The 5 Apps to Set Up Before You Land in China

In China, your phone can become your wallet, map, ticket folder and easiest way to reach local hosts. These five apps cover most first-trip needs.

1. Alipay: everyday payments

Switch to English, register with the phone number you will keep and link a Visa or Mastercard. Payments of ¥200 or less carry no foreign-card fee; above that, Alipay adds 3% to the whole amount, so keep a second card and some cash for bigger bills. Find the Transport section as well: in many cities it gives you a QR code for the metro and buses.

2. WeChat: messages and a second way to pay

Add your guide or host and turn on notifications. Most Chinese hosts, drivers and restaurants use WeChat rather than email or text messages. WeChat Pay also accepts many international cards, with the same ¥200 and 3% rule, which makes it a useful second way to pay.

3. AMap Global: maps in English

AMap Global is the English version of Amap (Gaode), one of China's main map apps. Save your hotel, airports, stations and meeting points, and check each pin against the Chinese address: an English transliteration can return the wrong place.

4. 12306: official train tickets

12306 is China Railway's official booking platform. Register with the passport you will travel with and enter every name and number exactly as printed. Save confirmations offline and keep the same physical passport ready for station checks. If Voyage East has arranged your rail travel, check what is included before buying another ticket.

5. Google Translate: set up for offline use

Download English and Simplified Chinese before arrival, then test them without a connection. Save essential phrases, dietary requirements and your hotel address. Ask a person to confirm medical or safety-critical translations.

A final ten-minute test

Use airplane mode: can you still open your hotel address, bookings, insurance and a translated sentence? Reconnect and confirm that your bank and payment apps can send the codes you need.