The Only 6 Apps You Need in China

Install these before arrival

China travel runs through apps. Install and test the core stack before your flight, while you can still receive SMS, access your normal app store, and recover accounts easily.

Core stack

1. Alipay - payments, mini programs, transport QR, translations in some flows.
2. WeChat - messaging, payments, hotel/guide contact, mini programs.
3. Railway 12306 - official train booking and train status.
4. Trip.com - hotels, trains, flights, backup support in English.
5. Amap or Baidu Maps - local navigation, transit, ride context.
6. Translation app - camera translation, offline packs, phrase recovery.

Nice to have

• Airline app for domestic flights.
• DiDi standalone app if you do not want to use mini programs.
• Apple Maps if you use iPhone and foreign roaming.
• Your bank app with push approval enabled.
• Cloud storage or notes app with offline passport/hotel copies.

Setup checklist

• Confirm you can log in after a phone restart.
• Add payment cards to both wallet apps.
• Save passport name exactly as used in bookings.
• Download offline maps or saved areas where possible.
• Save hotel addresses in Chinese.
• Test mobile data after landing before leaving the airport.

App failure modes

• SMS codes do not arrive while roaming.
• Foreign card verification fails.
• App language switches back to Chinese.
• Mini programs require a Chinese phone number.
• You lose access because your phone number changed.

Practical rule

Do not let one app become your only plan. Alipay plus WeChat, eSIM plus hotel Wi-Fi, 12306 plus Trip.com, and digital address plus screenshot gives you redundancy without overcomplicating the trip.