Many of the apps you rely on in your home country won’t work in China. This guide provides an overview of the essential apps you’ll need for your trip.
\n", "contentHtml": "\t\tHere are the most essential apps necessary to secure a smooth trip through China:
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA combination of WhatsApp + Instagram + PayPal, with endless mini programs. It’s used for chatting, payments, and much more. It’s also used for so called “mini programs”. Many restaurants or public bike rentals will require you to scan a QR code to make orders or unlock the bike rental. Basically all the QR codes in China are scanned by either WeChat or Alipay.
\nIn China, WeChat Pay and Alipay are by far the most widely used payment methods. From restaurants and hotels to taxis, street vendors, and even small market stalls, mobile payments are accepted literally everywhere.
\nIMPORTANT: We highly recommend setting up WeChat Pay or Alipay before your trip. While cash is still technically accepted, many shops may not have change available, and credit cards are often not supported, especially outside major hotels or international chains.
\nUsing mobile payments in China is not only more convenient but often essential for a smooth travel experience. It also makes it easier to book transport, order food, buy tickets, and use many everyday services. In both apps you can link your international credit card so that payments are directly deducted from your credit card through WeChat or Alipay.
\nTo set up WeChat, there is usually an identity verification process that requires you to upload your passport. It may take a couple of days until verification has been completed, that’s why it’s important to do that before your trip.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe second most popular mobile payment app. Together with WeChat, both apps are by far the most used payment methods in China. Alipay works similar to WeChat, you do have a scan button to scan different QR codes, be it in a restaurant, public bicycles or even for filling the arrival card at the airport. Anything can and should be scanned through these both apps.
\nSame as for WeChat, remember to do the setup before your trip due to identity verification that may take a couple of days.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor booking hotels, flights, trains, buses, and attraction tickets in China, Trip.com is one of the most reliable and convenient platforms. It works similarly to Booking.com, but is far better optimized for travel within China, especially for bookings overall, be it trains, flights, hotels, attractions, basically anything you can book beforehand you can book through Trip.com.
\nTrip.com is also one of the few platforms offering a fully English interface, making it the easiest option for international travelers.
\nIf you can read Chinese, Qunar (去哪儿) is basically the Chinese version of Trip.com and another popular option and sometimes offers slightly cheaper prices. However, it is primarily designed for domestic users and is only available in Chinese.
\nUsing one of these platforms will make planning your trip in China significantly smoother and more reliable.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDiDi is often described as China’s version of Uber and is the most widely used ride-hailing service across the country. It’s available in English and works in most cities (even the small ones), making it very convenient for travelers.
\nIf you switch the app interface to Chinese, you can sometimes find slightly cheaper ride options, as additional local services and pricing tiers may become visible. DiDi also allows you to pay directly using WeChat Pay or Alipay, making the entire process seamless.
\nUsing DiDi is usually the easiest way to get around cities in China, especially when public transport is limited or late at night.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoth offer car rental services with English interfaces, making it easier for international travelers to rent a vehicle in China.
\nHowever, be aware that you cannot drive in China with an international driving permit alone. To rent a car, you will need a Chinese Temporary Driving Permit (often called a Chinese Tourist Driving License). This permit is usually issued based on your home country license and passport, and must be arranged before or upon arrival depending on the city.
\nIf you don’t have a Chinese driving permit, using ride-hailing apps or high-speed trains is often the easier and more convenient option for getting around China.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmap (also known as Gaode Maps) is a much better option than Google Maps when traveling in China. Google Maps is often outdated and less reliable, while Amap provides accurate, real-time navigation across the country.
\nAmap is excellent for walking, driving, cycling, and public transport directions. It also includes useful features like restaurant recommendations, attraction information, and even taxi-hailing directly within the app.
\nAlthough the interface is primarily in Chinese, it’s still relatively easy to use and widely considered one of the most reliable navigation apps for traveling in China.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEle.me (饿了么) and Meituan (美团) are the two main platforms for food delivery and ordering meals in China. They are widely used by locals and cover almost every restaurant, from small street vendors to large chains.
\nHowever, both apps are primarily in Chinese, which can make them difficult to use for short-term visitors. While it is technically possible for tourists to navigate them, most travelers do not rely on these apps and instead choose to eat out or use easier-to-access international-friendly options.
\nIf you stay in China longer, learning the basics of these platforms can be very useful, as they offer fast delivery, low prices, and an incredible variety of food options.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBe aware, for any non-chinese App (like WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn, anything that’s Google based) you’ll to bypass the firewall. That includes apps like Google Maps, Google Drive, your favourite English Newspaper, all of those won’t work without bypassing the firewall in China.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecial Discount from Yan & Flo 🌟
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAvoid these common mistakes:
\nExplore next:
\n→ China Travel Guide 2026
→ Top 10 Destinations
→ Transportation in China
→ Internet & VPN
→ Payments in China
→ Safety as a tourist in China
→ Restricted Areas for Foreigners