Apps you need in China
The short list of apps that make the trip work, and what each one replaces.
What everyone needs to know
- Alipay does most of the work: payments, transit QR, ride-hailing, translation and bookings all live inside it.
- DiDi is the ride-hailing app and has a genuinely usable English interface.
- 12306 is the official rail booking app and also shows live train status.
- Install everything before you fly — app stores and several sites are unreachable on arrival.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Essential apps | 5 |
| Install lead time | Before departure |
| Alipay mini-programs | Covers transit, taxis, tickets |
| Offline maps | Download for your cities |
Do it in this order
- Install Alipay, DiDi, 12306, a translation app and a VPN (if using local data).
- Complete identity verification in Alipay and add your card.
- Bind a card in DiDi and set the app language to English.
- Download offline maps and translation packs for every city on your route.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until arrival to install anything.
- Skipping offline packs and then losing data in a metro tunnel.
- Ignoring the transit QR inside Alipay and queueing for paper tickets.
Sources
Apps you need city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna