If you are traveling to China, be sure to have the following apps downloaded to avoid any travel headaches and ensure a smooth trip. China is quickly becoming a cashless society and its heavy reliance on technology for day-to-day activities can make it very challenging to get around and do things without some of the following apps. But don’t let that intimidate you from visiting China. China is massive and full of diverse people and places to explore, rich in epic nature as well as futuristic landscapes, each with unique local flavors and ancient cultures–plus, it’s one of the most affordable places to visit with very low costs of living.
8 Must-Have Apps for Traveling in China:
- WeChat (free) – for communication, payments, transportation and deliveries
- AliPay (free) – for communication, payments, transportation
- Didi (free) – for transportation
- Flower Pig (free) – for transportation
- Translator app (free) – for communication
- Baidu Maps (free) – for navigation
- Trip (free) – for booking hotels, trains, flights
- VPN app (paid) – for connecting to blocked sites/apps
1. WeChat (free) – for communication, payments, transportation and deliveries
WeChat, called Weixin in Chinese, is probably the #1 most used app in China, and is used for nearly everything. Everyone in China uses WeChat as the main tool for text messaging and making phone calls or video calls. It is also the main app used for electronic payments with nearly every vendor, including restaurants, taxis, retail stores, grocery stores, tourist attractions, etc. Not only is it the preferred payment method with vendors, but it is also used to send money between friends, much like how Venmo or PayPal is used in the US. WeChat is synced with a lot of other Chinese apps, such as taxi apps and food delivery apps, so you can do nearly everything in China from WeChat.
What is WeChat used for?
- text messaging (auto-translate available)
- phone calls & video calls
- electronic payments (to vendors, peer to peer)
- transportation (taxis, trains, metro)
- deliveries (food, couriers)
- social media sharing, like Facebook
- so many other functions, like sending wedding invitations, etc.
Why do you need WeChat for China travel?
Unless you’re paying for international data, in which case you’ll be able to access all the apps that may be blocked in China (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc.) through your roaming data, you’ll likely need to rely on WeChat for text messaging friends inside and outside of China. Apple’s iMessage is not reliable to work on Chinese wifi networks.
There are some frustrating things to note about WeChat. If you had WeChat in the past and haven’t been active for a while, you may be required to re-verify your identity, which sometimes requires you to have a friend (who uses WeChat) to validate your identity. Even with a friend’s verification, you still may not be granted access again–at that point, there’s not much you can do, and you’ll need to rely on the AliPay app for messaging and payments. Additionally, the translations on WeChat are not great and I often had to re-translate using a different translator. Lastly, WeChat can take up quite a bit of storage and slow down your phone, which is annoying.
How do you start using WeChat?
Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play store, search for WeChat, and download the app. You may need to verify your identity before being able to use the app. Then set up your profile with a photo and your personal information, connect your bank cards or credit cards for payments, and add your friends to start chatting.
2. Alipay (free) – for communication, payments, transportation
Alipay, called ZhiFuBao in Chinese (you must use the Chinese name when communicating because Chinese folks will stare at you blankly if you ask if they take Alipay), is rising in popularity but is not yet as popular as WeChat. Alipay doesn’t have as much functionality as WeChat but it’s a great substitute for WeChat for payments, text messaging and transportation.
What is Alipay used for?
- text messaging
- electronic payments (to vendors, peer to peer)
- transportation (taxis, trains, metro)
- booking travel
- translation
Why do you need Alipay for China travel?
Alipay is especially useful (and necessary) for communication and payments if you cannot download or access WeChat (but you can’t make phone or video calls–only text messaging). I found Alipay to be more user-friendly, less buggy, and better at translations. Identity verification through Alipay was much more straightforward and it was easier to connect with foreign credit cards. Most vendors will accept both WeChat and Alipay for payments. I found it easier to get a metro pass (which gives you a QR code to scan for entry/exit at metro stations) on Alipay. Alipay is also synced with Trip so you can easily book hotels, trains and flights for cheap.
How do you start using Alipay?
Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play store, search for Alipay, and download the app. Similarly to WeChat, you may need to verify your identity before being able to use the app. Then set up your profile with a photo and your personal information, connect your bank cards or credit cards for payments, and add your friends to start chatting.
3. Didi (free) – for transportation
DiDi is China’s version of Uber, a ride-hailing app. Uber does not exist in China. DiDi is the most widely used app for calling a taxi in China. Similar to Uber, payment is contactless and done through the app. Taxis are very affordable in China, so if you’re traveling with more than two people, it’s often more cost-effective, faster and more comfortable to share a taxi than to take the metro.
What is DiDi used for?
- hailing a taxi
Why do you need DiDi for China travel?
If you’re going to need a ride to and/or from the airport, or just to get around town, DiDi will be very useful. You can always physically hail a taxi the old-fashioned way, but that requires more time and effort, and you will either need to have WeChat Payments set up or the exact amount of cash to pay (drivers rarely have change for cash payments and some drivers don’t accept Alipay yet).
How do you use DiDi?
Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play store, search for DiDi, and download the app. Set up your profile and connect your bank card and/or credit card for payment. The app functions very similarly to Uber. When you need a ride, simply enter your destination address, and then your pickup address, and order a ride. Alternatively, you could use DiDi as a mini-app within Alipay; however, it was a little buggy for me and didn’t always work. For example, it worked for me in Shanghai but did not work at all in Nanning–the app just kept freezing and timing out.
