Traveling in China can be quite challenging, especially if you don’t speak Chinese. But don’t worry – to make your life easier, we have written about the six most popular apps in China and explained why you need them for your trip. Make sure to download these apps before coming to China so you won’t have problems upon arriving. These apps are useful across mainland China; whether you’re going to Shanghai, Beijing, or Xi’an, you’ll need them on your journey.
1. Alipay 支付宝 – allows you to pay by scanning QR codes or presenting your own payment QR code. There are many mini-apps within Alipay (for example, bike rental or food delivery apps). You can easily connect Alipay with your foreign bank card to pay for things in China as you can’t use Visa or Mastercard cards directly for payment. Here’re the steps you need to follow to connect your bank card to Alipay: Set up your account → go to Me → Bank cards → Add bank card, and ta-da! you’re able to pay in China. Please be aware of a 3% commission on all transactions over 200 yuan
2. Wechat 微信 – it’s like Alipay and WhatsApp combined. You can chat with people, post pictures, send money to each other, and use it for payments just like Alipay. You can also book train tickets, top up your phone, buy movie tickets, etc. Plus, it has a lot of mini-programmes – apps within the app. To log in, you would need to insert your foreign phone number to get an SMS code. After that, you can also set up a password and a backup login (an email, for example). You can connect your foreign bank card to Wechat (Visa or Mastercard). Go to Me → Services → Wallet → Select Bank Cards → Tap “Add card” → Enter your card details – receive an SMS with verification code – set up a payment password
3. Amap 高德地图 (also known as Gaode map) – the Chinese equivalent of Google Maps. While the app is in Chinese by default, there is an official English version for overseas users. The setting can be found by navigating to 我的 (My) → 设置 (Settings) → 通用 (General) → 语言设置 (Language Settings). You can navigate to your location, save places, and even order a cab (Didi) from the app. Google Maps simply won’t work in China without a VPN, and even with one, its map data for China is often unreliable.
4. Didi 滴滴 – is like a Chinese Uber, but much much cheaper! The app is in English, it’s very user-friendly, and it accepts international phone numbers and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard). You can download the app or use it within the Wechat app (mini-program). Didi will recognise your location, you’ll just need to enter the address of your destination. Didi has an in-app messaging feature with a built-in translator, so you can easily communicate with drivers. You can also see the estimated fare before you confirm your ride, so you don’t have to worry about being overcharged. Use our code to get 90% discount for your first ride: 3597309!
5. Eleme 饿了么 – is a major food and grocery delivery app in China. Use it for fast and convenient delivery right to your door. You can access Eleme either by downloading the standalone app or by using its “mini program” within Alipay or Wechat, which is often easier for foreigners/tourists. The app provides real-time tracking of your order, showing you how much time delivery will take and the rider’s location.
6. Trip.com – is an all-in-one travel booking app. Through this app you can book hotels, plane and train tickets, attractions, rental cars, buy e-sims for any destination in Asia. Make your own account to earn “Trip coins” which you can later use for your bookings. We recommend avoiding Booking.com in China, as it is not always reliable, and many hotels or hostels may not be able to register foreign tourists. In our experience with Trip.com, this has never been an issue; it seems to work perfectly fine in China, and you don’t need a VPN to use the app. Grab this promocode for 5% discount on airport transfers (globally): TRIPTRANSFER5. Valid: October 28 – December 31, 2025.
These are the essential apps that you will need when you go to China. Creating accounts and using them might be not easy at first, but you will get used to it and maybe even find them convenient! Just remember 3 main things:
- Download all these apps BEFORE you leave
- Install a VPN
- Prepare to pay and order food at the restaurants through QR codes
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