2025 Essential APP Guide for Foreign Travelers in China: Payments, Transport, Bookings & More

Dear Travelers,

Welcome to China—a country where ancient traditions meet cutting-edge digital innovation! As your trusted travel advisor, we know that navigating a new destination can be challenging, especially when it comes to mobile payments, transportation, and bookings.

To make your journey seamless, we’ve curated this ultimate app guide for traveling in China in 2025. From cashless payments with WeChat & Alipay, to booking trains and hotels on Trip.com, hailing rides with Didi, and discovering hidden gems on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), these apps will help you explore China with ease.

Let’s dive in and prepare for an unforgettable adventure!

1. Essential Apps Overview

Here are the must-have apps for your trip to China, all supporting multiple languages:

2. Payment Apps: WeChat Pay & Alipay

WeChat (微信)

• Why use it? The most widely used app in China—for payments, messaging, and even scanning menus at restaurants.
• How to set up? Link an international credit card to WeChat Pay for seamless transactions.
• Best for: Small shops, street vendors, and QR-code ordering at restaurants.

Alipay (支付宝)

• Why use it? Works for shopping, metro/bus rides, and even booking taxis.
• How to set up? Register with a foreign card and enable "Tour Pass" for easy payments.
• Best for: Transport, shopping malls, and tourist attractions.

3. Navigation Apps

Apple Maps (Best for Foreigners)

✅ Supports English 
✅ Accurate for walking & public transport
❌ Less detailed than local apps

Amap (高德地图) – Most Accurate

✅ Real-time traffic updates
✅ Best for metro/bus routes
✅ English (The English version launch globally in January 2025）

Baidu Map (百度地图) – Alternative to Amap

✅ Works well with voice search
✅ Includes street view
❌ Mostly in Chinese

4. Ride-Hailing: Didi (滴滴出行)

China’s #1 taxi app—like Uber but more reliable here.

How to Use Didi?

1. Download Didi (set language to English/Korean).
2. Link Alipay/WeChat Pay for payments.
3. Choose from taxis, private cars, or luxury rides.

✅ English support
✅ Cheaper than regular taxis (often)
✅ Safety features (license plate verification)

5. Booking & Travel: Trip.com, Qunar & Fliggy

*Trip.com (携程) – Best for Foreign Travelers

✔ Multi-language support (English/Korean)
✔ Book trains, hotels, flights, and attraction tickets
✔ E-tickets (scan QR codes for entry)
✔ 24/7 English customer service

Best for: International travelers who need English support and reliable bookings.

*Qunar (去哪儿) – Great for Budget Travelers

✔ Cheaper deals on flights & hotels (like China’s Skyscanner)
✔ Aggregates prices from multiple platforms
✔ User-friendly Chinese app (use translation tools if needed)

Best for: Travelers looking for discounted flights & hotels and comfortable navigating Chinese apps.

*Fliggy (飞猪) – Alibaba’s Travel Platform

✔ Linked to Alipay (easy payments)
✔ Official ticket sales for attractions (e.g., Disneyland, Great Wall)
✔ Local travel packages (tours, guided experiences)

Best for: Those who already use Alipay and want seamless travel bookings.

**Comparison Table

 Pro Tips:

• For English speakers: Use Trip.com for ease of use.

• For best prices: Compare Qunar & Fliggy (may require translation).

• Book high-speed trains early (all platforms support e-tickets).

6. Translation Apps for China Travel

*DeepSeek Chat (AI-powered Translation)

✔ Real-time Q&A translation with AI assistance
✔ Supports text, voice and image translation
✔ Online operation with up-to-date translations
Best for: Natural conversation translations and instant queries

*Google Translate (Requires VPN in China)

✔ Camera translation (scan menus/signs in real-time)
✔ Conversation mode (speech-to-speech translation)
✔ Phrasebook with saved translations
⚠ Note: Google services are blocked in China - you'll need a VPN to use this app

*Youdao Translate (网易有道词典)

✔ Accurate Chinese-English translations
✔ Camera & voice translation (no VPN needed)
✔ Bilingual example sentences
Bonus: Can translate entire webpages

7. Food & Attractions: Dianping (China’s Yelp)

China’s Yelp + OpenTable—find top-rated restaurants & attractions.

How to Use?

• Search nearby (use camera translation for Chinese reviews).

• Book tables & buy discounted tickets (like Disneyland).

8. Social & Discovery: Xiaohongshu (Red Notebook) & Douyin (Chinese Tiktok)

Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book)

• Travel guides from locals.

• Hidden gems & photo spots.

Douyin (TikTok China)

• Trending restaurants & attractions.

• Short videos for quick travel inspiration.

9. VPN Tips (Accessing Google/WhatsApp)

⚠ Most VPNs (ExpressVPN, NordVPN) are unreliable in China.
✔ Try Astrill or Shadowsocks (if tech-savvy).
✔ Ask locals for working VPN recommendations.

FAQ

1. Can I use cash in China?

• Most places prefer mobile payments, but carry some RMB for small vendors.

2. Do these apps work without a Chinese phone number?

• Yes, but some (Didi, Alipay) may require SMS verification.

3. How do I order food if I don’t speak Chinese?

• Download one translation APP  or WeChat’s scan-to-order.

Final Tip:

Download these apps before arriving in China (some are restricted abroad).

Happy travels, and enjoy your China adventure! 🌏✈️

— Your Trusted Filsino Travel Team .