China Travel Tips: 8 Apps You NEED To Survive China!

China Travel Tips (8 Apps you need to survive China)

So, you’re planning a trip to China? These China Travel Tips will make your trip a breeze!

But don’t worry—I’ve done the research for you! After hours of scouring Reddit and top travel blogs before our trip, I downloaded just about every app under the sun.

To save you that time and effort, I’ve compiled a list of the 8 essential apps I actually used – these China travel tips will help you navigate China like a pro.

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China Mini Guide

How to travel China in bite-sized form to help you plan less and travel more!
Want to watch not read? Check out the China Vlogs here.

Best time to visit

• Peak Tourist Season (July to August)
• Best Time to Travel (Spring or Autumn)

Where to stay

• ($) Donghua Hotel
• ($$) Orange Hotel Wangfujing
• ($$$) Hilton Hotel Wangfujing

TOP ATTRACTIONS

• Great Wall of China
• Forbidden City Entry
• Red Theater Acrobatic Show

More on china

• Things To Do In Beijing
• Free Tiananmen Square Tickets
• Perfect Beijing Itinerary

*prices shown are accurate at the time of writing and, unless otherwise stated are in USD.

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How do I prepare for a trip to China? (China Travel Tips)

Certainly, travelling to China can be overwhelming the first time. However, if you make sure you are prepared before you leave for your trip by having travel apps downloaded your travel will be simplified!

Okay, to make things a bit easier, we are going to go through each app, why you need it, how to use it (if we ever figured it out), as well as rank it for ease of use.

But be prepared to be without or have limited access to Google/Google-related products & social media!

8. Google Translate:

Firstly I assume I don’t have to tell you too much about the purpose of this app.. right?!

Additionally, make sure you download any languages you think you will need PLUS your native language for offline use.

A translation app is necessary for China travel as the language barrier can be tricky, however, the locals were always patient and kind to us! 

Price: free!

Purpose: Translation

Download link: Google Translate Android | Google Translate iOS

Ease of use: Easy!

How to setup: 

1. Download the app and select your preferred languages.
2. Download offline packs for wanted languages

To use:

1. To begin with, Open the app and select your translation mode (text, speech, or camera).
2. Secondly, select the language you wish to translate to and from
3. You can use the camera function to scan and translate signs or menus.
4. Alternatively, speak into the app to translate conversations in real-time.
5. Or type to translate as you need!

7. Currency Converter:

Obviously, it is essential for understanding exchange rates and managing your budget.

Price: Free! 

Purpose: Currency conversion 

Download link: XE Currency Android | XE Currency iOS

Ease of use: Easy!

How to setup: 

1. Firstly, download the app and set your base currency.
2. Then allow location access for accurate conversion rates on the fly.

To use: 

1. Open app and select currencies to convert to/from
2. Then input the amount in CNY or your home currency.
3. View the conversion instantly.

6. VPN (Virtual Private Network):

Not only will a VPN protect you when connecting to public wifi networks but you can also unlock new content libraries from your streaming networks.

For travel in China, however, a VPN is needed to access certain websites and apps (like google or WhatsApp)!

Price: Varies (there is a wide range of free and paid options available; paid is recommended for reliability).

Purpose: Use a virtual private network to securely access restricted websites and apps.

Download link: ExpressVPN | NordVPN | SurfShark

Ease of use: Moderate (requires setup).

How to setup: 

1. Download and subscribe to a VPN service before arriving in China.
2. Then configure the app on your device and test the connection.

To use:

1. To begin with open the VPN app.
2. Select a server outside China (e.g., USA, Singapore).
3. Then connect and browse blocked sites as usual

More on the blog

What Section of the Great Wall of China Should You Visit? (Ultimate Guide)

5. Trip.com:

Since some apps in China are limited – trip.com has become the go-to app for booking trains, planes, accommodations & more!

Price: Free!

Purpose: Travel bookings in English. Buy train tickets, booking hotels and more!

Download link: Trip.com Android | Trip.com iOS

Ease of use: Easy!

How to setup: 

1. Firstly, download the app and register an account.
2. Then, save your travel preferences and payment details.

To use:

1. Search for trains, flights, or hotels.
2. Compare options and prices.
3. Book and save your tickets digitally.

4. SIM cards for China (eSIM for China)

There are plenty of options for eSIMs when travelling to China.

We opted for an eSIM rather than a physical one as it is cheaper and easier to set up.

When choosing an electronic SIM card we tend to search the following options and just go with the most cost-effective option!

