So you’ve landed in China 🇨🇳 and realized that life here is powered by apps. Not just WeChat and Alipay — those are just the basics. If you want to actually get around, eat, shop, communicate, and survive day to day, you’re going to need a digital toolbox.
This guide walks you through the most essential apps every foreigner should download while living or traveling in China. We’ll cover the categories that matter — transportation, food, translation, travel, and more — with real-world tips for navigating them as a non-Chinese speaker.
First, Let’s Get the Basics Out of the Way
- WeChat (微信) — messaging, social media, payments, scanning QR codes… it’s basically your digital ID in China
- Alipay (支付宝) — especially good for online payments, Taobao, ride-sharing, and paying at smaller vendors
Okay, now let’s go beyond those and get into the apps that really make life easier 👇
1. Navigation & Transportation
📍 Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps (百度地图)
Forget Google Maps — it doesn’t work well here. Amap (by Alibaba) and Baidu Maps are the kings of Chinese navigation.
- Provides accurate walking, bus, and subway directions
- Live traffic updates + public bike availability
- Can be overwhelming without Chinese, but you’ll get used to the interface
Pro tip: Use Google Translate camera to figure out which buttons mean what!
🚗 Didi (滴滴出行)
China’s version of Uber. Didi lets you call taxis, private cars, or carpool rides. You can even schedule airport pickups.
- App supports English UI
- Payment via WeChat or Alipay
- Driver might call you — just send them your location and say “Wǒ zài zhèlǐ” (I’m here)
🚲 Meituan Bike / Hello Bike
Scan and ride shared bikes almost anywhere in big cities. Super convenient and affordable (like ¥1 per ride).
- Needs local mobile number and WeChat/Alipay to unlock
- Great for short trips and exploring local neighborhoods
2. Food & Delivery 🍜
🛵 Meituan (美团) & Ele.me (饿了么)
These are your go-to apps for food delivery — everything from street snacks to Starbucks. Think Uber Eats, but faster and with more options.
- Both have mobile sites and apps — mostly in Chinese, but workable with auto-translate
- Order food, groceries, flowers, medicine — delivered in minutes
Pro tip: Learn basic menu keywords or use screenshots to help with ordering.
📅 Dianping (大众点评)
China’s Yelp + TripAdvisor. Use it to discover restaurants, cafes, spas, and attractions with photos and real reviews.
- Chinese only, but filters and user photos help a lot
- Especially useful for finding trending places locals actually go to
3. Language & Communication 🗣️
📖 Pleco
The best offline Chinese-English dictionary. Perfect for learning characters, translating menus, and surviving conversations.
- Scan handwritten characters or look up by radical
- Great for students and travelers
🔤 Google Translate (with Camera Mode)
Google itself might be blocked, but the Translate app (if downloaded in advance) works fine with mobile data. Use the camera mode to instantly translate signs, menus, or app buttons.
🈶 Microsoft Translator
Another solid backup with better in-app conversation features than Google.
4. Travel & Booking ✈️
🏨 Trip.com
One of the few booking apps with full English support, great for trains, flights, and hotels.
- Cheaper than Western platforms
- Accepts foreign credit cards
- Customer service in English
🚄 12306 China Railway
The official train ticket platform. Tricky to use but necessary if you don’t want to pay agency fees. Some foreigners get help from locals to verify ID for ticket purchases.
5. Health & Essentials 🏥
👨⚕️ Ping An Good Doctor (平安好医生)
Online consultation app where you can get health advice, prescriptions, and even make hospital appointments. Mostly in Chinese, but can be a lifesaver.
📱 Alipay’s Health Code
If you’re living in China long-term, this will be important for COVID-related tracking and city access. Found within the Alipay app.
6. Social & Lifestyle 🧋
📸 Xiaohongshu (RED, 小红书)
Think Instagram + Pinterest + Amazon reviews. It’s where young Chinese people post reviews, daily life tips, and shopping finds.
- Very visual — easy to use even without reading Chinese
- Great for discovering hidden food spots, shopping deals, or fashion trends
🎬 Douyin (抖音)
The original TikTok — full of local content, restaurant tips, and language humor. Great for cultural immersion.
Final Tips Before You Start Downloading
- Some apps require a Chinese phone number — you can get one at the airport or phone shop with your passport
- App Store & Google Play access may vary — consider using an Android phone with APK sites like APKPure
- Be patient with language barriers — screenshots, camera translation, and trial-and-error go a long way
Living in China without the right apps is like trying to ride a bike with no wheels. But once your digital setup is ready, everything gets easier — and you might even start to enjoy the ride 🚴♀️📱
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