Apps You Need Before Visiting China

Quick answer

You do not need twenty apps for a first trip to China. Start with payment, maps, ride-hailing, trains, translation, and accommodation. Download and test the essentials before departure, then keep screenshots for the moments when signal or logins are inconvenient.

The smallest useful toolkit

Alipay

Use it for mobile payment and, depending on current availability, practical transport services. China's official 2025 guide explains that foreign travelers can use Alipay's Transport section for services such as metro QR codes and ride-hailing.

WeChat

WeChat is useful for communication, mobile payment through WeChat Pay, and services that may appear inside the app. The government's guide also describes ride-hailing access through WeChat's Services area.

Amap Global Edition

Do not rely on your usual overseas map app as your only navigation tool in the Chinese mainland. Install and test a mainland-compatible map before travel. Search for your first hotel and save its Chinese address. A screenshot is surprisingly powerful after a long flight.

Shanghai's official English-language city website recommends the multilingual Amap Global Edition for overseas users. Map-app availability and language support can vary by phone platform and region, so install it before your flight and confirm that it works clearly on your own device.

DiDi-Greater China

For ride-hailing, the official guide lists Alipay, WeChat, and the standalone DiDi-Greater China app as booking options. It says DiDi-Greater China supports registration with foreign mobile phone numbers and international credit cards.

The standalone app is a useful option when you want a dedicated ride-hailing interface. Keep your pickup point and destination visible. At airports and large stations, follow official signs to the designated ride-hailing pickup area, which can vary by terminal and city.

China Railway 12306

For trains, use China Railway's official 12306 English website or app. Foreign passport holders can complete identity verification and buy tickets online. Read How to Take High-Speed Rail in China before your first train day.

A translation app

Choose one that can translate text, camera images, and short typed messages. Do not depend on one overseas translation service as your only option. Download offline language support if available. For important allergies, medical needs, transport questions, and emergency phrases, prepare carefully checked Chinese notes or screenshots instead of trusting a hurried live translation.

A booking app or booking channel

The official guide names Trip.com as one option for hotel booking and airport shuttle reservations. You may also use suitable airline, hotel, or booking-platform channels that work for your trip. Keep offline copies of confirmations.

Set these up before arrival

• Register your payment apps.
• Bind an eligible card if you plan to use mobile payment.
• Test whether your overseas phone number receives verification messages.
• Save your first hotel in your map app.
• Keep the hotel's Chinese address as a screenshot.
• Register and verify your 12306 account before the day you need a train.
• Test your translation app's camera feature.
• Save bookings and your first airport-to-hotel route offline.

What can wait until you arrive?

Local restaurant, delivery, shopping, and city-specific apps may be useful later, but they are not essential for your first few hours. Many are designed primarily for Chinese-language users. Add them only when a real need appears and expect a steeper setup curve.

Three things apps cannot replace

• A charged phone and power bank.
• A small amount of RMB cash and a physical bank card.
• Your hotel address written in Chinese and saved offline.

Related reading

• First-Time China Travel Checklist
• How to Pay in China as a Foreigner
• What to Do on Your First Day in China