Holafly is the one we opted for in the end due to its unlimited data options, as we went on to travel to South Korea & Japan we also did a regional plan to include all countries!

China esim discounts: 

Holafly (get 5% off here) | Saily (get $3 off here) | Nomad (get $7 off here) | Airlo (get $5 off here)

3. Metroman: 

If you are interested in taking public transport while travelling in China, this app is for you!

Price: Free!

Purpose: Navigate public transport

Download link: Metroman Android | Metroman iOS

Ease of use: Easy!

How to setup:

1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Then, select the city you are visiting.
3. Allow location access for real-time updates (optional).

Using the Metroman App:

1. Open the app
2. Confirm your metro stops via maps (destination and origin) 
3. Input metro stops to Metroman App
4. Follow instructions for the route, including time and transfer details.

2. WeChat

Think of this as China’s version of WhatsApp aka the best China app for chatting! 

Not only is this used for communication, but you can also download mini programs to book tickets for attractions – normally at a cheaper price than booking through agencies!

Price: Free to download however some mini-programs may cost

Purpose: Communication, social networking & booking attraction tickets through mini-programmes

Download link: WeChat Android | WeChat iOS

Ease of use: Can be confusing

How to setup: 

1. Download the app and sign up with your phone number.
2. Set your language preference to English.
3. Add friends or join groups by scanning QR codes.

Using WeChat:

1. Use the chat function for communication (text, voice, and video).
2. Scan QR codes for payments, sharing contacts, or accessing mini-programs.
3. Explore mini-programs for booking attractions, hotels, or transportation.

How to use mini-programmes:

1. Open WeChat Ensure you’re logged in to your account. 
2. Navigate to Mini Programs Tap the “Discover” tab in the bottom menu bar. 
3. Select “Mini Programs” from the menu.
   Note: If you don’t see this option: Go to Settings > General > Enable Mini Programs. 
4. Find a Mini Program – there are two main ways to find Mini Programs
   • Search: Tap the search bar at the top of the main WeChat screen. 
   • Type the name of the Mini Program (e.g., “train booking” or “attraction tickets”). 
     • For Tiananmen Square search 天安门广场预约参观
     • For The Summer Palace search 在线购票
   • QR Code: Scan a Mini Program QR code provided by a business or website. 
   • The Mini Program will open directly on WeChat. 
5. Use the Mini Program Once you open the Mini Program: 
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your task (e.g., book tickets, check schedules). 
7. Use your linked WeChat Pay for transactions, if needed.

1. AliPay:

The GOAT of apps, is an absolute necessity when visiting China. 

For example, you can easily pay for just about everything from DiDis and meals to tourist attractions.

Price: Free!

Purpose: Mobile payments and financial transactions.

Download link: AliPay Android | AliPay iOS

Ease of use: Easy

How to setup: 

1. Download the app and register with your phone number. 
2. Set your language to English. 
3. Link your bank card or credit card.
4. Complete verification by providing ID details if required.

How to use AliPay:

There are two ways to use AliPay, one is when YOU can and the other is when THEY scan.

YOU scan:

1. Open the AliPay App
2. Click on “scan”
3. Scan the provided barcode/QR code 
4. Input code if needed
5. Show confirmation to the vendor if needed

THEY scan:

1. First, open the AliPay App
2. Click on “pay”
3. Show your QR code to the vendor, they will use the POS system to scan
4. Input code if needed
5. Ensure payment has gone through and show vendor confirmation if required.

A note on Maps in China:

Arguably, one of the most important China Travel Tips!

Google Maps will not work effectively in China, however, we had minimal issues using Apple Maps!
There are other options such as Baidu maps!

China Travel Apps FAQ:

What apps are China blocking?

Without a VPN such as SurfShark some websites and apps will be blocked for your use when in China!

This includes but is not limited to: WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, ChatGPT

What is the grab equivalent in China?

DiDi for China! However, it’s easiest to use DiDi through the AliPay App.

What do I need before travelling China?

First and foremost, you will need to make sure of your visa requirements.

To simplify this process, we use the Sherpa Travel website to check these requirements and apply for anything as needed.

Final thoughts on China Travel Tips:

Travelling in China might seem daunting with its different tech environment, but these apps will make everything smoother—from navigating cities to paying for meals. 

I spent hours finding these apps, whether you are travelling to beautiful Beijing or stunning Shanghai I hope this guide saves you some time and effort. 

Did I miss any must-have apps or China Travel Tips? Let me know in the comments!

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