TOP 9 Must-Have China Apps for International Tourists

Introduction

China has skyrocketed to the top of travel bucket lists for globetrotters, thanks to its jaw-dropping landscapes, futuristic cities, charming rural villages, deep-rooted history, and mouthwatering cuisine. However, navigating this incredible destination can be a bit tricky due to the language barrier and unique systems that differ from those in Europe or the U.S.

But don’t worry! These challenges shouldn’t discourage you from exploring. The apps below will help you experience China like a local and make your adventure a breeze.

Benchmarking

Payments

Digital wallets are everywhere in China, but if you’re used to Apple Pay, you might be surprised to find it’s not the go-to option. Instead, WeChat Pay and Alipay reign supreme. These two digital wallets do more than just cover your bills—they also let you easily receive money from others by simply showing your personal QR code.

If you’re used to Apple Pay’s tap-and-sign method, things work a bit differently in China. With WeChat Pay or Alipay, you either show your QR code for the merchant to scan or scan the merchant’s QR code yourself—no signatures required! While most places accept both options, I recommend that international travelers download both apps. Besides payments, they offer a ton of other helpful services for navigating life in China.

NO1. WeChat

WeChat is more than just a social app—it’s like a Swiss Army knife for everything from messaging and video calls to making payments. In China, your WeChat account becomes a universal login, just like using your Gmail or Apple ID for other platforms. Alipay, on the other hand, doesn’t offer this convenience.

Ready to set up WeChat and link it to your international bank card? Follow these simple steps to get started:

Register Your WeChat Account

WeChat makes it super easy to sign up with an international phone number. Just follow these simple steps:

• Set your name and password (Pic 1). After entering your phone number, click ‘Accept’ to proceed through the next few steps, and soon you’ll land on the Home Page (Pic 2).

Link Your Bank Card

• Tap the ‘Me’ icon(Pic 3), then select ‘Pay and Services’ to open your digital wallet (Pic 4). From there, click ‘Wallet’ to add a bank card(Pic 5). WeChat supports a range of cards like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club International.

• Once your WeChat digital wallet is ready, head back to the ‘Pay and Services’ page. Tap the ‘Money’ icon at the top, and your QR code for payments is ready to use!

NO2. Alipay

Alipay isn’t just a financial app—it’s your all-in-one travel companion. Inside the app, you’ll find tons of mini-programs that let you do everything from hailing a cab and booking hotels to buying tickets for popular attractions.

Built-in Application： DiDi Travel – Chinese Uber

Using DiDi is as straightforward as Uber! Simply punch in your current location and desired destination (Pic 1), and you’ll land on a page offering a variety of ride choices (see Pic 2). Pick the option that best fits your needs, confirm, and then head over to your designated pickup spot to meet your driver. The fare displayed prior to your ride is just an estimate and may change based on traffic conditions.

Additionally, DiDi lets you book rides for others—just follow the steps in Pic 3. Enter all the necessary details, and you’re all set to go!

Notice: DiDi Travel has both iOS and Android versions of its app, but currently, the app does not have an English user interface. Additionally, registration for the app requires SMS verification. For international travelers without a local Chinese SIM card, accessing DiDi’s taxi services online via the Alipay mini program is likely your only bet.

It is important to emphasize that if you wish to use Didi services in China, it is highly recommended to prepare a local SIM card for receiving calls from drivers. There is no need to worry about language issues, as many young Didi drivers in major Chinese cities can speak some basic English. After a driver accepts your ride, you can send a message online to indicate that you are a foreigner and confirm whether the driver can speak English. If the driver is unable to communicate in English, you can then rebook the ride.

Built-in Application：TripAir – Train

All travel services within Alipay are powered by Trip.com Official Site‎‎ | Travel Deals and Promotions, ensuring they’re both professional and secure. Through these mini-programs, you can easily book flight and train tickets, attraction passes, and even unique local experiences. And if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for in the local experiences, feel free to explore our specialized services for a more tailored travel adventure.

Built-in Application HelloRide

Riding to explore the city is chill, you can stop to take pictures or enjoy delicious food anytime and anywhere. HelloRide is a public transportation system for share-bikes everywhere, just like Bluebike, which brings convenience to residents for short-distance travel. In top-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, share-bikes exactly solved the last-mile commute from the subway station to home, meanwhile, share-e-bikes take the place of share-bikes in some low-tier cities. International travelers must finish identity verification to get approval to use. When you click the ‘Ride’ button, you can visually notice the nearest bike, scan the QR code and you will be able to unlock the bike, and your trip starts right now!

Alipay Account Registering

Register: Alipay makes it easy to sign up with an international phone number, and it’s available in many countries outside of China.

• Enter your mobile number to receive a verification code(Pic 1). After that, you’ll be prompted to set up a payment password. This password is separate from your bank account password and serves as an extra layer of security—you’ll need to enter it each time you make a payment.

• As shown in Picture 2, the home page conveniently features DiDi Travel and Trip.com services.

Link to a bank card:

• Tap the ‘Pay’ icon to go to the bank card setup page. Alipay supports major cards like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club International. Select your card and follow the steps to create your Alipay digital wallet in seconds.

• Once that’s done, tap ‘Pay’ again to access your QR code for payments.

Both WeChat and Alipay offer English versions with simple, user-friendly processes. With these two apps in hand, your travel experience in China will be smoother and more hassle-free.

