China Travel Apps
A quick index of the apps foreign visitors actually use in China. For each one: what it is, what it's for, and whether you need it. Detailed "how to use" guides live in Travel Tips.
Alipay
Payments, transport, shopping and everyday services.
What it's for: Pay at almost any shop, restaurant, metro, and taxi by QR code.
Do I need it? Yes — China is nearly cashless; this is the #1 app to install.
Messaging and payments.
What it's for: Chat with contacts and pay at vendors that prefer WeChat Pay.
Do I need it? Yes — the second payment option and the main messaging app.
Detailed guide coming soon.
DiDi
Ride-hailing inside China.
What it's for: Order taxis and private cars, often cheaper than street hails.
Do I need it? Helpful — English interface available; good in big cities.
Detailed guide coming soon.
Amap (Gaode)
Maps and navigation.
What it's for: Navigate streets, metro, and driving routes in China.
Do I need it? Helpful — Google Maps is unreliable in China.
Detailed guide coming soon.
12306
Official China Railway tickets.
What it's for: Buy high-speed and regular train tickets with a foreign passport.
Do I need it? Yes if you take trains — the official booking channel.
Detailed guide coming soon.
Trip.com
Flights, hotels, trains, attractions.
What it's for: Book travel in English with international cards as a fallback.
Do I need it? Helpful — convenient backup for trains and hotels.
Detailed guide coming soon.
Translation apps
Camera and voice translation.
What it's for: Translate menus, signs, and speech when English is unavailable.
Do I need it? Yes — Google Translate or a Chinese alternative is essential.
Detailed guide coming soon.
Rule of thumb: apps here only explain what and why. For how to set up and can foreigners use it questions, see the related guide in Travel Tips.
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