The apps worth installing first
You do not need a phone full of Chinese apps for a short trip. Alipay, WeChat, AMap Global and Railway 12306 cover payments, messages, navigation and train tickets. Add Meituan if you want food delivery, pharmacy delivery or local deals. Baidu Maps is a useful backup. Keep Google Maps if you already use it, but do not rely on it as your only map in mainland China.
Download everything and complete the first login before departure. Sorting out app-store regions, SMS codes and passport checks after landing is much harder without a steady connection.
| App | Main use | What foreign visitors need to know | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay | QR payments, metro and bus codes, ride-hailing and Mini Apps | Accepts overseas numbers and eligible international cards, subject to the issuing bank's checks | Install, or choose it as your main payment app |
| Messaging, WeChat Pay, Official Accounts and Mini Programs | Accepts overseas numbers; individual payment and Mini Program services may have extra identity rules | Recommended | |
| AMap Global | Walking, driving, metro, bus and place search | The overseas version supports English and other languages; some extra services require an account | First-choice map |
| Railway 12306 | Official China Railway search, booking, changes and refunds | Foreign passports are accepted after real-name verification | Install for train travel, or use the English website |
| Meituan | Food, medicine and grocery delivery, restaurant and entertainment deals | Overseas-number registration exists, but SMS or security checks can still fail | Install when needed |
| Baidu Maps | A second source for local places, public transport and routes | The store lists English support, but plenty of place names and local services remain in Chinese | Backup map |
Registration without a Chinese ID
Foreign visitors can use these apps, but registration does not unlock every feature.
WeChat and Alipay accept overseas phone numbers. Railway 12306 accepts a valid foreign passport and lets verified passengers buy tickets. Meituan's terms mention overseas-number registration, although security checks, discounts and account privileges may be restricted. Basic browsing in AMap and Baidu Maps does not require a Chinese ID. Ride-hailing, membership and other add-ons may ask for a phone number or further verification.
Railway 12306 causes the most confusion. A foreign traveller does not need a Chinese ID card, but must complete real-name verification with a passport. Automatic verification may fail if the English name, passport number or expiry date is entered incorrectly. The next step is usually an upload of the passport information page for manual review. A station ticket counter can also verify the passport.
WeChat for messages, Mini Programs and backup payment
WeChat is primarily a communications app. Hotels, drivers, guides and restaurants may send a pin, an order screenshot or meeting details through it. Attraction reservations, restaurant queues and ride services also appear inside Official Accounts and Mini Programs.
Eligible international cards can be linked to WeChat Pay. That does not mean personal transfers, red packets or every Mini Program will work. The separate WeChat Guide covers registration, card linking and Mini Programs in detail:
Register, add a travelling companion or trusted contact, then test a payment before the trip. The entrance to a busy attraction is a poor place to discover that an account needs another check.
Alipay for everyday payments and city transport
For a short visit, Alipay works like a travel utility belt. It handles QR payments and can also open transport codes in supported cities, call a car, buy railway tickets and access hotel or attraction Mini Apps. Its English interface and built-in translation are easier to navigate than many local lifestyle apps.
Visitors can register with an overseas number and link eligible international cards. Approval still depends on the card network, issuing bank, transaction and current security controls. Carry a second card, a little cash or WeChat Pay as a fallback.
Meituan for delivery and local deals
Meituan combines restaurant delivery, groceries, pharmacy delivery, table bookings, cinema tickets and leisure deals. It is powerful and very local. Menus, discount rules and calls from delivery riders are usually in Chinese.
Official downloads
| Platform | Official link | Check before installing |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | Meituan on the Apple App Store | App ID 423084029; availability varies by store region |
| Android | Meituan on Google Play | Package name com.sankuai.meituan |
| Web | Meituan website | Useful as an official entry point; delivery ordering is mainly app-based |
If Meituan is unavailable in your app-store region, check again after arrival or use services inside WeChat and Alipay. Do not download an APK from an unknown mirror.
Registration and delivery details
A Meituan account needs a number that can receive SMS. The service terms mention overseas-number registration but warn that some security checks and account privileges may not be available. Country code, app version and fraud controls can all affect login. Treat Meituan as useful when it works, not a guaranteed part of the trip.
Delivery requires a contact name, reachable number, Chinese address and a payment method accepted at checkout. Ask the hotel where deliveries are allowed. Many properties use the lobby, a delivery cabinet or a marked table rather than room delivery. Copy the hotel's Chinese name and address into the order and add a note asking the rider to leave it at reception.
Food, medicine and vouchers
Check the city and delivery address before ordering, followed by the delivery fee, minimum spend, estimate and cutlery option. Use whatever payment methods the checkout page actually offers. Watch app messages and incoming calls after placing the order because a rider may need help finding the hotel entrance.
Screen translation helps with a Chinese-only menu. For allergies, halal food, vegetarian requirements or a serious intolerance, ask the hotel or restaurant to confirm. Machine translation is not enough for a medical risk.
