It can make a huge diffrence to how you feel and cope if you get these apps to download before visiting China. Mobile payments, maps, taxis, train bookings and restaurant services work differently from those many UK travellers are used to, and some familiar international apps are not reliably accessible on mainland Chinese networks.
For families travelling with autistic children, getting everything set up before departure can be particularly helpful. You can save hotel addresses, learn how the payment screens work and reduce the number of unfamiliar tasks you need to solve after landing.
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This guide covers the most useful apps to download before visiting China. App features and access can change, so check the latest version before travelling.
For a wider planning guide for China check out our guide to visiting China with autistic children.
The Essential Apps to Download Before Visiting China
You do not need dozens of Chinese apps for a holiday. For most international visitors, the priority is having reliable ways to pay, navigate, book transport, communicate and translate.
- Alipay for mobile payments and useful travel services.
- WeChat for communication, QR-based services and Weixin Pay.
- DiDi for ride-hailing.
- Amap or Apple Maps for navigation.
- Trip.com or the official China Railway 12306 service for train planning and bookings.
- A translation app that you have tested before departure.
It is also sensible to download your airline app, travel insurance app and any attraction-specific apps like GetYourGuide that you know you will need while you still have your normal home internet connection.
1. Alipay
Alipay is one of the most useful apps to set up before a trip to China. Mobile QR payments are extremely common, and official Chinese guidance confirms that overseas visitors can use Alipay with supported international bank cards.
The app is useful for far more than paying at a shop counter. Depending on your location and the services available within the app, it can also provide access to transport, ride-hailing and mini-programs which are like apps within the Alipay app.
Set up your account and add your preferred payment card before you travel. Do not wait until you are standing at an airport, metro station or restaurant with a tired child to work through verification screens for the first time. This is especially important if you will turn off your normal SIM card when you visit China because you need to be able to recieve an activation text message to make Alipay work.
For an eSIM for China you can check out Trip.com or use Airalo. We use both. If you would like to try Airalo, you can use our referral code (NATASH7173) for £2.50 off your first eSIM. Just a note about this though, an eSIM is usually just mobile data and won’t include a Chinese phone number to get text messages sent to.
2. WeChat and Weixin Pay
WeChat is China’s dominant communication app, but travellers may also use it for QR codes, mini-programs and payments through Weixin Pay.
Official Chinese guidance confirms that overseas bank cards can be linked to Weixin Pay. Supported cards and payment rules can change, so check the current in-app information before departure.
Even if you plan to use Alipay as your main payment method, having WeChat set up gives you a useful alternative and can make communication easier if a hotel, guide or other local contact uses WeChat.
Should You Set Up Both Alipay and WeChat?
For a first trip, having both is sensible. You may use one much more than the other, but a second payment option provides useful backup if a card link, QR code or particular service does not work as expected.
Keep some cash available too. Mobile payment is convenient, but travellers should not make a holiday dependent on one phone, one battery and one app account. That being said, cash payments are very rare in China.
3. DiDi for Taxis and Ride-Hailing
DiDi is China’s major ride-hailing service and can be extremely useful for international visitors who do not speak Mandarin. Instead of trying to explain a destination verbally to a taxi driver, you enter it into the app. This can remove one significant communication barrier, particularly when travelling with children, luggage or mobility equipment.
DiDi can be accessed through its own app and through services inside major Chinese apps such as Alipay. Set up whichever version you plan to use before you need your first ride and save your hotel address in Chinese where possible.
For disabled travellers, remember that an ordinary ride-hailing booking does not guarantee an accessible vehicle. If you need a specific vehicle configuration or space for a large mobility aid, investigate suitable transport separately.
4. Amap for Maps and Navigation
Amap, also known as Gaode Maps or 高德地图, is one of the main navigation services used in China. It is useful for locating attractions, hotels, restaurants, metro stations and other destinations. To help locate metro stations with an elevator to the exit you can use the MetroMan app.
