Essential Apps for China Travel (2026 Checklist)
| Need | App | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | Alipay, WeChat | Link a foreign card |
| Chat | Everyone in China uses it, incl. suppliers | |
| Maps | Amap (Gaode), Apple Maps | Google Maps is not reliable in mainland China |
| Taxis | DiDi (also inside Alipay) | English interface |
| Trains | 12306 or Trip.com | Book with your passport |
| Hotels/flights | Trip.com | English support |
| Translate | A translator with camera mode | Download offline Chinese |
Install and log in to everything before leaving home; some verification SMS can be slow abroad.
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