The Apps to Install Before You Fly to China
Eight apps that do the work of a guide, a wallet, a translator and a taxi rank — install and sign in while you still have your home network.
Install at home, sign in at home
Every app below needs a phone number for verification, and several will text you a code the moment you land. Do the installation and the first login before departure, on a network you trust, with your banking app to hand. It takes about forty minutes and removes most of the friction of the first day.
The four that do most of the work
- Alipay — payment, plus mini-apps for taxis, trains and food delivery without installing anything else
- WeChat — messaging, and the second payment wallet; most guides and hotels will use it
- Amap (高德地图) — the accurate map for China, with English labels in major cities
- Dianping (大众点评) — restaurant listings with photos, prices and opening hours
Apple Maps has improved a lot in China and is usable for navigation, but Amap has better public transport detail. Google Maps is unreliable for anything except a rough sense of direction.
Getting around
- 12306 — the official rail app; English interface, passport-linked tickets, no booking fee
- DiDi (滴滴) — ride-hailing, works with foreign cards, shows the fare before you accept
- Metro apps are city-specific; in Shanghai and Beijing, Alipay mini-programs are simpler than a standalone app
Language
A translation app with camera mode is the single highest-value install: point it at a menu and read. Download the offline language pack before you fly. For spoken exchanges, the phrase “请写下来” (please write it down) is often faster than a microphone.
Messaging home
WhatsApp, Signal and similar apps may not be reachable on local networks, though they usually work over international roaming or a travel eSIM. Tell the people who need to reach you which channel will work, and set up an alternative before you go.
What you can skip
You do not need a separate taxi app, a separate food delivery app or a VPN recommendation from a stranger. Alipay’s mini-programs cover most of it, and fewer apps means fewer things to break.
Quick answers
Questions travelers ask
Do I need a Chinese Apple ID to install these?+
No for Alipay, WeChat, DiDi and most travel apps. A few local-only apps are region-locked, but nothing on this list requires a Chinese account.
How much data does a two-week trip use?+
Maps and messaging, around 3–5 GB. Add video calls or heavy social use and 10 GB is safer.
Will my eSIM stop my home number from receiving texts?+
No, if you keep the home line active for SMS and set the eSIM as the data line only. That is the configuration we recommend.
