Since 2006, China has implemented a "Great Firewall" that restricts domestic users' access to popular overseas applications and websites. Consequently, if you are a foreign visitor, preparing for a trip to China can be slightly more involved than planning a visit to other countries.
Fortunately, China offers a wide array of powerful apps for China. you simply need to download and register for them before your departure to use them without issue.
Some people believe that traveling to China requires installing a vast number of apps, but this is not entirely accurate. The specific apps you need depend primarily on the duration of your stay and the purpose of your trip. In practice, you will likely only end up using a select few—the ones listed below are, in my opinion, absolutely essential. These applications cover key areas such as transportation, accommodation, dining, shopping, payments, and entertainment.
1. WeChat（微信）
In China, WeChat is an indispensable app for everyone. It integrates a wide range of functions—including instant messaging, social media, mobile payments, ride-hailing, public transit services, and hotel bookings—making it capable of almost anything. You can think of it as a significantly more powerful version of WhatsApp.
👉Download WeChat: WeChat (iOS) | WeChat (Android)
2. Alipay（支付宝）
China is virtually a cashless society; while paying with cash is quite rare, it remains a perfectly acceptable option. If you wish to experience mobile payments in China, Alipay is an excellent choice. It supports the linking of international credit cards and features an English-language interface. Once activated, you can use it to scan codes for payments, ride the subway and buses, hail taxis, rent shared bicycles, and even purchase tickets for tourist attractions. You can think of it as a combination of PayPal and a bank card.
It is worth noting, however, that for users who have linked a foreign bank card (including Visa, Mastercard, etc.), Alipay charges a transaction fee of 3% on any single purchase exceeding 200 RMB (around 30 USD).
👉Download Alipay: Alipay(IOS) | Alipay(Android)
3. DiDi (滴滴出行)
In China, you can still hail a taxi by waving just as you did in the past; however, most people now opt for DiDi. DiDi is essentially the Chinese equivalent of Uber, allowing you to request a ride from almost anywhere in the city.DiDi offers a wide range of transportation options—everything from standard taxis to premium private cars that provide enhanced customer service—and they accept foreign credit cards for payment.
You can also track your journey directly within the app and communicate with your driver using the built-in translation feature. Should you require assistance, their customer support team is also quick to respond.
👉Download DiDi: DiDi(IOS) | DiDi(Android)
4. Amap(高德地图)
Google Maps is unavailable in China, so you will need to find an alternative app; otherwise, getting around can become quite troublesome. Amap is an excellent choice, featuring a fully English interface and the ability to book taxis directly within the app—making it extremely convenient.
👉Download Amap: Amap(IOS) | Amap(Android)
5. Taobao(淘宝)/JD(京东)
In China, online shopping has become a ubiquitous mode of consumption. Taobao and JD.com are the country's two largest shopping platforms; they offer virtually everything—from fashion apparel and electronics to regional snacks and household goods—and prices are typically very affordable.
If you are looking to purchase reasonably priced souvenirs while traveling, these two platforms are incredibly convenient. Even if you do not speak Chinese, you can easily navigate them—provided, of course, that you have set up Alipay or WeChat Pay.
👉Download Taobao: Taobao(IOS) | Taobao(Android)
👉Download JD：JD(IOS) | JD(Android)
6. LIUHUAMALL
LIUHUAMALL is a B2B China sourcing platform. If you’re planning to come to China for clothing wholesale, or looking to bulk purchase toys, furniture, daily goods, and other China-made products, you can source everything through this app.
Backed by the offline Guangzhou LIUHUA Fashion Wholesale Market, it connects you with over 2,000 factory-direct Chinese suppliers.
👉Download Liuhuamall: Liuhuamall (IOS) | Liuhuamall (Android)
7. Baidu Translate/Pleco
English is not widely spoken in China, so language communication can pose a significant challenge when traveling; consequently, a reliable translation app becomes particularly essential.
In China, Google Translate requires a VPN to function, making it somewhat cumbersome to use for communicating with locals. In this context, Baidu Translate or Pleco serve as excellent alternatives, as they effectively cover the core features offered by Google Translate.
