Must-Have China Travel Apps (2026) for Foreign Visitors
Last verified
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Each fact links to its source and shows the source's date. Apps change their features often, so what the app shows on the day takes precedence.
The short version
Install these before you fly. Some app stores and downloads are harder to reach from inside China, and you'll need to receive SMS codes on your home number.
- Alipay: payments, a built-in translator, and mini-programs for DiDi, Trip.com, Meituan and Ele.me (Beijing government, 30 Aug 2024).
- WeChat: messaging (used more than calls or SMS in China) and WeChat Pay (same source).
- A map app: Amap (Gaode) has an English version (Shanghai government, 15 Jul 2025).
- DiDi for ride-hailing (Beijing gov / MOFCOM, 24 Apr 2024).
- Railway 12306 for trains (see our high-speed rail guide).
- A translator that works offline, plus a travel eSIM or roaming plan (see our eSIM guide).
The apps, one by one
| Need | App | Works with a foreign number? | Official notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | Alipay | Yes: register with a foreign mobile number and link a foreign card (Beijing Municipal Government, Nov 2024) | Fees and limits: see our payments guide |
| Pay and chat | WeChat / Weixin | Yes: foreign-number registration (Beijing Municipal Government, Nov 2024) | Mini-programs are often Chinese-only, and WeChat has no built-in translator like Alipay's (Beijing gov, 30 Aug 2024) |
| Maps | Amap (Gaode) | Yes: international phone login and card payment, with 16 languages (Shanghai gov, 15 Jul 2025) | Google Maps is unreliable in mainland China, and location offsets are common |
| Ride-hailing | DiDi (app "DiDi-Greater China", or the mini-program in Alipay/WeChat) | Yes: foreign numbers and international credit cards (Beijing gov / MOFCOM, 24 Apr 2024) | English interface and auto-translated driver chat (Guangzhou gov, 9 Apr 2025) |
| Trains | Railway 12306 | Yes: register with email and passport (MTR guide) | 12306 says it is the only official online rail ticket platform (Xinhua, 10 Jul 2024) |
| Hotels, flights, trains | Trip.com (app, website or Alipay mini-program) | Yes | Commercial agency (Beijing gov, 30 Aug 2024) |
| Food delivery | Meituan or Ele.me, via mini-programs in Alipay | Varies; a Chinese number may be needed for some services | Search for the mini-programs inside Alipay (same source) |
| Translation | Alipay's built-in translator (15 languages) or your own app with offline packs | Yes | Beijing gov, 30 Aug 2024 |
Without a Chinese phone number
- Generally works: Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, Amap and 12306 can all be set up with a foreign number or email (sources in the table above).
- May need a Chinese number: some local services, such as food delivery or certain ticket and park bookings. The Beijing government recommends a local SIM for these (Beijing government, PEK SIM page). See our eSIM and SIM guide.
- Keep your home number active for SMS login and verification codes.
Where to download (official sources only)
- Get every app from your device's official app store (Apple App Store or Google Play) or the company's own website. Avoid APK mirror sites.
- 12306: the English site is 12306.cn/en. 12306 warns that it hasn't authorised other websites or apps to sell tickets on its behalf (12306 help centre).
- DiDi: search for "DiDi-Greater China", the name used by the Beijing government guide (24 Apr 2024).
- Before departure: sign in once to each app, link your card in Alipay or WeChat, and download offline maps and translation packs.
Safety & etiquette: photos
Map and camera apps make it easy to snap everything. China, Chengdu included, has military facilities and some research institutions. You can pass by them as normal, but don't photograph or film them, and obey any "no photography" (禁止拍照) signs. Under the Military Facilities Protection Law (revised 2021), Article 17 bans photographing, filming, recording, surveying or describing military restricted zones without approval. Article 22 requires the managing unit's approval to photograph military administrative zones. Under Article 60, ignoring a warning can lead to a public-security penalty (full text, NPC, 10 Jun 2021). Drones need separate permissions, so don't fly one without checking local rules.
FAQ
Which one app matters most? Alipay. It handles payments, translation, and mini-programs for DiDi, Trip.com, Meituan and Ele.me (Beijing gov, 30 Aug 2024).
Do I need both Alipay and WeChat? Most visitors are fine with Alipay alone for payments. WeChat is worth having for messaging hotels, guides and new contacts in China.
Will Google Maps, Gmail and WhatsApp work? Usually not on a Chinese local SIM or hotel Wi-Fi. Many travel eSIMs and roaming plans route data abroad, so they do work. See our eSIM and internet guide.
Can I hail a normal taxi without an app? Yes. Street taxis still exist, and DiDi also lets you book licensed taxis (Beijing gov / MOFCOM, 24 Apr 2024).
Can I pay the metro with my Visa or Mastercard? In Beijing, yes: foreign Mastercard and Visa cards are accepted at the gates on 27 urban rail lines and the S2 line (as of 24 Apr 2024, Beijing gov / MOFCOM). In other cities, check the local metro, or use the transit QR code in Alipay.
Is it safe to link my card? Use only the official apps, and see the fee and limit rules in our payments guide.
Related
- How to pay in China
- China high-speed rail: 12306, tickets and refunds
- eSIM, SIM cards and internet in China
- Chengdu attraction tickets via WeChat & Alipay
- 240-hour visa-free transit checker
Information is for reference only. Official sources prevail.
Information is for reference only; official sources prevail. See our terms and disclaimer.