What are the best apps for traveling in China?

The most essential China travel apps are Alipay (payments), WeChat (messaging and payments), Didi (ride-hailing), Gaode Maps (navigation), Baidu Translate (translation), and Trip.com (bookings). Download all of them before you arrive since app stores can be unreliable behind the Great Firewall.

Your phone is your most important travel tool in China -- load it with the right apps

These two apps are non-negotiable. China is nearly cashless, and even tiny street food stalls use QR codes. Alipay is generally easier for foreigners to set up -- just download it, register with your phone number, and link a foreign credit card. WeChat Pay requires a bit more setup but doubles as your messaging app. You can use either one, but having both gives you a backup.

Didi is China's ride-hailing app (like Uber). It's built into Alipay, so you don't even need a separate app. Fares are cheap -- a 20-minute ride in most cities costs around 15-30 RMB ($2-4 USD). Gaode Maps (also called Amap) is the navigation app locals use. Google Maps works poorly in China with outdated data and no transit directions. Gaode has real-time traffic, public transit routes, and walking directions.

Baidu Translate is a lifesaver. Point your camera at a Chinese menu, sign, or document and get instant English translations. It works offline if you download the language pack. Pleco is the gold-standard Chinese dictionary app with handwriting input -- perfect for looking up characters you can't pronounce.

Trip.com (Ctrip) is the best app for booking trains, flights, and hotels in English. It accepts foreign cards and shows English schedules. Meituan is China's everything-app for food delivery, restaurant reviews, hotel deals, and attraction tickets. It's in Chinese but works through Alipay's mini-programs.

Install apps and create accounts before you land in China. Some app stores throttle or block downloads from Chinese IPs, and SMS verification can be delayed. Set up everything on home Wi-Fi with your regular phone number.