Essential China Travel Apps For Your China Trip

Essential China Travel Apps For Your China Trip (Tried & Tested)

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Last updated on November 11th, 2025

If you’re looking for some essential handy China travel apps, here are the ones we use most when travelling in China.

Are you planning a trip to China? Traveling throughout the country is becoming increasingly popular. From ancient, moss-covered temples to futuristic, neon-lit cities, some of the most memorable travel experiences await you here. Whether you decide to join a tour group or undertake a DIY adventure, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience.

For first-time visitors to China, I want to emphasize the importance of using various Chinese software applications while traveling in the country. China is highly tech-savvy, and many services rely heavily on apps, making your smartphone one of the most essential tools for your trip. There are several crucial China travel apps that every traveler in China should have. Be sure to prepare and set them up before your journey.

In this guide, we will explore essential China Travel apps and software that help you travel to China, including navigation, booking hotels, ticket purchasing, and discovering local spots without hassle.

Essential Travel Apps in China

All the apps in this guide will enhance your travel experience in China, whether you need directions, want to book tickets, or are in search of a great restaurant. Using any combination of these apps will help ensure a smooth and stress-free journey. They are all available on both Apple and Android devices, unless stated otherwise.

Here are the best China Travel Apps for traveling in China:

  • Alipay – Payment, and mini programs
  • WeChat – Real-time Messaging, Social Media, Payment
  • Trip.com – Booking for Hotels, Trains, Attractions, Tours, and more.
  • Didi – Ride hailing
  • Gaode Maps – Navigation
  • Dazhong Dianping – Finding Restaurants and Food
  • Stay Connect: VPN and SIM (or eSIM)

To use these apps, you’ll need an internet connection. As public WiFi isn’t the most reliable in China, we recommend getting an eSIM for your China trip.

Alipay – Payment, and mini programs

Essential China App for Payment

In China, locals rarely use cash. Instead, money transactions are primarily conducted through apps. The two most popular payment apps in China are Alipay and WeChat.

Alipay (支付宝) is an essential app for anyone traveling to China, especially international travelers. The reason is straightforward: it accepts many foreign debit and credit cards. You can use Alipay for payments almost everywhere, including luxury shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and even street vendors.

In addition to facilitating payments, Alipay also features numerous mini-apps that can help you access different services, including Didi for ride-hailing, Meituan for food delivery, translation services, QR Scan, and much more. These tools can assist you with taking the subway, scanning QR code menus at restaurants, paying bills, and more.

China Travel Apps Tips: If you are using a foreign card linked to Alipay in China, please be aware of the following:

  • For transactions up to RMB 200, typically no additional service fee is required.
  • For transactions above RMB 200, an approximate surcharge of 3% may apply. To avoid this surcharge, we may occasionally request separate payments (if permissible). Alternatively, you might consider using other apps that do not impose a surcharge.

IMPORTANT: To set up Alipay, you’ll need to verify your identity using your passport and connect a credit card before arriving in China. If you wait until the last minute or try to do this once you’re in China, you may encounter glitches that could complicate your experience. We will share more in this post: How to Setup Alipay.

WeChat – Real-time Messaging, Social Media, Payment

WeChat (微信) is the real-time messaging app most commonly used for chatting in China. Unlike popular apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, or LINE, WeChat is the primary way to connect with locals. Pretty much everyone you meet during your travels in China will be on WeChat. We used WeChat to communicate with locals for hotel bookings and travel service confirmations.

In addition to messaging, WeChat plays a vital role in everyday life in China. It is an all-in-one app that integrates social media, payment services, and travel booking. But using the WeChat app for communication will be only meaningful if you are Chinese Proficient, otherwise it’s pointless.

Similar to Alipay, we recommend setting up your WeChat account in your home country. Link your bank card and open essential mini-programs, such as DiDi and Meituan, as they may require a one-time password (OTP). For more information, check out our WeChat Guide: How to Set Up WeChat.

China Travel Apps Tip: We often use WeChat as a backup payment method when Alipay experiences issues. There are occasions when street vendors only accept WeChat payments.

Trip.com – Booking for Hotels, Trains, Attractions, Tours

Essential China App for booking Train Ticket

Trip.com is China’s equivalent of an online marketplace for travel essentials, similar to Expedia, Viator, Klook, Trainline, and Booking.com. It stands out because Trip.com offers a more comprehensive service for travel needs within China, combining various aspects into one application. It serves as a one-stop shop for planning trips to China, covering flights, trains, hotels, attraction tickets, and even local tours.

The site is available in English, making it easy to navigate and book tickets and hotels. Note that Trip.com is the international version of Ctrip.com, which is widely used in China but is only available in Chinese.

Browse Trip.com for your China Trip

Additionally, Trip.com offers more options that you won’t find on other international apps. For accommodations, you’ll discover numerous China-specific options in Trip.com that are often absent from other platforms. Many times, the room rates are even cheaper than those found on competing sites.

