Apps for China Travel: How to Use Free Applications in China
Before traveling to China, there are two things you need to do first. First, check whether you need to apply for a visa. Second, install some commonly used apps on your phone. This is because in China, you can handle many things with just a few taps on your phone, like making payments, ordering food, and buying medicine.
If you can use these apps well, your trip will be much more convenient. You can download them from your phone's official app store or directly click the links in the article to download.
1. VPN - Getting a Virtual Network
Unfortunately, due to firewall restrictions, apps you commonly use like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Google can't be used normally in China. But don't worry, by using a VPN to get a virtual address, you'll be able to use these apps on your phone.
2. WeChat - Chatting and Payment
WeChat is somewhat similar to WhatsApp, mainly used for chatting. Besides that, it has a super powerful function - payment, which is one of China's new "Four Great Inventions": mobile payment. You need to use WeChat's "Scan" feature to point your phone at the payment QR code, enter the amount, and the payment is complete.
3. Alipay - Payment and Transfer
Alipay is a software specifically designed for making payments, and there's not much difference in its payment functions compared to WeChat. You can use Alipay wherever WeChat Pay is accepted.
Alipay also offers transit codes for cities across the country, mainly used for taking buses and subways. After activating the transit code, you don't need to carry a lot of loose change in your wallet for transportation expenses.
Related Reading: How to Use WeChat and Alipay
4. DiDi - Hailing a Taxi
Didi is similar to Uber or Grab abroad, which can take you from your current location to your destination. When using it, you just need to allow Didi to access your location information in your phone settings and then manually enter the place you want to go.
If you're concerned about privacy, you can also manually input your current location. However, note that most Didi drivers may not speak English, so make sure the location information you enter is accurate.
Didi offers various vehicle types for you to choose from and shows the estimated fare for your trip before you book. Usually, this fare is much cheaper than that of taxis charging by the meter.
Moreover, when using Didi, you don't have to pay the driver on the spot. You can simply complete the payment through the Didi platform after getting out of the car. The whole process is transparent and cost-effective, so you don't have to worry about encountering unlicensed cabs or being overcharged.
5. Baidu Translate - Translation
Although English has become a widely used language across the globe, there are still some Chinese people who struggle with speaking it, such as waiters, drivers, and street vendors. Moreover, menus in Chinese restaurants often have little English on them.
It's okay if the menu has both pictures and words, but it can be tough if it's all in text for those who don't know English. That's when Baidu Translate comes in handy.
Baidu Translate supports translation between 200 languages. It offers not only text translation but also photo translation, making it easy to solve communication problems.
6. Baidu Map - Navigation
When arriving in an unfamiliar country, it's totally normal not to know the local roads well. In this case, Baidu Maps acts like your personal navigator. It can plan the shortest and most feasible route for you, helping you reach your destination smoothly.
Moreover, Baidu Maps can also provide real-time public transportation information. After you enter your starting point and destination and select the public transportation option, you can see all the bus and subway routes heading there. It even kindly shows the estimated arrival times.
7. 12306 - Buying a Train Ticket
On the 12306 platform, train tickets are generally put on sale 15 days in advance. You can check the train information between two cities on it, and you can even choose seats for free when buying high-speed rail tickets.
The high-speed rail is one of China's new Four Great Inventions, and our country's railway system is extremely well-developed, with the fastest high-speed trains reaching speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour.
If the two places are not far apart, taking the high-speed rail is the most convenient option. Firstly, it saves time. You only need to arrive at the railway station 1 hour ahead of departure to wait, which is much shorter than the waiting time at the airport.
Secondly, it's punctual. The departure and arrival times of high-speed trains are very accurate and are hardly affected by extreme weather conditions.
You can also buy train tickets on our website: China Train Booking
8. Dazhong Dianping - Seeking Dishes
Dianping is an all-in-one app covering food, entertainment, and leisure activities. When traveling, it acts like a thoughtful local guide, helping you quickly find highly-rated restaurants, local snacks, and popular attractions near your destination.
You can also check real user reviews and photos to understand actual experiences and avoid disappointments. If you want to explore local culture, you can use it to book popular exhibitions, performances, or special events, and even snag discounted group deals.
9. Meituan - Order Food Delivery
Meituan is like a handy food assistant. When you're in an unfamiliar city, don't know your way around, and don't want to wander around looking for restaurants, or when you're too tired to dine out, just open Meituan.
You can easily browse a huge selection of nearby restaurants, with various cuisines and price ranges to choose from. You can also read real reviews from other diners to help you avoid bad choices and pick great places.
After placing an order, you'll get an estimated delivery time and can track the rider's location. When the food arrives, the rider will call you, so you'll need a Chinese phone card. Additionally, many riders don't speak English, so you can leave a note saying "放在前台" (Leave at the front desk in English) when placing your order.
10. Xiaohongshu - Look Up Travel Guides
The content on Xiaohongshu combines pictures and text, making it visual and straightforward. If you're looking for travel guides, especially for those trendy internet-famous spots in China, you can find plenty of relevant information there.
Many bloggers share their travel experiences and feelings, so after reading, you can not only learn about the destination but also avoid common travel pitfalls.
If you search for "Peking duck" on Xiaohongshu, it won't directly show you the locations of restaurants serving it like Google does. Instead, it gives you real experiences from bloggers who've tried it, helping you quickly find delicious local food.
You can also find a travel guide for popular cities in China on Best Travel Guide in China.
Tips for Using Apps in China
1. Prepare a Chinese phone card. Some apps require you to register an account to use all their functions, and only Chinese mobile phone numbers can be used for registration. If you like ordering takeout, you'll need a Chinese phone card even more to answer calls from delivery riders.
2. Check if the app can switch languages. After downloading the app, find "设置" and then "语言" in the app one by one. If you don't see these options, it means the language can't be switched.
3. Don't conduct any payment operations or log in to important accounts after connecting to a public network.
4. Be cautious when granting sensitive permissions like location and contacts to apps to avoid leaking personal privacy.
5. Some places require you to download an app to enjoy corresponding services. You can refuse or look for alternative solutions.
6. Don't scan QR codes from unknown sources casually.
Booking Popular China Tours With Us
China Travel is a travel agency specializing in private customized tours. Our travel consultants will tailor a Chinese trip for you based on your interests and hobbies. You can also share your ideas with us, and we'll design the itinerary incorporating them.
In addition, we'll arrange local guides for you who will enthusiastically help you solve various problems, demonstrate the powerful functions of Chinese apps on the spot, and teach you how to use them.