Top China Travel Apps: Your Ultimate Must-Have List in China

Foreign visitors may face some difficulties during their trip if they travel to China without some necessary apps. As a frequent traveller to China myself, I have carefully chosen a list of necessary apps that will help you have a relaxing trip, and make it easy to explore this wonderful country. I will share the top apps that can meet all your needs: payments, calls, stays, transport, dining and translation. All of them are easy for travellers to use, and most of them can be used by foreigners without a local Chinese phone number!

Essential Payment & Communication Apps

These two apps are very important for getting around in China’s cashless society. You will use them for almost everything, from buying a bottle of water to taking public transport. You must have them for a smooth trip in China.

Alipay

Alipay is very common in China. It is accepted in every shop, street stall, restaurant and service place you can think of. You only need to scan a QR code to make a payment, and it is very easy for foreigners to use.

• No Chinese phone number is needed: You can register with your international phone number and link your Visa debit or credit card to use it at once.
• Built-in transport function: The Transport button on the home screen allows you to scan QR codes for subways and buses (you don’t need physical tickets). You can also call a taxi by entering your destination, and the fare will be deducted automatically from your linked card.
• One-stop service: Alipay connects with China’s top ride-hailing and food delivery apps. It is a multi-functional tool for travelers who don’t have a local phone number.

WeChat

WeChat is China’s all-in-one super app. It replaces WhatsApp, Facebook and even digital wallets for local people, and it is also very important for foreign visitors. Since most Western social media apps are blocked in China, WeChat is your best choice for communication and more.

• Complete communication functions: You can send text, voice and video messages. You can also use the Live Location Sharing function to find friends in crowded scenic spots or new cities. It is perfect for group travel.
• WeChat Pay for global users: The built-in digital wallet now supports international credit cards. You can use it to pay for meals, shopping, taxis and travel bookings without cash or physical cards.
• Social and local information: You can check Moments (a timeline like Facebook) to get local travel tips, and it is easy to connect with tour guides or local people.

China Travel Hotel & Flight Booking App

Trip.com

Trip.com is the best English-friendly travel app for China. It is the only app you need for all your travel bookings. I have used it for every trip in China, and it always works well.

• 100% English interface: There are no language barriers. It fully supports international payment methods, which is perfect for foreign tourists.
• Many booking choices: You can choose from more than 5,000 high-quality hotels in China, flights to over 45 cities, airport transfers, and even discounted tickets for popular scenic spots like Shanghai Disney.
• Special discounts for travelers: You can get special offers from more than 3,000 Chinese partners, including package tours, local experiences and transport tickets.
• Global service: You can book more than 1.2 million hotels around the world, so you can easily connect your China trip with international travel.

Stay Connected: China eSIM Tips

To use all these apps well, keeping connected to the Internet is very important! You can check our special guides about discounted China eSIMs to find the best choice for your trip. We will tell you the advantages, disadvantages and prices of each, so you can make a wise decision. Whether you are visiting the ancient city of Xi’an, the busy city of Shanghai or the quiet city of Guilin, a stable Internet connection allows you to share your travel stories, navigate easily and make bookings on the go.

Navigating China: Top Transportation Apps

China has one of the most advanced transportation networks in the world. These apps can help foreign travelers use all kinds of transportation, from high-speed trains to city ride-hailing and subways.

12306 App

The 12306 app is the official platform for buying China’s high-speed train tickets. High-speed trains are the fastest and most comfortable way to travel between cities.

• Book tickets 15 days in advance: You can buy tickets for China’s large high-speed rail network. The speed of high-speed trains can reach 300-400 km/h.
• Punctual and comfortable: China’s high-speed trains are famous for being on time, clean and having spacious seats. They are much better than long-distance buses or domestic flights for intercity travel.

Didi Chuxing

Didi Chuxing is China’s top ride-hailing app. It is similar to Grab or Uber, and it is available in every major city in China.

• Two ways to use it: If you have a Chinese phone number, you can download the app and register directly. If not, you can use Didi through Alipay—no extra registration is needed, and the fare will be deducted automatically from your Alipay account.
• Cheap and reliable: The fare is lower than international ride-hailing apps, and drivers are familiar with scenic spots and famous places.