Navigator and Transportation

Since Google Maps is blocked in China, Baidu Map and Gaode Map (AMap) are your top choices for navigation. Although neither platform offers an English version, they deliver highly accurate, real-time updates on positioning, routes, and traffic conditions. With some assistance from a translator app, navigating your way around shouldn’t be too daunting. Plus, you can use both maps without needing to register with a Chinese mobile number.

If you are using an Apple phone, then the built-in iOS Maps navigation will be the simplest choice. Although its geographical information in China is not as comprehensive as Baidu or Amap, it supports most languages.

If navigating these local apps feels too complex, using a VPN to access Google Maps is a solid alternative. However, be aware that Google Maps does not support public transportation planning between subways and buses in China; it only offers driving and walking directions.

For iOS users, the built-in Apple Maps serves will be the simplest choice. Although its geographical information in China is not as comprehensive as Baidu or Amap, it supports most languages.

NO3. Baidu Map

Baidu does support English searches, though the results will still be displayed in Chinese. In the following picture, you can see the route from Beishan Park to Alibaba Headquarters. Picture 2 highlights key features similar to Google Maps, including the ‘Show Your Location’ (red) and ‘Directions’ (blue).

The blue box marks the travel mode selection bar, where you can swipe left or right to choose your preferred mode of transport. Each icon represents a different mode: the first is cycling, the second is public transport, and the third is walking.

For public transportation, subway lines are typically shown by a number and color, while buses are indicated by a number followed by “路” (meaning “route”). For example, in the image, the red box labeled “2号线” refers to subway line 2, and “8300路” refers to bus 8300.

NO4. A Map(Gaode Map)

As shown in the pictures, Gaode Maps and Baidu Maps share similar layouts. However, from a local perspective, Gaode Maps offers more real-time and accurate traffic updates. So, if you plan to drive in China, Gaode Maps would be your best bet for a smoother journey.

NO5. MetroMan

MetroMan is a sleek app designed specifically for metro travel. It not only lets you visually explore all metro routes but also provides station names in English, making navigation easier. While Baidu Map and Gaode Map show public transport options with station names in Chinese, MetroMan offers official English translations for reference. Keep in mind, though, that MetroMan doesn’t sell tickets—it’s purely for planning your journey.

Hotels and Travel

Everyone has their own travel style—some prefer to plan every detail in advance, while others like to keep things spontaneous. Whether you’re a planner or not, apps like Trip.com and Railway 12306 can help you easily book hotels, flights, and train tickets, making your trip smoother and more convenient.

NO6. Trip.com

Trip.com can be your ultimate travel assistant, offering bookings for hotels, flights, trains, and tickets for various attractions—essentially everything you might need while traveling. Unlike other apps, Trip.com allows you to log in using Apple, Google, Facebook, or WeChat accounts, making it highly accessible.

Inside, you’ll find numerous posts sharing personal travel experiences. You can follow these suggested routes to explore China thoroughly. If you’re still facing difficulties in planning your trip, you can reach out to us, and we’ll tailor an experience just for you.

Here is the example process of buying attraction tickets. You can buy tickets for yourself and your peers with their passport info using the ‘Add’ features, and the ‘Contact Info’ is necessary for receiving the verification and the notification. The last picture shows that international travelers can pay by multiple international bank accounts.

NO7. Railway 12306

The Railway 12306 app makes it easy to purchase train tickets between cities and even has an English version. Each option provides clear details, including the names of the stops and the expected arrival and departure times, helping you plan your journey with ease.

Online Shopping

NO8. Taobao

If you’re traveling to rural areas and can’t find what you need in local shops, online shopping is your go-to solution. In most modern cities, deliveries arrive within 3 days, while in rural areas typically take about a week. If you’re short on time or find souvenirs at attractions overpriced, ordering online and having them delivered directly to your hotel is a smart, time-saving, and cost-effective option.

Since both Taobao and Alipay are products of Alibaba, you can conveniently use your Alipay account to log in to Taobao. For international travelers, it’s important to complete the Identity Verification process using your passport, as shown in the following picture.

Food Delivery

After a long day of exploring, there’s nothing better than relaxing at your hotel and recharging with a delicious takeaway meal to restore your energy and vitality. The fast delivery service and availability of multiple online coupons allow you to customize a feast at a low cost, making it both convenient and budget-friendly.

NO9. Meituan

Meituan is the go-to app for food delivery in China, offering a wide variety of cuisines to its users. To start your order, first pinpoint your location to see which nearby merchants offer delivery. When you reach the delivery page, be sure to enter your complete address—from the street name to your building name or the room number—to ensure your order arrives without any hitches. For payment, you can conveniently use Alipay or WeChat Pay. After these steps, your tasty meal will soon be on its way!

Please note, that some hotels may not permit delivery personnel to come directly to your room. However, they often provide a designated area for collecting takeaways or may even use robots to deliver your food right to your door.

While Meituan lacks an English version, using a translator alongside pictures can help you grasp the necessary information and understand the ingredients.

If the system requires identity authentication, the process is as follows:

Notice: Although the Meituan app can be used without binding a mobile number, when you use the food delivery service, the delivery person needs to contact you by phone to determine where to pick up the food. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you use a local SIM card and bind a mobile number in the Meituan app to answer incoming calls.

A special reminder: The vast majority of delivery personnel do not speak English, so you can ask for help from the hotel front desk or friendly Chinese people around you.

Conclusion

With this guide, you’re now well-equipped with the apps that will make your travels in China smooth and hassle-free. If you have any other questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!