
Alipay. This is your payment powerhouse. Use it for mobile payments, metro rides, taxi rides, food delivery, and tons of mini programs built right in. Before you leave home, download it and link an international card if you can. That way you're ready to pay for everything on day one. WeChat. This app does everything. Messaging, payments, restaurant ordering, talking to your hotel—it's all here. And here's the thing: you'll see QR codes everywhere in China. Shops, restaurants, hotels. They all use WeChat. So get comfortable with this one fast. Amap / Gaode Map。 Amap, also called Gaode Map. This is your navigation app in China. Google Maps won't work reliably here, but Amap is built for mainland China and it's accurate for walking, driving, and public transit. When you search for places, try using Chinese names if you can. You'll get better results. DiDi. When you need a taxi or private ride and the metro isn't convenient, DiDi is your answer. And here's a time-saver: you can often use DiDi right through Alipay or WeChat instead of opening a separate app. So download DiDi, but know you might not even need to open it separately. Dianping. This is like the Yelp of China. You'll find restaurants, cafés, beauty services, attractions, and honest local reviews. The best part? You can see what actual locals go to, not just what's in a guidebook. That's how you find the real good stuff. Meituan. This one handles food delivery, restaurant deals, tickets, and local services. It's super useful, but fair warning: if you can't read Chinese, have a translation tool handy. Pair it with Google Translate or Apple Translate and you're golden. Trip.com. If you need English support and international payment options for booking hotels, flights, high-speed trains, and attraction tickets, this is your app. It's specifically designed for foreign travelers, so you won't struggle with language or payment methods.

Google Translate / Apple Translate。 Google Translate or Apple Translate. These are lifesavers for quick conversations, translating signs, and understanding images. Pro tip: download the offline language packs before you go. That way you can translate without needing internet, and you're covered anywhere in China.