China Travel Apps You Need Before You Land

There is a specific window of time when you need to download your China travel apps: before you board your flight.

Once you land, you’ll be on Chinese Wi-Fi or a Chinese SIM card. The App Store and Google Play still work, but some apps behave differently when downloaded from within China. More importantly, you’ll be jet-lagged and trying to figure out where your hotel is — not the ideal moment to be setting up payment apps from scratch.

Here is the complete list, organized by priority.

Tier 1: Absolutely Essential (Download and Set Up Before You Go)

Alipay (支付宝) The most important app on this list. Links to your foreign Visa/Mastercard/Amex. Used for paying at restaurants, convenience stores, taxis, tourist attractions, and almost everywhere else. Setup requires identity verification — do this at home.

WeChat (微信) China’s all-in-one super-app. Used for messaging, but also contains hundreds of “mini-programs” (apps within the app) for ordering food, booking transport, and more. Even if you don’t use it for payments, you’ll need it to communicate with hotels and local contacts.

DiDi (滴滴) China’s dominant ride-hailing app. There is an English version. Without this, you will struggle to get taxis in most cities. Download it and link it to your Alipay account so payment is automatic.

A Working VPN Not technically an app you download in China, but install it before you go. See our VPN guide for current recommendations.

Amap / Gaode Maps (高德地图) The most accurate navigation app in China. It’s in Chinese, but you can copy-paste your destination in Chinese characters and follow the blue dot. Far more accurate than Google Maps or Apple Maps for walking directions and public transit.

Baidu Translate More accurate than Google Translate for Chinese. Includes a camera translation feature — point your phone at a menu or sign and it translates in real time. Download the offline language pack before you go.

Trip.com (携程) The best app for booking high-speed trains (the HSR network is incredible and you should use it). Also handles hotel bookings and domestic flights. Has a full English interface.

Tier 3: Situational but Useful

Meituan (美团) China’s food delivery and local services app. If you’re staying somewhere for more than a few days, this is how locals order food. Has an English mode.

Dianping (大众点评) Think Yelp for China. Useful for finding restaurants with photos and reviews. Mostly in Chinese but the photos tell you everything you need to know.

XE Currency For checking exchange rates. The official rate is usually better at Bank of China ATMs than at airport exchange counters.

Before You Land: The Checklist

Go through this list 3–5 days before your flight:

  1. Download Alipay and complete identity verification
  2. Download WeChat and set up your account
  3. Download DiDi and link to Alipay
  4. Install your VPN and test it
  5. Download Amap and Baidu Translate with offline packs
  6. Download Trip.com if you plan to use trains

The whole setup takes about an hour. It will save you days of frustration.

For the complete step-by-step setup instructions for each of these apps — including screenshots and troubleshooting tips — check out the 2026 China Survival Playbook.