Essential Apps for China

These apps are absolutely essential for surviving and thriving in China. Download them all before your trip.

TikTok
YouTube
Reddit
X
Tripadvisor
大众点评
小红书
✓ Real Traveler Data
✓ AI-Scraped & Human-Vetted
✓ Up-to-date Sources
✓ No OTA-Oriented

MUST-HAVE: The Big 4

Without these 4 apps, you literally cannot function in modern China. They're like oxygen for daily life.

WeChat

WeChat

for Travelers to China

Everything App - Messaging & Payments

WeChat Pay is accepted everywhere. Essential for messaging, payments, QR scanning, and accessing mini-programs for daily life in China.

✓ 2025 Complete Guide View Guide →
Alipay

Alipay

for Travelers to China

Payment & Shopping Platform

Alternative payment method with travel booking, online shopping, and QR payments. Essential backup when WeChat Pay isn't accepted.

✓ 2025 Complete Guide View Guide →
Didi

Didi

for Travelers to China

Ride-hailing & Transport

China's Uber with English support. Essential for calling taxis, ride-shares, and navigating language barriers with transparent pricing.

✓ 2025 Complete Guide View Guide →
AMAP

AMAP

for Travelers to China

Navigation & Maps

China's most accurate navigation app with English support. Essential replacement for Google Maps with offline capabilities and real-time traffic.

✓ 2025 Complete Guide View Guide →

🌟 Highly Recommended Apps

Meituan (美团)

Food delivery & services

Order food delivery, book restaurants, find deals on activities and services.

Chinese interface, but food photos are universal

Taobao (淘宝)

Online shopping

China's biggest online marketplace. Buy anything from clothes to electronics.

English version available

Trip.com (携程)

Travel booking

Book flights, hotels, train tickets, and attractions. Foreigner-friendly with English support.

✓ Full English support

Baidu Translate

Translation

Camera translation, voice translation, and text translation. Works offline too.

✓ Works without VPN

Xiaohongshu (小红书)

Travel inspiration

Chinese Instagram with travel recommendations, food spots, and local tips.

Mostly Chinese content

Pleco

Chinese dictionary

The best Chinese-English dictionary with camera character recognition.

✓ Works offline

📱 App Setup Tips

✅ Before You Travel

  • • Download all apps while still abroad
  • • Create accounts and verify phone numbers
  • • Add payment methods to WeChat and Alipay
  • • Switch Didi and Gaode Maps to English
  • • Download offline maps and translation data

⚠️ Common Setup Issues

  • • Some apps require Chinese phone number
  • • Payment verification can take 24-48 hours
  • • Download apps from Chinese app stores if needed
  • • Keep screenshots of QR codes for offline use
  • • Have backup payment methods ready

❌ Apps That Won't Work (Without VPN)

• Google Maps
• Uber
• WhatsApp
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter/X
• Snapchat
• Gmail
• Google Translate
• Telegram
• TikTok (Global)

Alternative: Use eSIM with international roaming or VPN to access these blocked services.