Essential Apps for Travelling in China 2026 (Download Before You Go)
Seven apps are non-negotiable for any China trip, and all of them must be downloaded and set up before you arrive — some are unavailable or harder to access once inside China. The essential seven: a VPN (for all blocked sites), WeChat (for payments and messaging), Amap/高德 (for offline navigation), Google Translate with offline Chinese pack, Didi (for taxis), Trip.com (for trains and flights), and Alipay (backup payment). Everything else is optional.
Table of Contents
What apps do I need before going to China?
The Non-Negotiable 7 — download and set up before departure:
| App | Purpose | Critical setup before China |
|---|---|---|
| VPN (ExpressVPN/Astrill/NordVPN) | Access blocked sites | Subscribe + test it works |
| Payments + messaging | Create account + link bank card | |
| Amap (高德地图) | Navigation | Download offline maps for your cities |
| Google Translate | Translation | Download Chinese (Simplified) offline pack |
| Didi (滴滴) | Taxis / ride-hailing | Create account + link payment method |
| Trip.com | Train + flight booking | Create account + save payment method |
| Alipay | Backup payments | Create account + link bank card |
The Useful Extras — helpful but not essential:
| App | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Pleco | Better Chinese dictionary than Google Translate for menus/signs |
| Maps.me | Offline backup maps (when Amap is confusing) |
| XE Currency | Real-time exchange rate calculator |
| Airalo | eSIM app — buy China data eSIM before departure |
| 12306 | Official train booking (if you have Chinese-speaking help) |
| Mafengwo (马蜂窝) | Chinese travel reviews (useful if you read Chinese) |
Why do I need to download everything before arriving in China?
Three reasons:
1. VPN provider websites are blocked in China You cannot sign up for a VPN once you’re in mainland China. VPN providers’ websites are blocked, meaning you cannot create an account, log in for the first time, or access the provider’s customer support. If you don’t have a VPN set up before landing, you’re stuck without one.
2. Setup processes require services that may be blocked WeChat’s account verification sometimes requests confirmation via Google or Facebook. Didi’s signup may use Google Maps for verification. The Alipay overseas wallet setup may need access to services that are blocked. All of these work smoothly from outside China.
3. Offline map data must be downloaded on fast WiFi Downloading offline map data for a city (which can be 100–500MB per city) on a foreign SIM or hotel WiFi in China is slow and expensive. Do it at home on your regular internet connection.
How do I set up Google Translate for offline use in China?
Google Translate is your most powerful tool for navigating menus, signs, maps and conversations in China. The camera mode (point your camera at text and it translates in real time) and voice translation (speak English, it speaks Mandarin) are both life-changing for menu ordering and asking directions.
Setting up offline mode:
- Open Google Translate → Tap the language selector → Select Chinese (Simplified)
- Tap the download icon next to Chinese (Simplified)
- The offline language pack downloads (approximately 100MB)
- Test it works: turn off WiFi and type something in English — it should translate without internet
Important: Google Translate does work in China with a VPN active. But the offline mode means it works even when your VPN is slow or temporarily disconnected — which is important for real-time situations like ordering food.
Pleco as a supplement: For reading complex Chinese text (detailed menus, medical information, historical signs), Pleco’s offline Chinese dictionary is more powerful than Google Translate. It handles classical Chinese characters and obscure terms that Google Translate struggles with.
What apps do I need to download before going to China?
The essential seven: a VPN (ExpressVPN/Astrill/NordVPN), WeChat (payments + messaging), Amap/高德 (offline navigation), Google Translate (with Chinese offline pack), Didi (taxis), Trip.com (train/flight booking), and Alipay (backup payments). All must be downloaded and set up before you land.
Does Google Maps work in China?
Poorly. Google Maps is unreliable in China even with a VPN — the mapping data for mainland China is limited and navigation doesn’t work well. Use Amap (高德地图) instead, which has excellent offline maps for all Chinese cities. Download offline map data before you travel.
Can I use WhatsApp in China?
WhatsApp is blocked without a VPN. With a working VPN, it functions normally. For backup communication, WeChat works without a VPN and is universally used in China — most hotels, tour operators and local contacts will communicate via WeChat.
Do I need Alipay if I already have WeChat Pay?
Not strictly necessary, but recommended as backup. Occasionally a vendor will only accept one or the other. Having both set up costs nothing extra and provides a useful safety net. Setup is similar to WeChat Pay — link the same foreign card.
→ VPN in China: which ones work