Ethan
June 30, 2025
Planning a trip to China in 2025? Whether you’re visiting for business or leisure, knowing which apps to install can make a huge difference in navigating daily life. If you’re searching for things to know before going to China or wondering what to know before visiting China, this guide is for you. Here are the must-have English-friendly apps in China across key categories like transportation, travel, entertainment, and payment.
DIDI (滴滴出行) is the Uber of China. Whether you’re looking for ride-hailing, carpooling, or regular taxis, DIDI offers a wide range of vehicle types, from budget rides to premium services. It’s essential for getting around major cities and even some rural areas.
Baidu Map is the local alternative to Google Maps. It supports English and offers powerful 3D maps and multiple navigation options. It’s also useful for hotel bookings and locating nearby restaurants or public transport.
12306 is China’s official high-speed rail ticketing platform. While other apps may offer train ticket booking, 12306 is more reliable and accurate. However, the tickets might be harder to obtain last minute, so plan ahead!
Ctrip (Trip.com) is your go-to app for travel bookings in China. Think of it as the Chinese version of Booking.com, with support for English. It handles everything from flights, hotels, vacation packages, train tickets, car rentals, to attraction tickets.
If you’re compiling your list of what to know before visiting China, having Trip.com installed is one of the first steps to ensuring a smooth travel experience.
RedNote (小红书), also known as Xiaohongshu or RED, is like a mix of Instagram and Google in China. It’s a versatile app where users share lifestyle content, travel tips, product reviews, and even buy products directly. It functions as both a search engine and a shopping platform — ideal for discovering trendy spots and honest reviews from locals.
TIP: If you’re looking for real-time recommendations and local hacks, RedNote is more helpful than any traditional tourist guidebook.
Alipay (支付宝) is the most popular mobile payment app in China. Developed by Alibaba, it’s accepted almost everywhere from big malls to small street vendors. Before using it, link your passport to activate your account. Once set up, you can scan QR codes for instant payment — cash is becoming nearly obsolete in many cities.
If you’re coming from the PayPal world, Alipay will feel familiar but even more integrated into daily life.
WeChat (微信) is the Swiss army knife of apps in China. It combines messaging (like WhatsApp), social media (like Facebook), payments (like PayPal), and even mini-apps (like an app store). You can do almost anything within WeChat — order food, book appointments, pay bills, chat with friends, and more.
Even if you’re just visiting China, having WeChat installed and set up with your passport is highly recommended. It’s a cornerstone of digital life in China.
Dianping (大众点评) is the Chinese equivalent of TripAdvisor. Want to find highly rated restaurants, malls, or stores? Use Dianping. It often includes reviews, ratings, and photos, and you can even search store names within malls — perfect for city explorers.
Meituan (美团) is a top-tier food delivery app, working similarly to Uber Eats but with significantly cheaper delivery fees. Many WeChat mini-programs offer English interfaces, making ordering food easy even for non-Chinese speakers.
Ready to travel smarter? Download these apps and explore the real China — conveniently and confidently.
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