Tool 10
Which app do I use in China?
China runs on its own apps — but the ones a visitor actually needs are in English and take a foreign card. Pick what you want to do and see the app that does it, with the four things that decide whether you can use it. And your home apps? They keep working too — on a travel eSIM, with no VPN.
How do I pay for things in China?
China runs on QR-code payments, and both big apps now take overseas cards — set them up before you fly. Carry a little cash for the rare place that won't scan.
Alipay
支付宝Start hereChina's biggest payment app. Link an overseas Visa, Mastercard or Amex, then pay by QR code almost anywhere — shops, taxis, transport, tickets.
Easiest foreign-card setup of the two; start here.
- English UI
- No China SIM needed
- Overseas card works
- Works in China
Messaging, payments and mini-programs in one. It's how you'll chat with locals and a second way to pay — link the same overseas card you use for Alipay.
Set up both — some small vendors show only one QR code, and a backup saves a declined card.
- English UI
- No China SIM needed
- Overseas card works
- Works in China
Step-by-step: which cards link, the fee rules, and a backup plan. Open the payment setup guide →
Will my own apps still work?
Mostly, yes — if you're on a travel eSIM. Because an eSIM's data routes out through an overseas network, your usual apps — WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail, Google Maps— load the way they do at home, with no VPN. So the picture isn't “my apps are blocked”; it's “my apps work, andI've got the local ones for the things they do better.”
The exception worth planning around is local WiFi (hotels, cafés), which routes through China's network — there your overseas apps may not load. Staying on your eSIM's data is the simplest way to keep everything working.
Pick a travel eSIM → — compare price, data and validity for your trip in 30 seconds.
Every app at a glance
The same facts as the cards above, in one table — English interface, whether you need a Chinese SIM or bank card, and how each works on the ground. Checked June 2026.
| App | English | China SIM | Overseas card | On the ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay支付宝 | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| WeChat微信 | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| Amap高德地图 | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| Apple Maps | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| Google Maps | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works on an eSIM, no VPN |
| DiDi滴滴出行 | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| Trip.com | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| China Railway 12306铁路12306 | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works in China |
| Pleco | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works offline |
| Google Translate | English UI | No China SIM needed | Overseas card works | Works on an eSIM, no VPN |
| Meituan / Eleme美团 / 饿了么 | Chinese only | China number helps | Overseas card works | Works in China |
Frequently asked questions
What apps do I need before I travel to China?
Set up Alipay and WeChat before you fly (paying for everything), plus Amap or — on an iPhone — Apple Maps (navigation), DiDi (taxis), Trip.com (trains, flights and hotels) and Pleco with Google Translate (reading and speaking). Download and register them at home: it's far easier with your usual app store and a calm afternoon than on the move after you land.
Do Google Maps, WhatsApp and Instagram work in China?
On a travel eSIM your usual apps — WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail, Google Maps — load the way they do at home, with no VPN, because the data routes out through the eSIM's overseas network. The catch with Google Maps specifically is its China map data, which is dated and patchy, so locals navigate with Amap (or Apple Maps on an iPhone, which uses the same data in English).
Can I use Chinese apps with a foreign phone number and card?
Yes, for the ones that matter to a visitor. Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, Amap and Trip.com all register with your home mobile number and take an overseas Visa, Mastercard or Amex — no Chinese bank account needed. The harder category is food delivery (Meituan/Eleme), which is Chinese-only and assumes a local life.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to use Alipay or WeChat Pay?
No. Both apps let overseas visitors link a foreign card and pay by QR code. A Chinese bank account is only needed for things tourists rarely do, like person-to-person transfers and red packets. See our payment setup guide for which cards link and the fee rules.
What's the best translation app for China?
Pleco is the standout English–Chinese dictionary and works entirely offline — point the camera at characters on a menu or sign. For live conversation and camera translation, Google Translate works on a travel eSIM, and downloading its offline Chinese pack means it keeps working underground or off-grid. On an iPhone, Apple's built-in Translate is a fine backup.
Do I need to book museum tickets in advance in China?
For the big ones, yes. Most major state museums and popular sights run a free timed reservation that you book ahead — usually through the venue's WeChat mini-program or official account, real-name with your passport. The famous ones can fill up days in advance, so reserve as early as the window opens; for many paid attractions Trip.com also sells tickets in English with an overseas card. You book it yourself in the app — we're an information site, not a booking agent.
Can tourists order food delivery in China?
It's the one genuinely awkward category. Meituan and Eleme are Chinese-only and assume a local address and number. The realistic path is to open the Meituan or Eleme mini-program inside Alipay (where your payment is already set up), or simply eat out and scan to pay — which, given the food, is no hardship.
Where is this information from, and is it current?
Verified June 2026 against official sources — the app makers' own sites and app-store listings, plus the government announcement of Amap's English launch. Links are in the sources section below. Apps change, so confirm features in-app before you rely on them.
Compiled from official sources by Henry · independent · based in China
Before you fly: pick an eSIM so every app — yours and China's — has data the moment you land, and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay so you can actually buy things.
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Official sources
Every policy on this page was checked against these official pages. Always confirm with the source before booking.
Disclaimer: This page is general information, not advice, and app features change without notice — confirm in-app before you rely on anything here. Linking a foreign card is subject to your bank's approval and is not guaranteed. Ready Set China is an independent information site: not a travel agency, booking agent, or government body, and not affiliated with any app or payment provider.