👉Download Baidu Translate: Baidu Translate (iOS) | Baidu Translate (Android)
👉Download Pleco: Pleco(IOS) | Pleco(Android)
8. Trip.com（携程）
Looking to book flights, high-speed train tickets, or bus tickets—or perhaps reserve a hotel? Trip handles it all in one convenient place. As one of the most user-friendly apps currently available for international travelers, Trip also offers 24-hour English-language customer support, making it an indispensable tool for anyone traveling or living in China.
👉Download Trip: Trip(IOS) | Trip(Android)
9. Dianping (大众点评)
If you are looking for attractions or parks suitable for the whole family to visit, or if you wish to experience the local culinary culture, Dianping is undoubtedly your best choice. Similar to Google Reviews, this app helps you discover restaurants and attractions, browse user reviews, and even find discount coupons.
If you are specifically looking for attractions or parks, Dianping also offers search, review, and ticketing services for tourist sites and parks—allowing you to access all this information conveniently within a single application.
👉Download Dianping: Dianping(IOS) | Dianping(Android)
10. Meituan(美团)
Meituan is essentially a combination of Uber Eats and Groupon; in addition to ordering food, you can use it to book hotels, purchase daily necessities, buy medicines, and even purchase tickets for tourist attractions. Currently, Meituan is available only in Chinese, which may make it slightly inconvenient to use; however, you can take screenshots and utilize WeChat's "Scan" translation feature to help you understand the content.
If you plan to order food delivery while in China, this app is extremely practical.
👉Download Meituan: Meituan(IOS) | Meituan(Android)
Other apps to download for China
The 10 apps listed above are commonly used for travel and daily life in China. If you wish to travel like a local—or plan to stay in China for an extended period—the following apps are also well worth downloading.
Douyin (抖音)
Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok; developed by the same parent company, the two platforms offer an almost identical short-video experience. However, Douyin is tailored more closely to the usage habits of Chinese users and does not provide an English translation feature.Douyin integrates short-form video, search, and shopping into a single platform, where a massive volume of product discoveries, local news, and entertainment content emerges daily.
In China, Douyin boasts a user base of over 800 million. If you wish to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, cuisine, tourist attractions, or lifestyle tips, this is an incredibly useful application.
👉Download Douyin: Douyin(IOS)
12306（中国铁路12306）
In China, traveling by train is a vital mode of transportation, and 12306 is the official mobile application of China Railway. Through this app, you can search for schedules for all trains across China, check real-time ticket availability, and directly handle ticket purchases, rebookings, and refunds.
The app supports registration and ticket purchasing using a passport, making it relatively user-friendly for international travelers. Although the interface is currently available only in Chinese, using it in conjunction with translation software allows you to complete the ticket-buying process smoothly.
👉Download 12306: 12306(IOS) | 12306(Android)
Xiaohongshu (小红书REDnote)
This app, commonly known as "Xiaohongshu," blends features from Pinterest, Instagram, and TripAdvisor, integrating both social media and e-commerce functionalities into a single platform. Users can upload videos, images, text, and links, as well as "save," "like," or "comment" on posts.
It serves as an excellent platform for gathering information; whether you are looking for travel itineraries, creative inspiration, product reviews, or practical tips, you can find a wealth of content here.
👉Download Xiaohongshu: Xiaohongshu(IOS) | Xiaohongshu(Android)
Weibo (微博)
Weibo is often compared to early-stage Twitter, yet the two platforms actually possess significant differences. Weibo functions more as a public square focused on Chinese news, trends, and celebrity gossip. If you wish to stay abreast of trending topics in China—whether in the realm of pop culture or breaking news—Weibo is the definitive choice.
Widely utilized by numerous celebrities, influencers, and government accounts, Weibo offers a unique opportunity to gain an intimate sense of China's social pulse. As the content on Weibo is entirely in Chinese, you may need to rely on translation software to navigate the platform.
👉Download Weibo: Weibo(IOS) | Weibo(Android)