Searching for 买药 opens nearby pharmacies and over-the-counter products. Match the generic ingredient, not just the box. Prescription medicine and online consultations may require medical records or identity checks, and a particular service may not accept a foreign passport. For breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness or another emergency, call 120 with help from the hotel instead of waiting for a delivery.
Local vouchers can be cheaper than paying at the venue. Read the eligible branch, dates, reservation rule, public-holiday exclusions and refund terms. After payment, open the order and confirm that the voucher is ready to use.
Railway 12306 with a foreign passport
Railway 12306 is China Railway's official ticketing platform. It handles train searches, ticket purchases, changes and refunds without a third-party booking fee. Foreign visitors can use its English website or app with a passport.
Official app and website
| Platform | Official link | Check before installing |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | Railway 12306 on the Apple App Store | App ID 564818797; developer is China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited |
| Android | Railway 12306 on Google Play | Package name com.chinarailway.globalticketing |
| Web | China Railway 12306 in English | The official English site works without installing the app |
Several third-party apps include 12306 in their names. Check the developer and package name before uploading a passport.
Passport verification and booking
- Choose English in the app or open the English website.
- Register with a valid foreign passport. Copy the name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and expiry date from the information page.
- Submit the identity check. If automatic verification fails, follow the prompt to upload the passport information page for manual review.
- If the online route still fails, take the original passport to a railway station ticket counter.
Do not shorten the name, swap its order casually or add a nickname. Update the account after receiving a replacement passport.
Search by the full station name when booking. Beijing, Beijing West, Beijing South, Beijing North and Beijing Chaoyang are separate stations. Select a train and seat class, add the verified passenger, then recheck the passport number, stations, date and departure time. Pay with one of the bank card or mobile-payment options shown at checkout. Bring the original passport used for booking. If the automatic gate cannot read it, use the staffed lane.
AMap first, Baidu Maps as backup
Large stations, shopping centres and metro interchanges can have many exits. A map may say you have arrived while the actual entrance is on the far side of an elevated road. Save the hotel's complete Chinese name and address before leaving, and search with Chinese place names when possible.
AMap Global
The overseas-store version of AMap is called AMap Global. It offers English and other language options, traffic, public transport and route planning. It is the most practical primary map for a visitor who does not read Chinese.
| Platform | Official link | Check before installing |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | AMap Global on the Apple App Store | App ID 461703208; developer is AutoNavi Information Technology Co. Ltd. |
| Android | AMap Global on Google Play | Package name com.autonavi.minimap |
Allow location access while using the app. Search for the hotel and the next railway station, then test walking and public-transport directions. Basic maps work before registration; create an account only if a feature such as saved-place syncing or ride-hailing requires one. If an English search fails, paste the Chinese name from a hotel reservation or attraction page.
Baidu Maps
Baidu Maps is handy for checking a Chinese address, bus arrival or small place that AMap cannot find. Its store listing includes English, but labels, business names and third-party services can still appear in Chinese.
| Platform | Official link | Check before installing |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | Baidu Maps on the Apple App Store | App ID 452186370 |
| Android | Baidu Maps on Google Play | Package name com.baidu.BaiduMap |
Google Maps is supplementary
Google Maps Platform lists map tiles, geocoding, driving and walking directions for China. The same coverage page says that platform API coverage does not describe availability in the consumer Google Maps app. Traffic quality is marked as approximate, cycling directions are unavailable, and public transport is not listed in that coverage table.
The network route matters too. Google services may not connect reliably over a mainland Chinese SIM or local Wi-Fi. International roaming or some travel eSIMs may route traffic offshore and allow the app to load. Even then, local business names, entrances, public-transport changes and live road information may be less current than AMap or Baidu Maps.
Keep Google Maps for existing saved places and a broad sense of direction. Check the actual walk, metro transfer or shopping-centre entrance in AMap.
| Platform | Official link |
|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | Google Maps on the Apple App Store |
| Android | Google Maps on Google Play |
Safer setup
- Download only from an official app store or the app's own website.
- Android users should install from Google Play before departure. Do not assume Google Play will be easy to reopen on a mainland connection.
- Check the developer, App ID or Android package name, especially for Railway 12306.
- Never send an SMS code, payment password or passport image to a supposed support agent in a chat group.
- Grant the minimum permissions needed. Location can usually be limited to while the app is in use.
- Save offline screenshots of the hotel's Chinese address, station names and emergency contacts. Carry a little cash or a physical bank card as well.
Official references
- Chinese government: A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates 2025
- China Railway 12306 registration
- China Railway 12306 FAQs
- Meituan user service agreement
- Meituan Waimai privacy policy
- Google Maps Platform coverage
Interfaces, supported languages, overseas country codes, payment methods and identity checks change. Check the current app screen and official terms before relying on a service.
