Essential Apps for China Travel: The 2026 Must-Have List

Install these before you arrive. Some require Google Play (blocked in China), so get them set up at home. The first few hours in China without these apps will be very confusing.

The Big 5 (Non-Negotiable)

These 5 apps cover 90% of your daily needs in China:

1. 💬 WeChat (微信)

The everything app. Messaging, payment, mini-apps, food delivery, bike-sharing, you name it.

• iOS: App Store
• Android: Google Play (install before arrival)
• Set up: Use your home phone number, then verify with SMS

Why it matters:

• Every Chinese person uses it
• You need it to message anyone in China (no one uses SMS)
• WeChat Pay is essential (see our Payment guide)
• WeChat mini-apps replace dozens of other apps (DiDi, Meituan, etc. all work inside WeChat)

2. 💳 Alipay (支付宝)

The other everything app for payment. Universal in China, even at street vendors.

• iOS: App Store
• Android: Google Play (install before arrival)
• Set up: Phone number → foreign credit card → identity verification (passport)

Why it matters:

• Cash is increasingly hard to use
• Many small shops only accept Alipay/WeChat
• Tax refunds for tourists work through Alipay

3. 🗺️ Baidu Maps (百度地图) or Amap (高德地图)

Google Maps doesn't work in China. Use one of these instead.

• iOS: App Store (both available)
• Android: Google Play (install before arrival)
• Baidu Maps has slightly better English support
• Amap is owned by Alibaba and integrates with Alipay

Why it matters:

• Public transit (subway, bus) with real-time info
• Walking directions
• Taxi hailing (links to DiDi)
• Restaurants, attractions, ATMs

4. 🚕 DiDi (滴滴出行)

China's Uber. Available as a standalone app or inside WeChat.

• iOS: App Store
• Android: Google Play
• Set up: Phone number → Chinese credit card or Alipay/WeChat Pay

Why it matters:

• Hailing taxis (often cheaper than flagging on the street)
• English support
• Maps integration

5. 🔤 Google Translate + Pleco

For when you can't read anything.

• Google Translate: Download the Chinese (Simplified) offline pack before arrival
• Pleco: Best Chinese dictionary for foreigners, with handwriting recognition

Why it matters:

• Menu translation (camera-based)
• Street sign reading
• Asking locals for help (the app speaks for you)

Additional Essential Apps

🍜 Meituan (美团) or Ele.me (饿了么)

Food delivery, restaurant reviews, hotel booking. The Yelp + DoorDash of China.

• iOS: App Store
• Android: Google Play
• Set up: Phone number → Alipay/WeChat Pay

Why it matters:

• Order food delivery to your hotel
• Find nearby restaurants
• Book hotels
• Buy movie tickets, attraction tickets

🎫 Trip.com (Ctrip)

For booking trains, flights, hotels. English-friendly, accepts foreign credit cards.

• iOS: App Store
• Android: Google Play
• Set up: Email + password + credit card

Why it matters:

• Book high-speed rail tickets (the foreigner-friendly way)
• Book domestic flights
• Reserve hotels

🚇 Metro Apps (Per City)

Most major Chinese cities have official metro apps:

• Beijing: "易通行" (Yìtōngxíng) or just use Baidu Maps
• Shanghai: "Metro大都会" (Shanghai Metro)
• Guangzhou: "广州地铁" (Guangzhou Metro)

Or just use Baidu Maps for metro routing — it has real-time info.

🛵 Bike Share Apps

China is the bike-share capital of the world. Two main providers:

• Meituan Bike (美团单车) — Yellow bikes
• HelloRide (哈啰单车) — Blue bikes

Available in WeChat mini-apps or standalone.

Cost: ¥1.5-2 per 30 minutes

🏨 Hotel Apps

For last-minute hotel bookings:

• Trip.com (English, accepts foreign cards)
• Meituan (more local deals, needs Chinese payment)
• Fliggy (Alibaba's travel app)

Apps for Specific Needs

📚 If You're Studying Chinese

• Pleco (already mentioned) — best dictionary
• Du Chinese (中文) — graded reading
• HelloChinese — gamified learning
• Anki — flashcard app (use with Pleco)

💼 If You're Working Remotely

• WeChat Work (企业微信) — Chinese version of Slack
• DingTalk (钉钉) — Alibaba's work app
• QQ Mail — Most common email in China (besides 163.com)

🎬 If You Want Entertainment

• Bilibili (哔哩哔哩) — Chinese YouTube, lots of anime/drama
• Douyin (抖音) — Chinese TikTok (different content from international)
• iQiyi (爱奇艺) — Netflix-like streaming
• Youku (优酷) — Another streaming service
• Xigua Video (西瓜视频) — ByteDance's video app

🗣️ If You Need Video Calls

• WeChat (voice/video calls work)
• QQ — Still widely used, with video calls
• DingTalk — Work-focused

Apps You Should NOT Install (and Why)

❌ VPNs (Especially Free Ones)

• Free VPNs steal your data, inject ads, often contain malware
• Use Astrill or LetsVPN (paid, reliable)
• NEVER install a "free VPN" in China — many are traps

❌ Random Travel Apps

• Avoid third-party apps that promise "China travel in one app" — most are scams
• Stick with the big Chinese apps (WeChat, Alipay, Baidu, DiDi) which are trustworthy

❌ Apps Requiring Chinese Phone Number (Until You're Set Up)

• Many Chinese apps require a Chinese phone number for full functionality
• Set them up after you have your Chinese SIM/eSIM

The Pre-Trip App Checklist

Install and set up these before you fly:

• WeChat — registered with your home number
• Alipay — registered, foreign card linked, identity verified
• Trip.com — registered, credit card on file
• DiDi — installed (set up after arrival)
• Baidu Maps — installed (no setup needed)
• Amap (高德地图) — installed (no setup needed)
• Google Translate — Chinese offline pack downloaded
• Pleco — installed
• Meituan or Ele.me — installed
• Airalo / Holafly eSIM — installed
• Astrill VPN — subscribed, app installed, tested

The "Mini-Program" Concept

Inside WeChat, there are mini-programs (小程序) — apps within apps. Most Chinese apps you need are actually WeChat mini-programs:

• JD.com (shopping) — use WeChat mini-program
• Meituan (food delivery) — use WeChat mini-program
• DiDi (taxi) — use WeChat mini-program
• Pinduoduo (shopping) — use WeChat mini-program

Pro tip: When in China, search for the brand in WeChat's mini-program section before downloading the standalone app. Saves phone storage.

