The Essential Apps for Getting Around China

For a trip to mainland China, start with three tools: Amap (Gaode) for navigation, Baidu Translate or Microsoft Translator for language help, and DiDi for ride-hailing. Alipay or WeChat can provide another way to open DiDi, while offline translation downloads offer a useful backup when connectivity is limited.171233

The short list

Need	App to start with	Useful backup or note
Navigation	Amap (Gaode)	Baidu Maps is another local option, though its English support may be limited.1718
Translation	Baidu Translate or Microsoft Translator	Download the language packs you need and test them before leaving.12
Rides	DiDi	Available as a standalone app and through mini-programs in Alipay or WeChat.3348

Navigation: start with Amap

Amap Global offers an English interface, and Amap supports routes for driving, walking, cycling, buses and taxis.1732 Baidu Maps is another option, but travel guides report limited English support.18

Avoid relying on Google Maps as your only navigation tool: its access and local map information may be unreliable in mainland China.17 If you prefer another app, check its current China coverage and language options before your trip.

Translation: keep a local-friendly option ready

Baidu Translate and Microsoft Translator are both reported as options that work on local networks without a VPN.1 Microsoft Translator is also listed as supporting offline Chinese-English translation, while other guides recommend downloading translation packs before travel.211 Download the languages you need while you have dependable internet, then test the app in airplane mode so you know what works offline.

WeChat’s built-in translation can help with messages: hold a message and choose Translate.116 It is a handy supplement, not a replacement for a dedicated translator when you need to interpret signs or have a spoken conversation.

Guides disagree about how reliably Google Translate works in China. Some describe its online features as unavailable or VPN-dependent, while offline downloads are presented as a possible fallback.167 Treat it as a backup rather than your only translation plan, and confirm which features are available on your device before departure.

Rides: use DiDi, with a wallet option

You can book through the standalone DiDi app or use a DiDi mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat.33 A Shanghai government guide also describes using DiDi through WeChat or Alipay, with the fare deducted from Alipay when booked there.48

DiDi’s Google Play listing advertises an English interface, global mobile-number login and international bank-card payment.39 Since account and payment setup can depend on your circumstances, test the app or mini-program before you need a ride. If you use DiDi through Alipay, make sure you can access Alipay and its payment method first.

Set up before you leave

1. Install Amap and your preferred translation app while you have access to your usual app store and a reliable connection.
2. Download the translation packs you need, then test them offline.211
3. Set up DiDi—or the mini-program route you plan to use—and confirm that your login and payment method work.3339
4. Keep more than one way to navigate or translate. The available features can vary by app, device and connection, and the sources differ on Google Translate’s online availability in China.1617

The practical takeaway is simple: prepare a local map, a translator that you have tested, and a working way to book rides. That combination is more dependable than assuming familiar apps will behave as they do at home.