When it comes to attractions and tickets, Trip.com is one of the few sites that does not require a Mainland China phone number for advance reservations or purchases.

However, please note that a percentage-based handling fee is charged for cancellations on China train bookings in Trip.com. This fee increases as the departure time approaches (e.g., 5%, 10%, or 20% for certain China train tickets). We advise reading the specific cancellation and change policies for your product to understand any potential charges before booking train tickets.

Overall, Trip.com is both cost-effective and convenient for international travelers visiting China.

Didi – Ride hailing

Didi - Ride hailing in China

DiDi (滴滴出行) is an essential ridesharing app known for its affordability and wide availability in China. Generally, we prefer using e-hailing services over taking the metro when navigating the city. The prices are quite affordable, especially when traveling in a group.

You can also access DiDi services through Alipay and WeChat. We often use DiDi through Alipay because it is very convenient and available in English. Just make sure to pin your pickup location accurately, and we usually follow up with a photo of the pickup spot for reference.

There are three car options: Economy, Standard, and Premium. We recommend choosing at least the standard option for short distances and booking the premium option for long distances. It’s best to skip the economy option if possible.

Gaode Maps – Navigation

It’s important to remember that Google Maps does not work in China. A suitable alternative for navigation in China is Gaode Maps (高德地图).

Similar to Google Maps, Gaode Maps provides detailed and accurate information for navigating around China, particularly for public transportation and walking routes. The app even includes detailed directories of shopping malls.

However, one downside is that Gaode Maps is only available in Chinese characters, which may pose a challenge for non-Chinese readers. In that case, Apple Maps can be a good alternative.

Dazhong Dianping – Finding Restaurants and Good Food

Essential China App for Finding Restaurants and Good Food

Dazhong Dianping (大众点评) is an excellent app for discovering restaurants and good food in China, similar to Yelp in the United States. With this app, you can explore local favorites, including restaurants, cafes, and activities. Locals rate everything from street food stalls to unique shops, providing insider details that you might miss otherwise.

We used Dazhong Dianping to browse popular restaurants, which helped us decide where to eat. While it’s not an essential app, it can be extremely useful when traveling in China.

Although the app is primarily in Chinese, it does have a built-in translation feature, though it can sometimes be misleading.

Stay Connect: VPN and SIM (or eSIM)

China has strict internet censorship. The China government has blocked almost all foreign websites and apps that we typically use, such as Google, Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and many more. This can be a hassle if you need to do extensive online work or the internet access foreign websites while in China. To bypass these restrictions, you’ll need a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to connect to servers outside of China.

Paid for a VPN to ensure access to the internet while traveling in China. It allows you to search for information on the web in English. Recommended VPNs for use in China include Astrill or LetsVPN, which are widely used and highly recommended VPN providers for China. Popular VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN may not work consistently within the country.

Setting up a VPN on your computer or phone is relatively straightforward. However, it’s important to set it up before traveling to China, as the country has restrictions on accessing VPN websites.

Alternatively, if you prefer not to download or pay for a VPN, you can consider using a SIM option, either a physical SIM or an eSIM.

eSIMs are becoming more popular because they allow you to continue accessing your apps as usual. This option can be more cost-effective than subscribing to a VPN service. However, internet speed may be slower if you’re trying to access the internet on your laptop via a mobile hotspot. Additionally, using an eSIM means you won’t have a local number.

There are many eSIM options available, but I recommend choosing the eSIM from Trip.com. Unlike other companies that provide coverage in various countries around the world, Trip.com specializes exclusively in China. This focus ensures that you receive dedicated and high-quality service. Additionally, the eSIM is easy to install, and they offer various data plans to suit your flexibility needs.

Here is the recommended eSIM to use in China.

If your phone doesn’t support eSIMs, you’ll need to purchase a physical SIM in a store in the city where you arrive. Remember to bring your passport and be prepared for some delays. There are three common phone carriers in China: China Unicom, China Telecom, and China Mobile.

Conclusion – Best Travel Apps in China

All in all, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the Must-Have China Travel Apps mentioned above before your trip. This can help make your experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Traveling in China can be more challenging than in other countries due to vast distances and significant language barriers. Despite the difficulties I faced during my first visit, I am continually drawn back by the country’s beauty. My subsequent trips to China have gone much more smoothly, largely because I can speak Mandarin, read Chinese characters, and I have been well-prepared.

Lastly, be sure to check out my other blogs for tips and guides on traveling in China. For more China travel inspiration and information

Zhejiang Province: Shanghai – Suzhou – Hangzhou:

Guangdong Province: Guangzhou – Shenzhen:

Shaanxi Province: Xi’an, Terracotta Warriors:

Sichuan Province: Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou – Chongqing: