Frequently Asked Questions
What apps do I need to travel in China?
Five apps cover 95% of a China trip: a VPN, WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, and a Chinese maps app (Baidu Maps or Amap). Add Meituan and Dianping if you'll order food or eat out seriously, and 12306 for trains. The full shortlist with per-app guides is in the quick-reference table above.
What should I download before travelling to China — and what can wait until I land?
Before you fly: your VPN (subscribe and test it — VPN websites are blocked inside China), WeChat, and the Google Translate offline Chinese pack. Everything else can wait: Alipay card linking takes two minutes on the plane, and DiDi, Meituan, Dianping, 12306, and metro ride codes all install and register after arrival. One caveat for Android: Google Play needs a VPN to access from China, so grab any missing apps before boarding or use the App Store.
Do I need to install these apps before arriving in China?
Only for the VPN and Google Translate offline pack. Everything else can be installed from within China as long as you have a working internet connection. However, Google Play Store requires a VPN to access from China — use the App Store (iOS) or download APKs directly if on Android.
Are VPNs legal in China?
Gray area. Personal VPN use by foreigners is generally tolerated and rarely enforced. Commercial VPNs are technically unauthorized unless licensed by the government (none of the popular VPN providers are licensed). In practice, millions of people use VPNs in China daily without issue. The risk for foreigners is very low, but be discreet — don't discuss VPN use loudly in public.
Will Chinese apps spy on me?
This is a reasonable concern. Chinese apps are subject to Chinese law, which allows government data access. Treat them similarly to how you'd treat any social media app — don't share sensitive personal, financial, or politically sensitive information. WeChat and Alipay are fine for daily life use.
Does Google Maps work in China?
Barely. Google Maps works with a VPN but has poor local data for China — incorrect addresses, missing POIs, unreliable transit information. Baidu Maps or Amap are far superior for navigation within China.
Quick Summary: The best apps for travelling in China: a VPN, WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, and a Chinese maps app (Baidu or Amap) cover most trips. Download the VPN and WeChat before you land — VPN websites are blocked inside China, and Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram don’t work there without one. Everything else — Meituan, Dianping, train tickets, metro codes — installs in minutes after arrival. Most apps are free; you pay by linking your regular Visa/Mastercard to WeChat Pay or Alipay.
This page is the app catalog of the Chinese Internet Survival Guide series: which apps matter for a trip to China, what each one is for, and which deep guide to read next. The step-by-step implementation sequence — getting connected (eSIM/SIM/VPN), getting a +86 phone number, and setting up payments in order — lives in our Chinese Internet Survival Guide. Use that guide for how to set things up and in what order; use this page for what to install.
Before You Land: Download These Now
These apps must be downloaded before you enter China, or you’ll need a VPN to access them:
| App | Why Before Landing |
|---|---|
| VPN app | VPN websites are blocked in China. Download + subscribe before arrival. |
| Account verification is easier with contacts already on it | |
| Google Maps (offline) | Download offline China maps while you have free access |
| Your airline app | Boarding passes, check-in |
The Essential Apps at a Glance
Eleven apps cover virtually every travel scenario in China. The table is the shortlist; the scenario catalog below is the “which one do I actually need” map, with a deep guide linked for every app.
| App | What It’s For | Needs VPN? | Deep Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeChat (微信) | Messaging, payments, mini-programs — China’s everything app | No | WeChat for Foreigners |
| Alipay (支付宝) | Payments with the highest international-card limits; subway ride codes | No | Alipay for Foreigners |
| VPN app | Unblocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Gmail | — (this IS the VPN) | VPN for China 2026 |
| DiDi (滴滴出行) | Ride-hailing in 400+ cities, English interface available | No | DiDi for Foreigners |
| Baidu Maps / Amap (高德) | Walking and transit navigation with real China POI data | No | Amap vs Baidu · Baidu Maps in English |
| Meituan (美团) | Food delivery, groceries, pharmacy — at your door in 20–40 min | No | Meituan for Foreigners |
| Dianping (大众点评) | Restaurant reviews, queue tickets, meal deals — China’s Yelp | No | Dianping for Foreigners |
| 12306 (铁路12306) | Official train tickets, zero service fee, English mode | No | China Train Tickets Guide |
| Metro ride code | Subway QR codes via Alipay/WeChat — usually no extra app needed | No | China Metro Apps for Foreigners |
| Google Translate | Camera translation of menus and signs (offline Chinese pack) | Live mode yes; offline pack works without | — |
| Trip.com (Ctrip) | English-language booking for flights, hotels, trains | No | — |
The 10-second answer: install VPN + WeChat at home; activate Alipay with a linked card on the plane; add DiDi and a maps app on day one; everything else as needed.
Apps by Scenario
Every app above has a dedicated deep guide on this site. This catalog groups them by what you’re actually trying to do.
Paying for things: WeChat Pay and Alipay
China runs on two wallet super-apps, not cards or cash. Alipay accepts international Visa/Mastercard with the most mature foreign-card flow (caps since 2024: ¥5,000 per transaction, ¥50,000 per year — the same as WeChat Pay) — make it your primary; WeChat Pay is the backup and the social layer. Both are covered by the how to pay in China guide, with wallet-specific setup in the WeChat and Alipay guides. Short trip — or a Russian-issued card? You may not need Alipay at all: How to Pay in China Without Alipay covers the 220+ home wallets that already work here, and Paying in China with Russian Cards handles the Mir/UnionPay special case.
Getting around: ride-hailing and the metro
DiDi is China’s Uber — door-to-door rides with an English interface in the international version. For city transit, you usually don’t need a new app at all: Alipay’s ride code covers nearly every metro. Which app to install, and when an official city app wins: China Metro Apps for Foreigners.
Maps and navigation
Google Maps barely works in China — stale data, missing POIs. Baidu Maps or Amap are the real tools: which to install is settled in Amap vs Baidu, and making the Chinese interface readable is the Baidu Maps in English setup.
Food: delivery and eating out
Two sibling apps from one company split the job: Meituan brings food to you (delivery, groceries, pharmacy — setup in the Meituan for foreigners guide); Dianping takes you out (reviews, 必吃榜 rankings, queue tickets, group deals — the Dianping for foreigners guide covers the English settings).
Train tickets
The official 12306 app books high-speed and regular trains with no service fee and now has English support. If you’re travelling without a Chinese number, see Train Tickets Without a Chinese Phone Number; the full booking walkthrough is the China Train Tickets Guide.
Staying connected: VPN, eSIM, and what’s blocked
The connectivity decision shapes everything else. A VPN for China restores Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram; a travel eSIM for China often routes through Hong Kong and works without one. Curious whether a specific service works? We keep dedicated pages: Does Gmail work in China? and Is public WiFi safe in China? — plus the blocked-apps list further down this page.
Useful but Optional Apps
Official All-in-One Apps (New for 2025–2026)
China’s establishment shipped visitor-facing apps of its own. None replaces the classics above, but each bundles a real convenience:
| App | Use | Deep Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Nihao China | UnionPay’s visitor wallet: scans UnionPay/Alipay/WeChat QR codes, 43-city metro, real-time translation | Nihao China App Review |
| TenPayGo | WeChat Pay’s standalone visitor wallet: email-only signup, AI translation, Shenzhen transit + tax refund | TenPayGo Guide |
| SinoGuide | Government information companion (CAC + NIA): policy, stay-expiry reminders — Android only, no iOS yet | SinoGuide App Guide |
Which of them (if any) you need is settled in SinoGuide vs Nihao China vs Alipay.
Communication
| App | Use | VPN Needed |
|---|---|---|
| International contacts | ✅ Yes | |
| Signal | Private encrypted messaging | ✅ Yes |
| Telegram | Groups, channels | ✅ Yes |
| Zoom | Video meetings | ✅ Sometimes (variable) |
| Skype | International calls | ✅ Yes |
| Line | Japanese/Taiwan contacts | ✅ Yes |
Local Services
| App | Use | VPN Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Eleme (饿了么) | Food delivery (Alipay-native, Meituan’s rival) | No |
| Mobike/HelloBike (哈啰) | Shared bikes | No |
Health & Emergency
| App | Use | VPN Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Ping An Good Doctor (平安好医生) | Online doctor consultations | No |
| Your insurer’s app | Claims, emergency contacts | Varies |
Shopping
| App | Use | VPN Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Taobao (淘宝) | China’s Amazon | No |
| JD.com (京东) | Electronics, guaranteed genuine | No |
| Pinduoduo (拼多多) | Bargain shopping | No |
| Amazon.cn | Limited but familiar interface | No |
News & Social (all need VPN)
| App | Use | VPN Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Personal social | ✅ Yes | |
| YouTube | Video | ✅ Yes |
| Forums, r/chinalife | ✅ Yes | |
| Twitter/X | News, contacts | ✅ Yes |
| BBC/NYT apps | News | ✅ Yes |
App Setup Priority Order
Do these in order on or before arrival:
Day -7 (Before traveling):
□ VPN: Subscribe, download, test
□ WeChat: Download, register, complete account verification
□ Google Translate: Download + offline Chinese language pack
Day 1 (Arrival):
□ Alipay: Link international Visa/Mastercard, send one test payment
□ Alipay: Activate the metro ride code for your city
□ WeChat Pay: Link international Visa/Mastercard
□ DiDi: Register with your phone number
□ Baidu Maps: Download offline maps for your city
Day 1-3:
□ Meituan: Register (requires Chinese SIM, or use the mini-program)
□ Dianping: Install if you'll eat out — reviews and queue tickets
□ 12306: Register for train tickets
□ Trip.com: Register for English-language travel booking
□ AQI China: Download, check current air qualityApps That DON’T Work in China (Without VPN)
Blocked — Requires VPN:
- Google (Search, Maps, Gmail, Drive, YouTube, Chrome sync)
- Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger
- Twitter/X
- Snapchat
- TikTok international version (ironic — China has its own Douyin)
- Spotify
- Netflix (blocked, but some content via VPN)
- Most Western news sites (NYT, BBC, Guardian, etc.)
- Dropbox, OneDrive
- Line, Telegram
Not blocked:
- WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Meituan, Baidu Maps — these are Chinese apps
- Zoom — partially (sometimes slow, often works fine with corporate accounts)
- LinkedIn — works but throttled
- Microsoft services (Teams, Outlook, OneDrive) — generally work
Related Guides
- SinoGuide vs Nihao China vs Alipay — whether China’s new official apps are worth your install
- Chinese Internet Survival Guide — the step-by-step sequence: connectivity, phone number, payments
- WeChat for Foreigners
- Dianping for Foreigners — restaurant reviews, queue tickets, deals
- China Metro Apps for Foreigners — subway QR codes without extra apps
- VPN for China 2026
- First Week in China Checklist
- DiDi for Foreigners