The 6 Apps That Run a China Trip (Install Before You Land)
Six apps cover a China trip: Alipay (payments, taxis, metro, bookings), a maps app (Apple Maps or Amap — Google Maps is unreliable in China), Trip.com (trains, hotels, flights), WeChat (contact with guides and some venue bookings), a translation app with offline packs, and your travel eSIM app. Set all of them up before departure.
Install and configure these at home, where app stores and verification emails work without friction.
1. Alipay — the everything app
Payments first (see Payments for setup), but its mini-programs are the real value: DiDi ride-hailing, metro QR codes for every city, attraction ticket bookings, bike share, even a built-in translator. If you install only one Chinese app, it's this one.
2. A maps app that actually works
- Apple Maps works surprisingly well in China (transit directions included) and needs zero setup — iPhone users are covered.
- Amap (高德地图) is what locals use: superior POI freshness, walking routes through malls and hutongs, real-time bus positions. Chinese interface, but it has partial English and place-name search in pinyin works.
- Google Maps is the trap: even with a VPN/eSIM its China data is years stale and navigation is offset. Use it only for pre-trip research.
3. Trip.com — trains, hotels, flights
English booking for high-speed rail, plus hotels vetted for foreign-guest acceptance (see Hotels). Holds your passport details once, applies them to every booking.
4. WeChat — because everyone else has it
You can survive without it, but tour guides, homestay hosts, and new friends will all say "add me on WeChat." Some venues run queue tickets and bookings as WeChat mini-programs. Register at home — account verification abroad is easier than in-country.
5. Translation with offline packs
Download the offline Chinese pack before flying (Google Translate offline works without internet; Apple Translate similarly). The camera/lens mode is the killer feature — point it at menus and signs. For conversations, locals are completely used to phone-passing dialogues; don't be shy.
6. Your eSIM provider's app
Whichever roaming eSIM you chose (see Internet), install its app and activate the plan while still on home Wi-Fi.
Worth knowing about, not essential
- Dianping (大众点评) — China's Yelp; Chinese-only but the photo menus and rankings are decipherable, and it's how you find the queue-worthy restaurant.
- 12306 — the official rail app, if you'd rather book at face value.
- Meituan — delivery and in-city services; needs a Chinese number, skippable.
The pre-flight 30-minute checklist
- Alipay installed, card linked, test the Scan button.
- Trip.com account with passport saved.
- Offline translation pack downloaded.
- Offline/backup maps sorted; hotel addresses saved in Chinese characters.
- eSIM installed (not yet activated).
- WeChat registered if you'll use guides or homestays.