China’s mapping environment is different from what many visitors are used to at home, and relying only on Google Maps is not a good plan. Download and test a China-friendly mapping option before travelling.
If an app’s Chinese interface feels difficult, prepare your important destinations in advance. Save your hotel, airport, railway stations and major attractions before you leave home rather than searching for everything under pressure.
5. Apple Maps for iPhone Users
For iPhone users, Apple Maps can be a convenient alternative because it works with mapping data available in mainland China without requiring you to learn a completely separate Chinese-language app immediately.
I would still save key addresses separately. Keep your accommodation address in both English and Chinese in your notes or screenshots so you can show it to a driver or member of staff if your phone signal fails.
6. Trip.com for Trains, Hotels and Flights
Trip.com is particularly useful for international travellers because it provides an English-language interface for booking Chinese trains as well as hotels and flights.
If you are travelling between cities, having your rail bookings and journey information together in an app can reduce the amount of information you need to manage at a busy station. Trip.com does also allow you to add flight details for flights booked elsewhere and it is really good at sending notifications about flight updates.
Families should still allow plenty of time at large Chinese railway stations. They can be enormous, and security checks, ticket procedures and finding the correct waiting area may take longer than expected.
For more help planning buses, metros and rail travel, read our accessible transport in China guide.
7. China Railway 12306
China Railway’s 12306 service is the official railway booking platform. It can be useful for travellers who want to book directly with the railway system rather than through an intermediary.
For many first-time visitors, an international booking platform may feel simpler than the equivalent China apps. More experienced travellers may prefer the official system. Whichever you choose, set up passenger details before the day you need to buy a train ticket.
8. A Translation App
A translation app is extremely useful in China, but do not assume your usual app will work in exactly the same way on a mainland Chinese network.
Before departure, choose a translation tool that works with the internet arrangement you will use in China. Test text translation, voice translation and camera or image translation if those features matter to you.
Camera translation can be particularly useful for menus, signs, instructions and product packaging. Download any available offline language data before travelling so you have a backup if connectivity is poor.
You can also check out our guide to learning important phrases before you travel because it has a link to Lonely Planets free eBook with accessible travel translations in Mandarin Chinese.
What About Google, WhatsApp and Other Familiar Apps?
Mainland China restricts access to a range of international internet services. You should not assume that services you use every day at home will work normally when connected to a local Chinese network.
This matters for much more than social media. Think about how you normally access email, cloud documents, maps, school information, family messaging and travel confirmations.
Before leaving home, make sure essential information is available independently of a blocked or inaccessible service. Screenshot booking confirmations, save addresses locally and keep important phone numbers somewhere you can reach without internet access.
Do You Need a VPN in China?
Internet access in mainland China is regulated, and many overseas websites and services are restricted. Some travellers investigate roaming, international eSIMs or VPN services before departure to maintain access to services they normally use. Our own personal experience is that a VPN will not work on hotel wifi anyway, but it will with an eSIM.
Rules, technical performance and access can change. Check current official travel advice and the terms of your mobile provider before relying on any particular method. Do not make access to one restricted service essential to your safety or travel plans.
Apps That Can Help Autistic Travellers in China
The most useful autism travel apps are not necessarily specialist autism apps. Anything that reduces uncertainty or communication pressure can help.
Maps let you preview routes. Ride-hailing apps reduce the need for spoken directions. Translation tools help explain needs. Booking apps keep transport information together. Notes and photo apps can hold visual schedules, food photographs and familiar routines.
Before travelling, create a folder on the phone containing the apps you expect to use in China. Practise opening them in the order you will need them. For example, you might rehearse opening Alipay, finding the payment scanner and returning to your visual schedule.
For wider preparation, read my China with autistic children guide.
Download Your Airline and Airport Information Before Flying
Install your airline app before departure and save your flight details locally. If you need disability assistance, keep the confirmation somewhere easy to find rather than relying on searching your email at the airport. You can use the PRM Assist app to make a backup assistance booking for the airport and the details will be saved locally in the app.
