Best Apps for Traveling in China (2026): 12 Must-Have Apps
Your phone is your lifeline in China. You’ll use it to pay for everything, navigate cities, book trains, hail taxis, translate menus, and communicate. Without the right apps, you’ll be lost — literally.
Download ALL of these before you leave home. Some apps are harder to download once you’re inside China.
The Must-Have Apps
1. Alipay — Payments (Essential)
What it does: Mobile payments via QR code scanning. This is how you pay for everything in China — food, transport, shopping, even vending machines.
Why you need it: China is nearly 100% cashless. Without Alipay, you can’t eat, shop, or get around easily.
Setup: Link your Visa/Mastercard before arriving. Full instructions in our payment setup guide.
2. WeChat — Messaging + Payments (Essential)
What it does: China’s super-app. Messaging, social media, payments, mini-programs, and more. Think WhatsApp + Instagram + Apple Pay combined.
Why you need it: Some vendors only accept WeChat Pay (not Alipay). It’s also the best way to communicate with locals — everyone uses WeChat. If you make a friend, they’ll ask for your WeChat.
Setup: Create account with your phone number. Add your bank card for WeChat Pay.
3. Amap / 高德地图 — Navigation (Essential)
What it does: China’s most accurate navigation app. Walking, driving, and public transit directions.
Why you need it: Google Maps works in China (with your eSIM), but the data is often inaccurate or outdated. Amap has real-time bus/metro info, accurate walking paths, and indoor navigation for shopping malls and train stations.
Tip: The app is in Chinese, but you can search in English for major landmarks. Use it alongside Google Maps — Amap for accuracy, Google Maps for English interface.
4. Didi — Ride-Hailing (Essential)
What it does: China’s Uber. Book taxis and private cars with a tap.
Why you need it: Hailing street taxis is unreliable — drivers may refuse foreigners, not understand your destination, or overcharge. Didi shows the route and price upfront, and you pay through the app.
Tip: Didi has an English interface. Switch to English in Settings. You can also type your destination in English. Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked in the app.
5. Trip.com — Trains, Hotels, Flights (Essential)
What it does: Book high-speed rail tickets, hotels, and domestic flights. Full English interface, accepts international credit cards.
Why you need it: The official Chinese booking platforms (12306, Ctrip Chinese version) are difficult for foreigners. Trip.com is the international version — same inventory, English interface, foreign card support.
Key use: Booking train tickets with your passport number.
6. Google Translate — Translation (Essential)
What it does: Camera translation (point at Chinese text), voice translation, and text translation.
Why you need it: Most menus, signs, and notices are in Chinese only. Point your camera at a restaurant menu to see instant English translation.
Critical setup: Download the Chinese language pack for offline use before you leave. Go to Settings → Offline Translation → Download Chinese. This way it works even without internet.
7. Pleco — Chinese Dictionary (Highly Recommended)
What it does: The best Chinese-English dictionary app. Includes camera OCR, handwriting recognition, and audio pronunciation.
Why you need it: More accurate than Google Translate for individual words and phrases. The handwriting feature lets you draw a character you see and find its meaning. Great for learning basic phrases.
8. Apple Maps / Baidu Maps — Backup Navigation
What it does: Additional map options.
Why useful: Apple Maps actually works reasonably well in China and shows transit directions. Baidu Maps (百度地图) is the other major Chinese map app — useful if Amap is acting up.
9. Meituan (美团) — Food Delivery + Restaurants
What it does: Food delivery, restaurant reviews, and deals. Think DoorDash + Yelp combined.
Why useful: Order food delivery to your hotel when you’re tired. Browse restaurant ratings and menus before going. Find deals on attractions and activities.
Note: Mostly in Chinese, but increasingly supports English for tourist areas.
10. Xiaohongshu / 小红书 — Travel Inspiration
What it does: China’s Instagram/Pinterest hybrid. Users post photo reviews of restaurants, attractions, hotels, and hidden gems.
Why useful: Search for any destination or restaurant and find real photos and reviews from Chinese visitors. It’s the best way to discover places that aren’t in Western travel guides. Search in English or Chinese.
11. MetroMan — Subway Navigation
What it does: Offline metro maps for every Chinese city. Plan routes, check operating hours, find exits.
Why useful: Works without internet. Shows you exactly which exit to take (Chinese metro stations can have 10+ exits spread over a large area — taking the wrong one means a 15-minute walk).
12. VoiceTra — Voice Translation
What it does: Real-time voice translation between English and Chinese. Speak English, it outputs Chinese audio.
Why useful: When you need to have a real conversation — at a pharmacy, hospital, or with someone who speaks zero English. More natural than typing into Google Translate.
Quick Reference: Download Checklist
| App | Category | Priority | English? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Payments | Must-have | Yes |
| Messaging + Pay | Must-have | Yes | |
| Amap | Navigation | Must-have | Partial |
| Didi | Taxi/rides | Must-have | Yes |
| Trip.com | Bookings | Must-have | Yes |
| Google Translate | Translation | Must-have | Yes |
| Pleco | Dictionary | Recommended | Yes |
| Apple/Baidu Maps | Backup maps | Recommended | Partial |
| Meituan | Food/reviews | Nice to have | Partial |
| Xiaohongshu | Inspiration | Nice to have | Partial |
| MetroMan | Subway | Recommended | Yes |
| VoiceTra | Voice translate | Nice to have | Yes |
Before You Download
Make sure you have these set up first:
- China eSIM installed — You need internet to use most of these apps
- Alipay linked to your card — Required for Didi, Meituan, and in-app payments
- Enough phone storage — These apps total about 2-3 GB. Clear space before downloading
Pro Tips
Download everything on home WiFi
Some apps may be slower to download once you’re in China, even with an eSIM. Get everything installed before you leave.
Set up Chinese keyboard
Add Chinese Pinyin keyboard to your phone (Settings → Keyboards). This helps when you need to search for places in Chinese characters — just type the pinyin and select the characters.
Save important places offline
In Amap and Google Maps, star/save your hotel, the airport, and key attractions. This way you can navigate even if your internet drops.
Keep apps updated
Chinese apps update frequently. Update all apps before departure.
Next Steps
- Get your China eSIM first — All these apps need internet to work
- Set up Alipay step by step — The most important app to configure
- Book your train tickets — Use Trip.com to plan your route
- Full pre-trip checklist — Make sure you’re completely prepared
Last updated: February 2026. All apps verified and tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What apps should I download before going to China?
Essential apps: Alipay (payments), WeChat (messaging + payments), Didi (taxis), Baidu Maps (navigation), Trip.com (hotels + trains), and Google Translate (offline Chinese pack). Download all before arriving since Google Play is blocked.
Does Google Maps work in China?
Google Maps is blocked in China. Use Baidu Maps or Amap (Gaode) instead. Both have English interfaces and are more accurate for Chinese addresses, public transit, and walking directions.