chat.

Metro apps

Optional but useful.

The Beijing and Shanghai metro systems have their own English apps, but the Amap navigation app covers metro routes well enough for most travelers. You can also pay metro fares with Alipay or WeChat Pay by showing a QR code — no need to queue for a physical ticket.

Translation apps

Google Translate

Essential if you download the offline Chinese pack before departure.

Works best if you download the Chinese language pack for offline use before arriving. The camera translation feature is invaluable for menus, signs, and forms — point your camera at Chinese text and it overlays the translation in real time.

Before you leave: Open Google Translate → Downloaded Languages → Chinese (Simplified) → Download. This works without internet.

Note: Do not assume the online version of Google Translate will connect normally in mainland China. Download the offline Chinese pack before departure.

Pleco

Best Chinese dictionary for signs, menus, and handwritten characters.

The gold standard Chinese-English dictionary. Free version includes handwriting recognition — draw characters you see and get the definition. Useful even without Chinese language skills for deciphering menus or signs that Google Translate struggles with.

Communication apps

Unreliable or unavailable: WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal

Do not count on these for in-China communication. They may be unavailable on mainland networks, and workarounds vary by device, network, and local rules.

Works: WeChat for local contacts

Your hotel, tour guide, or local contacts will expect WeChat. It's how China communicates. Having it set up means you can message your hotel in Chinese (copy-paste translation from Google Translate) and get immediate replies.

Works: iMessage / FaceTime

Apple's iMessage and FaceTime generally continue to work in China as long as you have internet access. They are a useful backup for staying in touch with people back home.

Full download checklist

Download before you fly:

  • Payments: Alipay set up and linked to a card; WeChat registered and ready.
  • Navigation: Amap / 高德地图 (download offline maps for your cities); Apple Maps on iPhone.
  • Transport: Trip.com; DiDi China: Ride Hailing (the mainland app, not the "International" version).
  • Translation: Google Translate with offline Chinese; Pleco if you want a stronger dictionary.

How to get apps not in your local App Store

Some Chinese apps aren't available in certain countries' App Stores (notably the US and some European countries). Here's how to access them:

Create a second Apple ID or Google account with China region

Set the country/region to China or Hong Kong. You don't need a Chinese payment method — just select "None" as payment. Use this account only for downloading Chinese apps.

Sign in temporarily on your device

Switch to the new account in the App Store, download the apps you need, then switch back to your main account. The downloaded apps remain on your phone.

For Android: direct APK download

Many Chinese apps publish APK files directly on their websites as an alternative to Google Play. Only download from official app websites — never third-party APK repositories.

Next: Set up your payments

With your apps downloaded, the next step is linking your foreign card to Alipay. Takes about 15 minutes.

Alipay setup guide →

  • How to use Alipay as a foreigner — step-by-step setup and payment guide.
  • How to buy China train tickets — Trip.com vs 12306, passport details, and station process.
  • All recommended tools — eSIM, hotels, trains, and more.

Sources & Verification

All factual claims in this guide are verified against the primary sources listed below. Official Chinese government sources take priority.

Read next

Payments How to Use Alipay in China as a Foreigner

How foreign travelers can set up Alipay before China, link an overseas card, complete verification, and avoid common payment failures.

 Connectivity Best eSIM for China Travel

How to choose a China eSIM, when to install it, and what backup plan foreign travelers should keep before landing.

 Transport Navigation in China: Why Google Maps Fails and What to Use Instead

Google Maps works in China but its data is significantly less accurate than domestic alternatives. This guide explains the map gap, how to use Amap as a foreigner, and how to get around Chinese cities without getting lost.