If you are flying through Beijing, my guides to Special Assistance at Beijing Capital Airport and disabled facilities at Beijing Capital International Airport explain what support is available.
Set Up the Apps Before You Leave Home
Downloading an app is only the first step. The useful part is making sure it actually works before your flight.
- Create your accounts and complete any required identity verification.
- Add supported payment cards to Alipay and Weixin Pay.
- Check that your mobile number can receive verification messages.
- Save your hotel and other essential addresses in Chinese.
- Test your translation app and download offline resources where available.
- Save passport and booking details securely where you can access them when needed.
- Download tickets, confirmations and important screenshots for offline use.
- Make sure everyone travelling knows which phone contains the main bookings.
Do Not Rely on One Phone
A phone can run out of battery, lose signal, break or disappear and you are unlikely to be able to bring a powerbank from the UK to China unless it meets specific safety requirements. This matters more in a destination where your phone may also be your payment method, map, translator and transport-booking tool.
Where practical, set up essential services on a second adult’s phone too. Carry a charging cable and suitable power source, and keep a small amount of cash separately.
Apps to Download Before Visiting China FAQs
What Apps to Download Before Visiting China?
For most international visitors, start with Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, a China-friendly maps app, a train-booking app and a translation tool. Also download your airline app and save essential travel documents offline.
Can Foreign Tourists Use Alipay in China?
Yes. Current official Chinese guidance confirms that international visitors can use Alipay and link supported overseas bank cards. Set it up before travelling and check the latest supported-card information in the app.
Can Foreigners Use WeChat Pay?
Yes. Weixin Pay supports linking eligible international bank cards. Availability, card networks and transaction rules can change, so confirm the current requirements when setting up your account.
Does Google Maps Work in China?
Do not rely on Google Maps as your only navigation tool in mainland China. Access to Google services is restricted on local networks, and mapping can be unreliable. Amap or Apple Maps are more practical options for many visitors.
What Is the Best Taxi App for China?
DiDi is the main ride-hailing service used by many international visitors. It can also be accessed through services within apps such as Alipay, which may mean you do not need a separate app for every task.
Should I Download China Apps Before I Arrive?
Yes. Downloading, registering and testing essential apps before departure is much easier than trying to solve account verification, payment setup and internet-access problems after landing.
A little preparation with these China travel apps can remove a surprising amount of stress from a China trip. Focus on a small set of reliable apps, set them up properly and keep offline backups of anything essential. That leaves you with fewer technology problems to solve while navigating a new country with your family.
Continue Planning Your China Trip With Autistic Kids
- Start at the beginning with my guide to visiting China with autistic children
- Need an easy introduction to China? Try Hong Kong with kids
- Learn more about the 240 hour visa-free transit for China
- Travelling with a power bank? Everything you need to know about bringing a power bank to China
- Starting in Beijing? Use my guide to Beijing with kids to start planning
- In Beijing because of a layover? My guide to laying over in Beijing PEK has you sorted
- Travelling through Beijing PEK? Learn about the special assistance at PEK Airport
- Travelling with medication? Learn more about bringing medication into China
Continue Planning Your Asia Itinerary With Kids
- Start with planning your overall Asia family trip, including flights, pacing, transport and choosing destinations that suit your child’s needs
- Travelling via an airport to Asia? Learn how to book special assistance and what help you can expect
- Travelling with medication? Learn what to include on your doctors travel letter for medication
- Looking for easier first-time Asia destinations? Consider visiting Japan with kids for clean transport, family facilities and predictable routines
- Prefer beaches and slower travel? Find out more about Thailand with children for resort stays, nature and flexible family days out
- Planning big city adventures? Discover what to expect in Taipei with autistic children
- Hoping to Island hop? Learn more about visiting the Philippines with autistic kids
Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides
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