Why You Don't Need to Download Many Apps

If you only install WeChat + Alipay, you can do 80% of what you need:

• ✅ Messaging (WeChat)
• ✅ Payment (Alipay or WeChat Pay)
• ✅ Food delivery (WeChat mini-programs)
• ✅ Taxi (WeChat mini-programs)
• ✅ Bike share (WeChat mini-programs)
• ✅ Shopping (WeChat mini-programs)
• ✅ Hotel booking (WeChat mini-programs)
• ✅ Some maps (WeChat "Tencent Maps" built-in)

For a casual tourist, just WeChat + Alipay + Baidu Maps is enough.

App Permissions You Should Deny

When you install Chinese apps, they ask for many permissions. Common requests:

• Contacts — needed for WeChat to find friends, deny if you don't want
• Location — needed for maps/taxis, allow
• Phone — usually not needed, deny
• Storage — needed for some features, allow
• Microphone — needed for voice messages, allow
• Camera — needed for QR code scanning, allow
• SMS — needed for verification, allow once

Be cautious with permissions, but Chinese apps are generally safe (especially the big ones from Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu, ByteDance).

FAQ

Can I use Apple Pay in China?

Limited. Apple Pay works at some major retailers but is NOT universally accepted. Use Alipay/WeChat Pay.

What about Google Pay / Samsung Pay?

No. These don't work in China.

Is there an app for English-Chinese voice translation?

Yes. Google Translate works in China (it's blocked for general use but the app still works for translation). Also try iFlytek (科大讯飞) — Chinese AI translation app.

Can I use Uber?

No. Use DiDi. Uber sold its China operations to DiDi in 2016.

Can I use TripAdvisor?

Yes, but limited. TripAdvisor works in China but reviews are sparse. Use Meituan or Dianping (大众点评) for local reviews.

What about Google Maps?

No. Use Baidu Maps or Amap.

2026 App Updates

• Apple allows iPhone users to set the China App Store as a secondary store without losing the home country's primary store. This means you can have both an "Apple ID (US)" and an "Apple ID (China)" and switch freely from Settings → Apple ID → Media & Purchases.
• Amap (高德地图) launched a full English UI in 2025 — was Chinese-only before. Now a serious alternative to Baidu Maps for English speakers.
• Google Translate's offline Chinese pack works in China without VPN if downloaded in advance. Camera mode is especially useful for menus.
• DiDi now has an English-only mode — set in app preferences; no Chinese characters shown.
• WeChat mini-programs load faster in 2026 (4G/5G coverage). Many tourist sites (museums, parks) have mini-programs for ticket booking that work in English.
• Popular eSIM apps for China: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad. All have English UI, all sell China-specific data plans.

The 2026 Minimum Viable App Stack

If you only install 4 apps before your flight, make it these:

1. Alipay — payment (see Alipay for Foreigners 2026)
2. WeChat — messaging, payment backup, mini-programs
3. Amap (or Baidu Maps) — navigation
4. DiDi — ride-hailing

For everything else (translation, social media, food delivery), install as needed once on Chinese internet.

Apple ID: Do I Need a China Apple ID?

Only if you need: TikTok (the China version, 抖音), WeChat (works on any Apple ID actually), or any app that's been removed from the global App Store.

For most travelers: No. Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, Amap, Pleco — all available on the US/EU/AU Apple Store.

To create a China Apple ID (if needed):

1. Go to appleid.apple.com, create new ID
2. Set country to China mainland
3. No Chinese phone or payment method required for free downloads
4. For paid apps, you'll need a Chinese payment method (ask a Chinese friend, or skip paid apps)

FAQ (2026)

Can I use Google Maps in China?

Only with a VPN. Google Maps' China data is years out of date, and the service is blocked at the network level. Use Amap (English UI) or Baidu Maps instead.

Can I use WhatsApp / Telegram / Signal in China?

Only with VPN. See internet guide for VPN recommendations.

Is there a working VPN app on the China App Store?

Generally no — Apple removes VPN apps from the China store. Install VPN apps before you fly on your home country's App Store.

What about Google Drive / Dropbox / OneDrive?

All blocked without VPN. Use WeChat's file transfer feature, or set up an eSIM with roaming that bypasses Chinese DNS.

Can I access my Gmail in China?

No, without VPN. Set up offline access in Gmail before you fly, or use the Gmail app with offline mode enabled.

Are TikTok and Douyin the same app?

Different apps. TikTok (international) is blocked in China. Douyin (Chinese version) is blocked outside China. You cannot use the same account for both.

Can I use Spotify / Apple Music in China?

Both work. Spotify has limited library in China (some international labels not licensed). Apple Music works fully.

What's the best translation app offline?

Google Translate (offline Chinese pack, free) or Pleco (free with in-app purchases for offline dictionary). Both are excellent.

Useful Resources

• Apple App Store China guide: apple.com/cn/app-store/
• Airalo China eSIM: airalo.com
• WeChat official site: wechat.com

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