Must-Have Apps You Need to Travel and Live in China (Maps, Payments, & Lifestyle)
Luckily for me, as a Chinese-Canadian immigrant with most of my relatives in China, I could just ask any of them what app would replace Google Maps, for example. For foreigners without family on the mainland or who don't speak a lick of Mandarin, it's much harder to figure out.
That's why I've compiled this list of the most important apps you need to travel – and live! – in China (and a few bonuses as well).
Must-Haves
Amap (高德地图)
Easy yes. Google is entirely banned in China, so for those of us dependent on Google Maps to get around, Amap will be your next best friend. It essentially functions the exact same way as Google Maps – and it works outside China too! You can star your favourite locations, make lists, etc.
Shanghai alone has 20+ complete subway lines right now; it is so convenient to get around (I say this as someone who's bilingual in Mandarin and English, but you get my point). The world's your oyster with Amap in your hand (ha!) and the transit system at your doorstep.
A Chinese phone number may be required to access all features. There's an English app version available in some regions.
Railway12306 (中国铁路12306)
The official app of China Railway to snatch – I mean, buy – train tickets in China (12306 is the hotline number).
Fun fact: rail prices don't change in China, meaning they aren't dependent on dynamic pricing. Whether or not there's demand (well, there's always demand in a place as populous as China), ticket prices are set. You can buy a ticket for the same price one day before your travels as fifteen days before.
Yes, fifteen days before is the earliest you can purchase a train ticket. Due to the inherent high demand and affordability, make sure you set your alarm for when the buying window opens (around 5 AM Beijing time) because those tickets go faster than the speed of China's bullet trains.
Don't worry, Railway12306 has an English language selection in-app. You can register and purchase tickets using your passport if you don't have a local ID.
There are other rail service apps, but Railway12306 is popular, intuitive, and simple to navigate.
Wechat (微信)
Wechat started out as a clear-cut messaging app combining the best of Messenger, Skype, and X (Twitter). Over the years, it branched out to include business accounts (you can make bookings to third-party services), taxi-calling, newsletter marketing, a video platform in-app (Wechat Channels), a wallet (Wechat Pay), and more.
Registering for a Wechat account requires a phone number. You can use an international phone number, but some features may be limited, and users often run into trouble with SMS verification. Better to use a temporary Chinese number if you'll only be staying in China a short while and wouldn't use Wechat otherwise.
For the bare essentials, these are the functions you'll want to focus on:
Messaging: A no-brainer. Just get on WiFi or use your personal data, and you're solid. You can easily add other people now by scanning their QR codes. You can also send money through transfers or Red Envelopes in-chat.
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Wechat Pay: Assuming your ID and account information have been verified, it's just a few clicks to set up a Wechat Pay account (aka. wallet). Wechat Pay keeps a balance from the money you put into it or the bank cards you link. Red Envelopes or money transfers sent digitally through a chat from someone else are automatically deposited into your wallet once accepted. When paying, just tap into Me > Pay and Services > Money and scan the QR code. It's that easy.
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Service Accounts: One branch of the business accounts available, Service Accounts are exactly that – accounts that provide services. For example, I booked a Himo Studios photoshoot through their Service Account (called a Mini Program) which was even more developed than their online website – it listed all the "look" options, prices, and discounts. Basically, Service Accounts are now an alternative to business websites.
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WeCom Accounts (Wechat Work): To be used in conjunction with Service Accounts. Sometimes you need to contact customer support, and businesses usually have a separate messaging account to deal with inquiries (which may also be a Service Account, depending on which one they choose). Service Accounts will also often have QR codes for you to open/scan to add these communication accounts.
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Didi Ride-Hailing (滴滴出行): There's a nifty option in the Me > Pay and Services section for you to order a taxi directly through Wechat. Didi has its own app you can download as well if you're keen on it, but the service is essentially the same because Wechat brings you to the Didi platform – same function, just all in-app.
A literal lifesaver if you've been out drinking but drove your own vehicle, Didi has an option for 代驾 (dài jià), meaning "substitute driver." The name already implies that this is mostly used by intoxicated people who really shouldn't be driving on their own after a night out. If this is you, please keep the roads safe by using this feature!
Usually this is selected after entering your pickup and dropoff location. The substitute driver will come meet you (they'll bring their own vehicle, usually a motorbike, to return home) and take your keys, and off you go in the back seat with a sober person driving for you! Substitute drivers see a lot of business around Chinese New Year and special events.
Apart from being a super cute name, "didi" (滴滴) literally means "beep beep" or "honk honk."
Alipay (支付宝)
This is where it starts to get a bit more complicated. Alipay is another app you can have a money balance in, and it's also where you can buy and electronically store your subway and transit passes for all regions across China – definitely want that!
However, you need a Chinese phone number to access all features, including transit card activation.
