China Apps Checklist: What to Install Before You Fly
The apps you actually need for a China layover (payments, maps, ride-hailing, translation, and trains) plus what to set up at home versus on arrival.
Bokang Huang· Payments, eSIM and apps
Last updated
Tested in China on a foreign card. Sources linked at the foot of this page.
The short answer
Install five categories of app before you fly: payments (Alipay + WeChat), navigation (Amap), ride-hailing (DiDi), translation, and trains if you are moving between cities. Do it on home Wi-Fi: Google Play is blocked in China and app-store behavior changes once you connect to a Chinese network.
The checklist
1. Payments, do this first
| App | Why | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Works almost everywhere; the best foreign-card support | Essential |
| Backup payment rail, plus tickets and bookings run through mini-programs | Essential |
Verify your passport and link a card in both. See Alipay for foreigners and WeChat Pay.
2. Navigation, Google Maps will not save you
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amap (高德地图) | Best English support of the Chinese maps; reliable transit directions |
| Baidu Maps | Excellent Chinese-language coverage |
Google Maps is blocked and its China data is often inaccurate. Download an offline map area as a backup. See does Google Maps work in China?
3. Ride-hailing
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| DiDi | China’s Uber. English interface, foreign phone numbers, international cards |
DiDi also runs as a mini-program inside Alipay and WeChat if you would rather not install another app. See DiDi and ride-hailing for foreigners.
4. Translation
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Google Translate | Download the offline Chinese pack before you fly; online mode may be blocked |
| Baidu Translate | Works inside China without a VPN; strong camera mode |
Camera translation is the feature you will actually use, menus, signs, taxi addresses.
5. Trains and travel (if you are moving between cities)
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Trip.com | Easiest for foreigners; books with a passport, English interface |
| 12306 | The official railway app; cheaper, but clunkier for foreign cards |
See China high-speed rail for tourists.
Set it up in this order
- At home, on Wi-Fi: install everything, create accounts, verify your passport in Alipay and WeChat, link your card.
- At home: download offline maps and the offline Chinese translation pack.
- Before boarding: confirm each app opens and is logged in.
- On landing: enable your eSIM and test a map search.
The one that catches people out
SMS verification. Many apps want to text you a code. If your home SIM is off or roaming SMS is unreliable, you cannot complete setup abroad. Do every verification step before you leave, and write down the last four digits of your registered phone number: DiDi drivers ask for them as an identity check.
Bottom line
Ten minutes of setup at home removes almost all the friction of a China layover. Payments, maps, ride-hailing, translation, trains, install them all before you fly, and read China eSIM setup to make sure they work when you land.
Frequently asked questions
What apps do I need for a trip to China?
The essentials are a payment app (Alipay, plus WeChat Pay as backup), a map app that works in China (Amap or Baidu Maps), a ride-hailing app (DiDi), a translation app with camera mode, and a train app if you plan to travel between cities.
Can I install these apps after I land in China?
Technically yes, but do not plan on it. Google Play is blocked in mainland China, the Apple App Store may serve a different storefront, and SMS verification is unreliable while roaming. Install everything on home Wi-Fi before you fly.
Does Google Maps work in China?
Google Maps is unreliable in mainland China because Google services are blocked. Navigation data is also often inaccurate or offset. Use Amap or Baidu Maps instead: both work well, though Amap has the better English support.
Do I need a VPN app for China?
If you use a travel eSIM that routes data outside mainland China, you usually do not need a separate VPN for everyday apps. If you use a local Chinese SIM, you will need one for Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and VPN apps are hard to install once you are in China.
Sources & official links
Every factual claim on this page traces back to one of these documents. They are the authority, not us.