Home β€Ί Essential apps

Essential apps for China: what to install before you go

Updated 9 November 2026

Many apps you rely on at home β€” Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Uber β€” are blocked or useless in China. Install these before you leave: app stores and sign-up codes are harder to reach once you're there.

AlipayMust have

Pay for almost everything with your foreign card, ride the metro, and call taxis. Setup guide.

WeChat (Weixin)Must have

How everyone in China messages β€” hotels, guides and new friends will ask for your WeChat. WeChat Pay also accepts foreign cards (Me β†’ Services β†’ Wallet). Sign-up may ask an existing WeChat user to verify you, so register before you go.

Trip.comMust have

Book high-speed trains, domestic flights and hotels in English with a foreign card. Filters show hotels that can register foreign guests.

Open Trip.com Affiliate link

Apple Maps or Amap (Gaode)Must have

Google Maps is blocked and its China data is out of date. On iPhone, Apple Maps works well in China. Amap is what locals use and has the best transit directions.

DiDiMust have

China's Uber. Use the DiDi app or the DiDi mini-app inside Alipay β€” both work in English, show the price up front and translate chat with the driver.

A translator that works in ChinaMust have

Google Translate is blocked. Apple Translate, Microsoft Translator and Baidu Translate work; download the offline Chinese pack before you go. Camera translation is a lifesaver for menus.

Roaming plan or travel eSIMMust have

Data on your home SIM or a travel eSIM is routed through your home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram usually keep working. On hotel Wi-Fi or a Chinese SIM they are blocked. Check the plan supports China before you buy.

Railway 12306Nice to have

The official China Railway app, with an English version. Cheapest train tickets, but registration with a passport can take time β€” Trip.com is easier for most visitors.

Meituan / DianpingNice to have

Restaurant reviews, food delivery and deals. Mostly in Chinese, but photos and ratings make it usable with camera translation.

Xiaohongshu (RedNote)Nice to have

Where Chinese travellers share tips, photo spots and what's worth the queue. Great for finding places locals actually go.

PlecoNice to have

The best Chinese–English dictionary, with handwriting and camera lookup.

Checklist before you fly