An alternate option is Alipay International, designed for foreigners to link their international bank cards for use in China.
Alipay is more comprehensive because it also links to the stock market, Taobao secure payment, insurance, and loans, amongst others.
In other words, it does a lot in one mighty app. For the short-term traveller, you don't need all of this. Just make sure you have a way to pay, whether it's Wechat or Alipay, and that you keep your transit passes on you – physical or otherwise. You can buy physical transit passes from service stations in the subway.
For people living in China, Alipay is a business and lifestyle must.
Taobao (淘宝)
I can't help but think that anyone who doesn't know Taobao or have the means to order from it is missing out! Taobao is the GOAT of e-commerce. It's the largest online shopping platform in China, and it's only gotten bigger and more comprehensive over the years. "Taobao" literally translates to "find treasure."
While I don't support wasteful spending or fast fashion textile waste, I can't help but admit you can find almost anything on Taobao ... and it has a tendency to suck you in.
To be fair, the selection is amazing. Clothing (kawaii, Lolita, desert-style, street-style, Kpop stage outfits, etc.), jewelry, bags and accessories, shoes, bedsheets, ballet barres, vinyl flooring, household utensils, wallpaper, package deals for services, SIM cards, cameras – Taobao has literally everything.
Think Amazon, with all its sellers (half of whom drop-ship from China anyway), but better.
And, no, it's not a Temu replica. Remember Temu is relatively new to the West, selling exclusively cheap and usually small items. Taobao is the OG shopping platform with a range of products from super cheap to outrageously expensive. Remember that price is not necessarily an indicator of quality.
If you're experienced enough to tell the quality of fabric from photos alone, you'll be able to sidestep the mines better (i.e. reality vs expectation).
Try searching something (ideally in Chinese) like:
"Alfonse Mucha golden bookmarks"
"Bunny hugging bear phone holder"
"Wide toe box London-style Oxford heels black"
I guarantee you something will crop up matching your description – and if there's nothing, Taobao will give you something to look at for sure.
Since the advent of AI, Taobao has incorporated livestreams for sellers to promote their products. You'll find videos beside product images on the results page.
Unfortunately, you need a mainland Chinese phone number to register for an account, but it's simple enough to get a temporary SIM card or, if you're living there, to eventually get a Chinese number.
There's also no fully English version, unless you use Taobao International outside China, but the features and selection are limited. One reported trick is to set the app region to Hong Kong or Singapore, then choose English from the settings. However, the product details usually remain in Chinese.
Also, if you're staying in a hotel, I'd ask the front desk first if it's ok to order items before going crazy with your Taobao shopping. Courtesy is always appreciated.
Meituan (美团)
Meituan has rightfully earned its spot in the must-haves list for its über-conveniency. Meaning "beautiful group" (as in "group-purchasing") in Chinese, think of Meituan as a smaller Taobao only for lifestyle essentials with super-fast delivery. Similar to Instacart in the West.
Things you would buy on Meituan include razors, shampoo and body wash, snacks, groceries, and even medication!
Meituan works by selecting your products from the closest available stores. The delivery person than picks up said products, often combining several orders together if they're close by, and delivers them to your doorstep within 20 minutes or so.
I'm serious. I caught some sort of sickness at the tail end of my trip last year, and my cousin – who was working at the time – ordered some pills to my door that arrived 20 minutes later. It was midnight.
You still need a prescription for some medication, but Meituan makes this easy by having an online doctor available 24/7. You tell them your symptoms, and they prescribe for you. Just like that.
You can also order takeout by using their delivery option, 美团外卖 (měituán wàimài).
Meituan is super useful for making last-minute purchases or getting extras of a product you really like before leaving.
Because it's built for local business, it usually requires a Chinese phone number to verify your account.
Dianping (大众点评)
Meaning "public reviews," Dianping is the broadest and most comprehensive platform for user reviews of hotels, salons, restaurants, services, and generally anything and everything.
It also offers group deals (think Groupon) and other discounts throughout the app. Check back during holidays and special events to see what's up.
Dianping is super useful for a head-to-head comparison of similar services. Going back to my Himo Studios photoshoot (which I booked through Wechat), I used Dianping to search what people were saying about their experiences with Himo Studios and their direct competitor, naive blue (天真蓝), before making my decision.
For my fellow dancers, Dianping is where you can book local classes. Wechat Mini Services is useful for studio communication and checking weekly class schedules (especially if they change regularly), but with Dianping, you can check reviews too.
You can upload photos and videos on Dianping, and it's become quite a lifestyle app – but there's a different app if you're looking for lifestyle blogging/vlogging (see Red Note below).
The app works best in Chinese, but there is an English option in the settings.
Same as Meituan, you usually need a Chinese phone number to register.