MetroMan

Almost every major city in China has a modern and large subway system. MetroMan is your best guide for navigating subways.

• Covers all cities with subways: It includes Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu and other cities. You won’t miss stops, take the wrong line or get confused when transferring.
• Route planning and cost calculation: You can find the fastest and cheapest subway routes, check transfer time and calculate travel costs in real time.
• Perfect for solo travelers: It is flexible for changing your travel plan at the last minute and exploring the city in your free time.

Dining & Food Delivery

Dianping

If you want to find the best local food, hidden good restaurants and popular restaurants in China, Dianping is the best choice. It is formed by merging Dazhong Dianping (China’s top review platform) and Meituan (China’s top food delivery app). It is like Groupon, Tripadvisor, Deliveroo and Yelp combined into one app.

• Trustworthy user reviews: You can find honest reviews for restaurants, cafes, scenic spots and local services. It is perfect for discovering real Chinese food, such as Sichuan hot pot and Cantonese dim sum.
• Local discounts and table bookings: You can get special discounts in restaurants, book tables in advance and even order takeout—all in one app.
• Pinyin search: You can find restaurants by food type, location or name using Pinyin. You can also filter results by price, rating and distance.

Meituan

Meituan is China’s top food delivery app. It is perfect for lazy nights in your hotel, busy travel days or when you want to try local food without leaving your room. As mentioned earlier, Meituan is also part of Dianping (Meituan-Dianping), so it connects well with the restaurant-finding function.

• Easy for foreigners to use: If you have a Chinese phone number, you can download the app and register with your real name. If not, you can use Meituan through Alipay—no extra steps are needed.
• Fast and cheap delivery: Most orders arrive within an hour. The delivery fee is very low, and many restaurants even offer free delivery.
• Useful tip: Make sure your address is written in Chinese (or use your hotel’s Chinese address) to make the delivery smooth.

China Travel Best Map

Gaode Map (Amap)

Google Maps doesn't work well in China, but Amap is the most popular map app for both local people and tourists. It is more accurate and up-to-date for China’s changing roads and landmarks.

• Pinyin support: You can type street names, scenic spots or restaurants in Pinyin (Chinese romanization) to get results quickly. You don’t need to read or type Chinese characters.
• Accurate voice navigation: You can get turn-by-turn voice navigation for walking, driving and public transport. It is very accurate even on busy city streets and rural areas.
• Built-in taxi calling: You can enter your destination directly in the app to call a taxi. It has real-time driver tracking and fare estimation.

China Travel Translation App

WAYGO

Google Translate can’t be used in China without a VPN, but WAYGO is the best offline translation app for foreign travelers. It doesn’t need the Internet and is designed for reading Chinese text when you are out.

• Instant text translation: It can translate Chinese, Japanese and Korean text into English in seconds using optical character recognition (OCR) technology.
• Perfect for travel: It is great for reading restaurant menus, street signs, shop labels and any printed Chinese text. You won’t have to guess what you are ordering or where you are going.
• 100% offline: You can download the language packs before your trip and use the app anywhere in China without the Internet.

Local Travel Inspirations

Xiaohongshu (Red Note)

Xiaohongshu, also known as Red Note, is one of the most popular lifestyle and travel guide apps in China. It is a must-have for foreign tourists who want real local travel ideas, hidden scenic photo spots, and cheap and tasty food. Different from big travel websites, most content on Xiaohongshu comes from common travellers and local people, so the tips are honest and very practical.

• English and Pinyin search support: You don’t need to type Chinese characters. Just search in English or Pinyin to find travel guides, food reviews and scenic spot introductions easily.
• Rich and real travel content: Find tips for famous tourist cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, as well as small hidden attractions that few foreign tourists know. It also covers local snacks, cheap hotels and useful travel tricks.
• No VPN needed and easy to use: You don’t need a VPN to open this app in China. Register quickly with your international phone number, and the interface is simple for foreign travelers to understand.
• Make your own travel plan: Save your favorite posts and plan a personal trip based on real experiences, instead of following boring fixed tour routes.

Table of the Best China Travel Apps

This table summarizes all the necessary apps, their categories and key features for foreign travelers. You can save it for your trip!

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