Choose apps by the job they must perform, not by a generic “top 20” list:
| Job | Primary option | Keep outside the app |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Alipay; WeChat Pay as an additional route | Backup card and RMB cash |
| Communication | WeChat when a hotel, host, guide, or local contact uses it | Email, telephone number, and booking reference |
| Maps | One map you can operate; a local-detail alternative if useful | Chinese addresses and screenshots |
| Translation | One text-and-camera translator | Key phrases and medical note offline |
| Ride-hailing | Alipay, WeChat, or Didi-Greater China | Destination in Chinese and taxi fallback |
| Railway | Official China Railway 12306 | Passport details, train number, station names |
The minimum stack is the smallest set you have actually logged into, recovered, and tested.
Start With Account Dependencies
Before installing anything, write down:
- the phone number that will remain active in China
- the email addresses used for flights, hotels, and tickets
- whether SMS and authentication apps work while roaming
- the app-store account and region on the phone
- a recovery route if the phone is lost
An app is not “ready” merely because its icon is visible. You must be able to sign in again without relying on another app that may also be locked.
Payment: Alipay and WeChat Pay
The State Council’s 2025 guide documents registration for Alipay, WeChat, and UnionPay with foreign or Chinese phone numbers and binding of several international card brands.
For a short visit:
- prepare Alipay as a practical primary wallet if it accepts your account and card
- prepare WeChat Pay when you already need WeChat or want an additional payment route
- check current verification, fees, and limits in each app
- make a small live payment after arrival
Do not store the only usable card inside one wallet. Read How to Pay in China.
Communication: Install WeChat for a Reason
WeChat is useful when a hotel, host, business contact, guide, or local friend actually communicates there. It also contains payment, ride-hailing, and other service entries.
Before depending on it:
- complete registration through the official app
- understand the recovery path
- add the required contact before the travel day
- keep the contact’s telephone number or email elsewhere
Do not make WeChat the sole location of an address, booking, or emergency contact.
Maps: Test the Exact Tasks
Map coverage, language support, search behavior, and transit data vary by device and provider. Instead of declaring one universal winner, test whether your chosen map can:
- find the hotel by its Chinese name or address
- distinguish the correct airport or railway-station terminal
- show a metro route and station exits
- share or copy the destination into a ride-hailing service
- reopen a saved place after the network is interrupted
Travelers commonly use Apple Maps on supported devices or local services such as Amap/Gaode and Baidu Maps. Interfaces and availability change, so choose based on a live test. Keep important addresses as Chinese text and screenshots regardless of map choice.
Translation: Optimize for Short Exchanges
Choose a translator that supports text entry, camera translation, and offline language data where available. Prepare it for real tasks:
- show a destination or hotel name
- photograph a menu or sign
- describe an allergy or medication
- ask a short yes-or-no question
- copy Chinese text into a map or message
Avoid placing passport numbers, bank-card details, or sensitive medical records into an online translation service unless you understand how the data is handled.
Ride-Hailing: Three Documented Entrances
The government guide documents three routes for foreign travelers:
- Alipay → Transport → Taxi
- WeChat → Me → Services → Mobility or Ride Hailing
- Didi-Greater China, which the guide says supports foreign phone numbers and international cards for registration
Labels and availability can change. Whichever route you choose, test that you can set a pickup pin, enter a Chinese destination, recognize the vehicle and plate, contact the driver, and change the payment method.
Keep the destination in Chinese and know where the official taxi queue is. One failed mini program should not trap you at an airport.
Railway: Use 12306 as the Baseline
For a rail-heavy trip, use the official China Railway 12306 English site or official app. The government guide says passport holders can complete identity verification and purchase tickets through 12306, subject to its current process.
Check these details carefully:
- passenger name and passport number
- city and exact station name
- travel date and departure time
- train number and seat class
- the original passport used for booking
Third-party booking platforms can be convenient, but keep the official train and passenger details available independently.
Optional Apps Need a Use Case
An airline, hotel, attraction, food-delivery, shared-bike, or city-transit app may be worthwhile when the itinerary depends on it. Install it only after answering:
- What exact task will this app complete?
- Can the account be registered with my number and document?
- Does it accept my payment route?
- Is there a website, counter, telephone, or cash fallback?
This avoids granting permissions and identity data to apps that never become useful.
Security and Reliability Checklist
- Every app came from an official store or publisher link.
- The registration phone number remains accessible.
- Recovery does not depend entirely on the same phone.
- Payment cards and identity details were added only in official flows.
- Hotel and station addresses are saved in Chinese outside the map app.
- Critical bookings open offline.
- Ride-hailing pickup and destination were tested.
- Railway passenger details match the original passport.
- A dead-phone payment and transport fallback exists.