China Apps
Essential China apps for foreign visitors, including payments, maps, rides, translation, local tips, and what to install before landing.
Most first-day friction in China comes from app setup. You do not need every app. You need a small stack that covers payment, transport, maps, translation, and hotel support.
Core App Stack
- Alipay (支付宝, Zhifubao): payments, mini programs, ride-hailing access, some transit and travel functions.
- WeChat (微信, Weixin): messaging, WeChat (微信, Weixin) Pay (微信支付, Weixin Zhifu), mini programs, hotel and restaurant communication.
- DiDi (滴滴, Didi): ride-hailing and airport-to-hotel transport.
- Maps: Apple Maps can be usable for many foreign visitors; AMap / Gaode Maps (高德地图, Gaode Ditu)/Gaode and Baidu Maps (百度地图, Baidu Ditu) have broader local detail but may require more Chinese-language tolerance.
- Translation: keep one translation app that works offline or through your roaming/eSIM plan.
Read First
- Best Apps to Install Before Traveling to China
- How to Set Up Alipay (支付宝, Zhifubao) in China as a Foreigner
- WeChat (微信, Weixin) Pay (微信支付, Weixin Zhifu) for Foreign Visitors to China
- How to Use DiDi (滴滴, Didi) in China as a Foreigner
- Google Maps Alternatives in China
Setup Principle
Do not rely on one perfect app. China travel is smoother when you have redundancy: two payment paths, two navigation options, two ways to translate, and one offline fallback.
When your data works but the service does not
- Do you really need a Chinese phone number? A data-only eSIM can keep you online without solving local SMS or phone-number checks.
- What if a QR code or mini program refuses to work? Try the correct scanner, read the error, then ask for the human route instead of rebuilding every account.