If you want one answer, install Amap (高德地图, Gaode Ditu) before the flight. It is the most useful all-round local map for a visitor who needs walking, public transport, Chinese addresses and ride-hailing in the same place. Keep Apple Maps if you use an iPhone and prefer a familiar English interface. Baidu Maps (百度地图, Baidu Ditu) is powerful, but it asks more of a traveler who cannot read Chinese.
| App | Best reason to use it | Main friction for a visitor |
|---|---|---|
| Amap | Local routing, metro exits, buses, walking and an English ride-hailing interface | Some places and service screens still make more sense in Chinese |
| Baidu Maps | A second local search result when a Chinese place is missing elsewhere | Chinese-first interface and a steeper learning curve |
| Apple Maps | Familiar interface for iPhone users with no new account to learn | Less useful as a gateway to the full range of Chinese local services |
Where Amap earns its place
Amap’s multilingual version covers driving, walking, cycling and public transport, and includes an English ride-hailing interface. That matters because a metro trip in China is not just “take Line 2.” The correct station entrance, exit number and final walking direction can save more time than choosing the theoretically fastest route.
When Apple Maps is easier
On an iPhone, Apple Maps requires no new account and its labels feel familiar. It is a sensible first screen when you are jet-lagged. But always compare the Chinese destination name and street address before showing it to a driver. An English hotel brand may have several branches that look nearly identical.
When Baidu Maps is worth opening
Use Baidu Maps when a Chinese place name, residential compound, small business or local address cannot be found in your other map. It can be a valuable second opinion. It is not the first app I would teach to someone who has never seen a Chinese interface.
Run this five-minute test before flying
- Search your first hotel by its Chinese address.
- Save the correct branch.
- Plan the airport-to-hotel route.
- Open the walking route from the nearest metro exit.
- Check that the hotel phone number and district match your booking.
- Take a screenshot that still works with no data.
Three mistakes that no map fixes
- Selecting a hotel chain name without checking the branch.
- Following the blue dot while ignoring that you are on the wrong level of a station or mall.
- Searching only in English when the official Chinese name produces a better result.
FAQ
Should an Android user install Apple Maps?
No. Start with Amap and keep the Chinese addresses you need offline.
Do I need Baidu Maps as well?
Not for a normal first trip. Install it only if you are comfortable with Chinese or repeatedly cannot find local places.
Can Amap replace DiDi?
It can call rides, but the comparison is more complicated than “yes or no.” Read the separate ride-hailing comparison before deciding.
Official information to check
- Shanghai government: Amap multilingual navigation and English ride-hailing interface
- Traveler discussion: choosing a map app for China
Related: why you need a local map alternative.