Essential Apps for Traveling in China
Direct download links and setup walkthroughs for mobile payments, English ride-hailing, maps, and high-speed rail.
Alipay
(支付宝)The #1 must-have payment & mini-app super app for foreigners in China.
Alipay is accepted at 99.9% of merchants in China, from luxury department stores to street food stalls. The international version supports direct foreign Visa/Mastercard/Amex linking.
- •No 3% surcharge on transactions under 200 RMB (split larger purchases if possible).
- •Contains built-in Didi ride-hailing mini-program and metro QR codes.
- •Complete passport real-name identity verification before departing.
All-in-one messaging, restaurant QR ordering, and mobile payments.
WeChat is the backbone of daily communication in China. Most restaurants use WeChat mini-programs on table QR codes to browse menus and place orders.
- •Enable Weixin Pay under 'Me' -> 'Services' and link your foreign card.
- •Use built-in chat translate to communicate smoothly with hotel staff and locals.
AMap (Gaode Maps)
(高德地图)The most accurate, real-time map and subway navigation app in China.
Google Maps is blocked and outdated in mainland China. AMap provides hyper-accurate subway routes, bus schedules, building entrances, walking directions, and taxi comparison.
- •Copy Chinese destination addresses from your hotel booking and paste them directly into AMap search.
- •Shows exact metro train arrival times and exit door numbers (e.g. Exit A/B).
DiDi (Greater China)
(滴滴出行)Uber-style English ride-hailing with built-in in-app translation.
The premier ride-hailing platform in China. The standalone DiDi app or the Alipay mini-program has an English UI and auto-translates in-chat messages between you and your driver.
- •No cash needed; fares are automatically charged to your linked card.
- •Input destination in English or pinyin; the app translates for the driver.
Trip.com
(携程旅行 (国际版))English bullet train booking, foreign-friendly hotel filter, and attraction tickets.
The easiest platform for foreigners to purchase China High-Speed Rail (bullet train) tickets without needing a Chinese phone number or navigating 12306 Chinese interfaces.
- •Bullet train tickets are 100% electronic: simply swipe your physical passport at the station turnstile gates.
- •Turn on 'Foreign Guests Allowed' when booking budget hotels to ensure they can legally register international passports.
Dianping
(大众点评)The 'Yelp & Michelin Guide' of China for real local food and discounts.
The undisputed leader for restaurant discovery, popular dishes ranking, user photos, and set-meal discounts across every Chinese city.
- •Look for restaurants with 'Must-Eat List' (必吃榜) badges for guaranteed culinary quality.
- •Screenshot dish pictures and show them directly to the waitstaff to order.
Baidu Translate
(百度翻译)Real-time camera photo OCR translation for menus and road signs.
Optimized specifically for Chinese fonts, cursive handwritten menus, and specialized regional dishes where Google Translate struggles.
- •Download the offline English-Chinese language pack in advance.
- •Use the instant camera overlay mode to read printed restaurant menus.