4. Flower Pig (free) – for transportation
Flower Pig is another ride-hailing app, similar to DiDi. The actual name is only in Chinese (花小猪打车) and “Flower Pig” is just how it’s translated on Alipay–there is no English name or word for the app. The literal translation is more like “small flower pig takes a taxi.” I found the prices on Flower Pig to be much cheaper than DiDi, but the app is a bit trickier to get and use for foreigners.
What is Flower Pig used for?
- hailing a taxi
Why do you need Flower Pig for China travel?
If you don’t have the DiDi app, or if you’re looking for cheaper taxis, Flower Pig is a great option and alternative to DiDi for hailing rides in China. Sometimes DiDi may not be available in certain areas of China so it’s helpful to have an alternative handy.
How do you use Flower Pig?
Unlike DiDi, Flower Pig is not available on the Apple App Store or Google Play store (as far as I could see). It’s a Chinese app that foreign phones can only access via WeChat or Alipay. I found it easiest to use on Alipay. Simply search for “花小猪打车” on Alipay and download the mini-app. When you need a ride, open the mini-app on Alipay, enter your destination address as well as pick up address and order the ride.
5. Translator app (free) – for communication
It’s always best to learn some basic words to communicate in the local language, wherever you’re traveling. If you don’t know the language, you can rely on translator apps. You can use the text translation or voice function on a translation app to have a live conversation. Use the camera function to translate menus and signs.
Why do you need a translator app for China travel?
You may be able to easily get around other parts of Asia with just the English language, but very few vendors in China speak English or have English menus. You’re going to have a difficult time communicating, shopping, and ordering food without knowing some basic Chinese or using a translator app. Apple’s iTranslate app does not reliably work on Chinese wifi and Google Translate only works if you’re on a VPN or using your international roaming data. I used a combination of AliPay and Google Translate while in China, but also heard good things about DeepL.
Recommended translator apps:
- Alipay’s translation function
- Google translate (via VPN or international data)
- DeepL
6. Baidu Maps (free) – for navigation
Baidu Maps is China’s version of Google Maps–Baidu is China’s most used search engine, similar to Google. Baidu Maps is where you’ll want to look for directions, addresses, business operating hours, business reviews and photos, etc.
What is Baidu Maps used for?
- local maps
- navigation / directions
Why do you need Baidu Maps for China travel?
All Google services, including Google Maps, are inaccessible in China. Even if you can access Google apps through a VPN or international data, the data on Google Maps is wildly inaccurate and taking directions from Google Maps is likely to get you lost. You’d think that it might be accurate in a major metropolitan city like Shanghai, but it was more than a mile off on my hotel’s location.
How do you use Baidu Maps?
Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play store, search for Baidu, and download the app. The downside is that Baidu is all in Chinese (with no auto-translate feature like on Alipay), so you’ll either need to translate screenshots or hover someone else’s phone over yours to translate the directions. At the least, you can reference landmarks to guide you in case you’re lost.
7. Trip (free) – for booking hotels, trains and flights
The Trip app allows you to book travel through trip.com, which is a similar service to Expedia or Kayak. It offers competitive deals–often the lowest price–on hotels, flights and trains in China as well as other countries.
What is the Trip app used for?
- booking hotels
- booking flights
- booking trains
Why do you need the Trip app for China travel?
If you’re looking to save money, particularly on travel within China, or Asia in general, you can find some of the best deals on Trip. I often found hotels and flights in China to be cheaper on Trip versus any other third-party travel booking site–especially when purchasing in Chinese currency (RMB/yuan). The interface is user friendly and makes it easy to book any kind of travel. Additionally, if you use the Trip mini-app within Alipay, you can use any funds you have on your Alipay account to make the payment. You can also earn points, or Trip coins, with each transaction and use them toward future transactions.
How do you use the Trip app?
Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play store, search for Trip, and download the app. Set up your profile with your payment information. Alternatively, you can also simply use the Trip mini-app within the Alipay app. Search for hotels, flights and trains to book the best deal.
8. VPN app (paid) – for connecting to blocked sites/apps
A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your online identity. You can use a VPN to bypass geographical restrictions on the internet, which is helpful if you need to access websites or apps that are restricted in China.
Why do you need a VPN app for China travel?
Popular websites and apps that are blocked in China include Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, Netflix, and more. If you are a regular user of any of these platforms, and need access to them while traveling in China, you’ll need a VPN to do so. Even then, the Great Firewall of China continues to get increasingly difficult to penetrate so you may still experience difficulty accessing some sites, as I did.
Recommended VPNs:
- Surfshark
- NordVPN
- ProtonVPN
- ExpressVPN
- Private Internet Access
Bonus tip: not an app, but a local guide
Even if you are a seasoned traveler and feel confident solo-traveling through China, sometimes having a local guide can be a game-changer in your travel experience, especially in a place like China. A local guide can help you navigate the language, the travel routes, the culture, and so much more. Often times, a local will have better understanding and access to local deals and services that are only available in Chinese or through Chinese apps. You can arrange a local guide online before you embark on your trip, or you may run into university students who are eager to serve as tour guides in order to engage with foreigners and practice other languages.