DeepSeek or Search Engines
DeepSeek is China's answer to ChatGPT. In fact, it may even be more powerful because it's trained off of the Chinese language system, which offers more contingency in logic (think math, grammatical structure, etc.) than English, for example. Do some research on this and see what you find – I'd love to know.
Don't worry about language, though. You can get answers in English that are very comprehensible, with support for Spanish, Russian, Korean, Turkish, and others.
DeepSeek is strict about requiring a mainland Chinese number for registration. Once you have the app, you can use it outside China too.
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Alternative: search engines
Up until my last year's trip, I thought that the people of China were still using Baidu (百度) – China's OG version of Google since 2000. A new friend I made told me that if you were still using Baidu, you were "out."
All the young people now use Quark (夸克), an AI-driven search engine gaining a lot of traction in China.
Baidu is still prominent, but its design and format hasn't changed much since I was a kid. It's better for news articles than searching for answers, in my opinion.
Quark was launched by tech powerhouse Alibaba in 2016, starting as a simple web browser inside Alibaba. It became its own entity when Alibaba started developing it in the race for consumer AI.
Quark naturally has a more modern and streamlined design. Both will work if you're just searching up some simple how-to's or general information. Both offer language translation, though Quark can do it in real-time.
Apart of these two, Sogou and QQ Search are also popular and modern alternatives to Google.
Honourable Mention: Red Note (小红书)
小红书 ("xiǎo hóng shū) means "little red book" in Chinese. It is the lifestyle hybrid blogging-vlogging and e-commerce app in China, and many an influencer has gotten their start on the platform.
I debated whether this should go into "must-have's" or "optional," but I ultimately put it in "must-have's" as an honourable mention based on my friends' adamant recommendations of it. Plus, it's allegedly an essential for travelling in Japan as well due to the high volume of Chinese travellers posting their tips and tricks.
Good for content creation, independent reviewers, and public recommendations for services, restaurants, and businesses – similar to Dianping, but Red Note has more emphasis on following specific accounts. You can curate your feed to your interests, like Pinterest.
Of course, if you don't want to download Red Note, you don't have to. It's not necessary for functional travel in China like Amap and Railway12306 are.
Optional
Meitu (美图秀秀)
It's no secret that Asian beauty cameras are the hot thing for filtering and editing photos and, sometimes more importantly to the industry, pores.
(Please note I am not advocating for hiding alleged "imperfections." Some fine-tuning is expected, but natural beauty remains beautiful, and the power of Meitu lies in elevating a photo, not completely changing it.)
The two big competitors in Asian beauty apps are Meitu and BeautyCam (美颜相机), but Meitu has had an edge for years with its thousands of filters and stickers, video-editing, and comprehensive tuning, where you can change almost every aspect of the face, body, and photo (again, proceed with caution).
My favourite feature of Meitu is its AI-restoration (needs a subscription). In actuality, all it seemingly does is decrease noise and smooth pixels out for a "clearer" and "ultra HD" version. While it doesn't restore a photo completely, it does make slightly fuzzy photos look clearer and present better.
Meitu used to be free back in the day, but most of its advanced features are now only available with a subscription. If you edit a lot of photos and/or videos on the go (do I see you, travellers?), then it's absolutely worth it to buy the yearly subscription. I use the app all the time to edit my audition tapes together.
Douyin (抖音)
Douyin and Tiktok are essentially the same thing, but Douyin (launched 2016) came before Tiktok (launched 2017), with Tiktok specifically run to be the international version of Douyin.
Anyone who's old enough to remember the days before Douyin/Tiktok (i.e. me) will feel super old when reading this part.
I personally do not use either of them, but I feel they warrant a mention due to their massive commercial appeal and Douyin's specific functionalities in China. Unlike Tiktok, which focuses more on trends, Douyin also offers local e-commerce and services, hotel bookings, and reviews.
News & Entertainment
I could go on and on about optional apps you can have that will enhance your experience in China, but I want to keep it short and sweet. If you're staying longer or want to check out more apps on your own, here are some recommendations:
Network & streaming: iQiyi (爱奇艺), Youku (优酷), Bilibili (B站), Hunan TV
News & headlines: Toutiao (今日头条)
Microblogging & celebrity gossip: Weibo (微博)
Music: Kugou Music (酷狗音乐)
Food ordering (besides Meituan): Ele.me (饿了么)
For more popular apps, check out this report compiled by Meitu: https://www.meitu.com/en/media/407
The chart is from 2023 numbers, but it remains a great starting point to figure out what the locals are using.
And that's it! There's always room to add or remove apps and programs depending on your needs, but these are the essential apps to get you travelling in China like a pro.
Just note that many China-originated apps are only available for download in the mainland, so make sure you get them on your phone before leaving. Some also require a mainland Chinese phone number, and this you can easily resolve by purchasing a travel SIM or a permanent number.
See you in 中国!
