๐ŸงณPack My Apps
โ† All destinations
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Essential apps for

China (mainland)

ไธญๅ›ฝ

MandarinCNY8 apps

China is the most app-dependent country on Earth. Almost everything โ€” payments, transit, ordering โ€” goes through WeChat or Alipay. Most Western apps don't work without a VPN.

๐Ÿš–Rideshare & Taxi

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D

Didi

China's dominant rideshare. Has an English interface for travelers.

The Uber of China. Has an English interface.
iOSAndroidWebsite

๐Ÿ’ณPayments & Wallets

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A

Alipay

China's other major payment app. Travelers can use the 'Tour Pass' mini-program.

Second essential. Tour Pass mini-program lets foreign cards work.
iOSAndroidWebsite

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธNavigation & Maps

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A

Amap (Gaode Maps)

China's most accurate maps app. Required since Google Maps doesn't work well in China.

Google Maps barely works in China. Amap (Gaode) is the standard.
iOSAndroidWebsite
B

Baidu Maps

China's other major maps app, with strong real-time transit data.

Backup to Amap, especially for real-time bus arrivals.
iOSAndroidWebsite

๐Ÿ’ฌTranslation

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G

Google Translate

The universal default. Camera mode translates signs and menus instantly.

Download offline Mandarin before you arrive โ€” won't work without a VPN otherwise.
iOSAndroidWebsite
W

Waygo

Offline camera translation for Chinese, Japanese, Korean menus. No data required.

Offline menu translation. Works without internet.
iOSAndroidWebsite

๐Ÿ“ฑMessaging

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W

WeChat

China's super-app โ€” messaging, payments, mini-apps, news. Required to communicate locally.

Required. Messages, payments, mini-apps, restaurant menus โ€” all live inside WeChat.
iOSAndroidWebsite

๐ŸฑFood Delivery

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M

Meituan (็พŽๅ›ข)

China's #1 food delivery, restaurant booking, and groceries app.

Food delivery + restaurant booking + groceries. Used daily by locals.
iOSAndroidWebsite
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