Essential APP Guide for Foreign Travelers in China: Payments, Bookings, and Transportation

Hi, I’m Sophie Park, a traveler from Korea. As a first-time visitor to China, I’ve been exploring this vast and intriguing country, immersing myself in its culture and beauty. During my trip, I discovered that life in China is highly digitized — from payments to booking transportation, everything revolves around mobile apps. So, I created this guide to help fellow foreign travelers like me navigate China’s essential apps for payments, communication, transportation, and bookings. I hope my personal experience will make your journey easier and more enjoyable.

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Essential APP Overview in China

Here are the key apps I used during my travels. They all support multiple languages and made my trip much smoother:

APP	Usage
WeChat	Payments, Messaging
Alipay	Payments, Transport
Apple Maps	Navigation
Amap	Navigation
Trip.com	Booking
Didi	Ride-hailing app
Dianping	Check restaurant reviews

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WeChat

WeChat is one of the most widely used apps for both payments and communication in China. As a first-time visitor, I was initially concerned about ordering food at restaurants, as many menus do not have English translations. However, by scanning the QR code on the table, I could easily browse the picture-based menu and select my meals without understanding the language. Once I got used to it, the process became quick and convenient, with no language barriers to worry about.

• How to use: Download WeChat, link your international credit card or prepaid card, and use the Wallet feature to make payments.
• Tip: I found WeChat accepted even at small shops and street vendors, making it very convenient.

Note: If you link a non–Mainland China bank card to WeChat Pay or Alipay, a 3% service fee applies to payments over 200 CNY. Payments below 200 CNY or exactly 200 CNY are not charged this fee. For example, if a merchant charges 400 CNY, the actual amount you pay will be 412 CNY, with the extra 12 CNY charged by WeChat Pay or Alipay as a service fee.

If the transaction is refunded, this service fee will also be refunded. If you pay directly by credit card through a POS terminal, this WeChat Pay / Alipay service fee does not apply. For larger payments, such as hotels, more expensive restaurants, or shopping, it is usually better to pay directly by credit card when possible.

How to Pay with WeChat – Method 1: Scan the merchant’s QR code to pay

How to Pay with WeChat – Method 2: Let the merchant scan your QR code

How to Order Food at a Restaurant with WeChat

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Alipay

Alipay is another payment app I highly recommend. Not only is it great for shopping, but it also allows you to hail taxis and pay for metro and bus rides. As a tourist, Alipay became an essential tool, especially for avoiding language barriers when ordering taxis. My first time using Alipay for a ride, the driver located me via the app’s navigation system, and the entire payment process was seamless.

• How to use: Download Alipay, link your international credit card, and use it for shopping, rides, and transportation.
• Tip: Alipay makes paying for taxis, metro rides, and tickets super easy without needing to download additional apps.

Note: If you link a non–Mainland China bank card to WeChat Pay or Alipay, a 3% service fee applies to payments over 200 CNY. Payments below 200 CNY or exactly 200 CNY are not charged this fee. For example, if a merchant charges 400 CNY, the actual amount you pay will be 412 CNY, with the extra 12 CNY charged by WeChat Pay or Alipay as a service fee.

If the transaction is refunded, this service fee will also be refunded. If you pay directly by credit card through a POS terminal, this WeChat Pay / Alipay service fee does not apply. For larger payments, such as hotels, more expensive restaurants, or shopping, it is usually better to pay directly by credit card when possible.

How to Pay with Alipay: Method 1 – Scan the merchant’s QR code to pay

How to Pay with Alipay: Method 2 – Let the merchant scan your QR code

How to Use Alipay to Take the Subway or Bus

Note: In every new city, you’ll need to activate the local transportation card within the app — it’s free!

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Apple Maps

Apple Maps was my go-to navigation tool while traveling in China, especially since it offers support in English and Korean. As someone unfamiliar with Chinese, Apple Maps gave me peace of mind, providing accurate directions even in smaller cities.

• How to use: Open Apple Maps, enter your destination, and get directions for public transport, walking, or driving.

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Amap

Amap is the navigation tool most locals use. It offers highly detailed directions for public transport and walking.

• How to use: Download Amap, enter your destination, and get detailed navigation advice.

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Booking Tool: Trip.com

Trip.com is one of the most popular platforms for booking travel in China, supporting multiple languages like Korean, English, and Chinese. As a traveler, I used Trip.com to book hotels, train tickets, and attraction tickets. The entire process was efficient, and the multi-language support made it easy to navigate without knowing Chinese. Below are the main types of bookings I recommend using this app for:

• Hotel Bookings
  Booking hotels through Trip.com is straightforward. Whether you’re looking for international chains or local boutique stays, this platform will help you find the right accommodation. The multi-language interface ensures ease of use when selecting rooms. Book your hotel in China now and enjoy a comfortable stay!
• Train Ticket Bookings
  Trip.com offers easy train ticket bookings for China’s high-speed rail network. You can check train schedules and purchase tickets directly through the app. Electronic tickets allow you to scan a QR code at the station, skipping long queues. Book your train tickets now and enjoy fast and efficient travel!
• Attraction Tickets
  Use Trip.com to pre-book tickets for China’s top attractions, like the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and more. This saves you the hassle of waiting in line at the ticket counter. Pre-book attraction tickets for fast entry without waiting in line!

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Find restaurants: Dianping

Dianping is the most widely used app in China for checking restaurant reviews. You can also search for nearby restaurants through Dianping — it’s super convenient!

How to Use Dianping to Check Restaurant Reviews

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Book a ride-hailing car: Didi

DiDi is the most widely used ride-hailing app in Mainland China. Another common option is Amap. Between the two, Amap can sometimes be slightly cheaper, but DiDi is still the better choice for most travelers. Ride-hailing in Mainland China is generally quite affordable, so convenience, reliability, and customer support are usually more important than saving a small amount on the fare.

DiDi is especially convenient at airports and train stations. In most major airports and railway stations, DiDi has designated pickup areas with clear signs, which makes it easier for first-time visitors to find where to meet their driver after arriving in China.

DiDi also offers better service support. Drivers on DiDi are registered directly with the DiDi platform, so if you leave something behind in the car, you can contact DiDi customer service and they can help reach the driver. By contrast, rides booked through Amap are often provided by drivers from other ride-hailing platforms, which can make customer support and lost-item recovery more complicated.

One recent downside to note: before June 2026, DiDi drivers usually did not ask passengers to confirm the last four digits of their phone number after getting in the car, while Amap often did. Since June 2026, DiDi has also started requiring this step. Before ordering a ride, make sure you know the last four digits of the phone number used for the booking.

How to Use Didi for Ride-Hailing

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FAQ