Essential Apps
Apps you should download before arriving in China.
12306 — China Railway Booking Platform
How foreigners book China high-speed train tickets on 12306: passport registration, the English app, seat classes, e-ticket station entry, and refund rules. Updated May 2026.
Verified May 4, 2026
Alipay
Set up Alipay as a foreigner: bind a Visa/Mastercard with no Chinese bank account, passport verification, Tour Pass vs direct binding, fees, and fixing payment failures. Updated May 2026.
Verified May 4, 2026
Amap
Amap (Gaode) is China's top navigation app and works where Google Maps does not — how to switch it to English, offline maps, transit routing, and built-in ride-hailing. Updated May 2026.
Verified May 6, 2026
DiDi
DiDi is China's ride-hailing app like Uber: sign up with a foreign number, pay via Alipay/WeChat, enter destinations without Chinese, and run it inside Alipay with no separate app. Updated May 2026.
Verified May 4, 2026
Taobao Flash Purchase (淘宝闪购, formerly Ele.me / 饿了么)
Taobao Flash Purchase (formerly Ele.me) is a major China food-delivery app — the ordering flow for foreigners, in-app translation, Alipay payment, and address tips. Updated June 2026.
Verified Jun 1, 2026
Meituan
Meituan is China's super-app for food delivery, hotels, and bike rental, often 20-30% cheaper than international OTAs — how foreigners register, pay, and order. Updated May 2026.
Verified May 6, 2026
WeChat / WeChat Pay
WeChat is essential in China for messaging, payments, and mini-programs — how foreigners set up WeChat Pay, bind a foreign card, and the 2026 PayPal integration for US users. Updated May 2026.
Verified May 4, 2026