China is a dream destination for many, but traveling there comes with a unique set of challenges. Because the country’s digital landscape is incredibly advanced and entirely separate from the Western apps we are used to, navigating the mainland is a huge learning curve. Having just navigated this entirely new tech world on my first-ever trip to Beijing and Shanghai, I put together this guide to help you download the essential apps you need before you land.

Paying for things and public transit

Your phone is going to be your best friend in China. Seriously, you’ll need it for everything: booking hotels, grabbing dinner, and getting tickets. Two main apps run the show: Alipay and WeChat. Good news—you can now link your international bank cards to both! Please note that both of these apps require ID verification before you can use them to pay for things. It’s thus highly recommended to download and get verified on both before you leave your home country. Most travelers find Alipay a bit easier to use than WeChat. So my strategy is to keep Alipay as your primary payment method and WeChat Pay as a backup. One crucial thing to keep in mind about Alipay and WeChat Pay is that any transaction above RMB 200 (approx. USD 30) will incur a 3% fee. To avoid the fee, you can ask the merchant to split your bill (if greater than RMB 200). Most merchants will be happy to do it.

💡Pro Tip: Most banks chanrge a foreign transaction fee (around 3%) on transactions made in the foreign currency. The best way to avoid this fee is to use no-foreign transaction fee credit/debit cards.

Paying for public transit directly through these apps is incredibly convenient, which is a lifesaver if you prefer taking the subway or bus whenever possible. On the app’s home screen, simply select your city in the top left corner (though it usually auto-detects your location). When you approach the turnstiles in Beijing or Shanghai, just open Alipay, tap ‘Transit’, and scan your QR code. It really is that easy! As a bonus, Alipay frequently offers discount coupons for transit passes, so keep an eye out to save a few extra dollars.

Getting Around

After getting your wallet set up, figuring out how to get around is the next big step. Google Maps isn’t going to cut it here; it’s just not updated enough to help you reliably navigate the transit networks in places like Shanghai and Beijing. But don’t stress! If you are on Android, Amap and Baidu Maps are your best bets. I highly recommend Amap because it recognizes Pinyin and has a semi-English interface, whereas Baidu is fully in Mandarin. There’s also Petal Maps, but since it’s not officially on the Google Play Store, I’d skip the hassle. And if you’re an iPhone user? You’ve got it easy—Apple Maps runs flawlessly in China!

Even if you’re heavily relying on the transit networks to get around, sometimes you just need the convenience of grabbing a car. When you do, I highly recommend using the DiDi mini-app right inside Alipay. The beauty of this is that it links straight to your established Alipay profile, so you don’t have to create a new account or worry about whether a standalone app will accept your international cards. It’s a completely seamless way to get a ride without any extra setup!

If you are taking a high-speed train for your intercity travel, you can use the official China Railway app called Railway12306. An important thing to note here is that the app requires an ID verification before you can purchase tickets. This takes about 3-5 business days, so make sure you set this up before your journey. The official train tickets go on sale 15 days in advance. Alternatively, travel websites like trip.com offer train ticket booking services for a nominal fee. The advantage here is that you can ‘pre-book’ a ticket around 2 months in advance. This app also has a mini-program in Alipay.

Staying Connected

China’s “Great Firewall” famously blocks the everyday Western apps we rely on—meaning no Google, WhatsApp, or Instagram. While you can certainly try using a standard VPN, they are notoriously hit-or-miss on the mainland and frequently get blocked themselves. To avoid the frustration of constantly switching servers just to look up directions or translate a menu at a local restaurant in Beijing or Shanghai, your absolute best bet is a roaming data eSIM. Because providers like Airalo, Holafly, or Nomad route your cellular data through external servers, they completely bypass the firewall, giving you a worry-free, unfiltered connection from the moment you land.

While an eSIM will keep your phone connected on the go, you’ll need a different strategy when you’re settling into your hotel room in Beijing or Shanghai and want to use your laptop or tablet on the local Wi-Fi. For these larger devices, you’ll need a solid VPN like Surfshark or LetsVPN. Because the Great Firewall actively hunts down and blocks major VPNs, the landscape changes constantly. I highly recommend checking recent threads on Reddit right before your trip to see which services are currently working best on the mainland. To be completely safe, download and set up at least two or three different VPN options before you fly out.

Overcoming the language barrier

Arguably, the most daunting hurdle on a trip to China is the language barrier, especially if you plan to skip the fancy, English-friendly spots in favor of authentic, local restaurants. With menus almost exclusively in Mandarin and Google Translate blocked, trying to order that perfect dish can suddenly leave you feeling completely lost. A reliable local translation app is an absolute necessity, and this is where Microsoft Translate truly shines. It is packed with features that make communication a breeze:

Snap-and-Translate (Camera Mode): This might be the most practical feature for day-to-day life. Just point your phone’s camera at any written Chinese text—maybe a dish on a menu, a sign at a cool historical spot, or a label in a shop—and the app throws the translation directly onto the image in real-time. This quick, seamless function seriously simplifies tasks that would otherwise be a constant guessing game or require asking for help.

Face-to-Face Translation (Visual Conversation): This is super handy when you’re actually talking to someone. The text you’re translating pops up right on your screen in their language. It feels much more natural and direct, letting the person you’re chatting with read your words instantly and respond easily.

Navigating China’s unique digital landscape might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but having these essential apps downloaded and set up before you fly makes all the difference. I hope this guide helps you feel just as confident and prepared for your own adventure!