China runs on completely different apps. Here’s what travelers need

If you’re planning your first trip to China, you’ve probably heard a few warnings: WhatsApp doesn’t work, Google Maps is blocked, and you’ll need a VPN to check your email.

Indeed, many of the apps you use every day at home don’t work in China. This includes social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, as well as useful travel tools such as Google Maps, Translate, and Uber.

But don’t panic. China has alternatives for all these blocked apps, so you can still navigate the city, order rides, and translate menus. 

Read on to discover the exact replacement for each blocked app in China, and learn how to set up before landing for the most seamless trip.

The Great Firewall: what’s blocked and why it matters for travelers

China heavily restricts foreign websites and apps and uses its own version of the internet instead. The People’s Republic of China uses the “Great Firewall,” which acts as a virtual boundary, so the apps the rest of the world uses are mostly inaccessible in China.

These include many of the biggest worldwide platforms, such as:

• Google (Maps, Search, Gmail, Translate)
• Meta (WhatsApp, Instagram, X, Facebook)
• Other social media apps, including TikTok, Telegram, and Snapchat
• Streaming services, including YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify
• Uber

*Correct as of June, 2026.

This is why you may have heard frequent travelers and foreigners living in China talking about VPNs. Downloading a virtual private network (VPN) on your phone or installing an eSIM with an in-built VPN will allow you to continue to access these apps, but you must download it before entering China. 

However, VPN reliability varies, so research carefully and choose a VPN with a strong reputation for bypassing internet restrictions in China.

The apps that replace everything you use at home

Planning a trip to China requires more preparation than for most countries, as you will need to replace all your current apps with Chinese versions. 

You will also need to download and set up the alternative apps before you land in China, as Google Play is blocked. The Apple App Store is not blocked, but it is heavily censored and restricted.

Here are the 5 key apps you’ll need to replace:

• Baidu Maps and Amap (Gaode): Both apps work well, but Amap (owned by Alibaba) has better English-language support. Amap also has more accurate real-time traffic updates and walking/transit times. However, Baidu Maps works better in more rural areas, so if you’re traveling extensively in China, it’s best to download both.
• DiDi: This is China’s premier ride-hailing service, which works similarly to Uber. DiDi now has an international version with an English interface and supports international phone numbers and foreign bank cards, making it very easy to use as a tourist. 
• WeChat: This app doubles as both a messaging and a payment app. You’ll likely need it to contact accommodation hosts, tour guides, and other Chinese contacts. If you’re not using a VPN, you can also have your friends and family back home download it to stay in touch while traveling.
• Baidu Translate / WeChat Translate: WeChat has a built-in translator, which is useful for chat translation. Meanwhile, Baidu is a standalone translation app with more features (including voice and camera translation), more accuracy, and offline use. 
• Alipay / WeChat Pay: China is a cashless country, so you will need one or both of these apps. Both are widely accepted throughout China and offer foreigner-friendly setup options. You will need to verify your identity and link your bank card, after which you’ll receive a personal QR code for making payments.

The one app that does almost everything (and why every traveler needs it)

While all the apps above are useful, one is known as China’s super app: WeChat.

Often described as the Swiss Army knife of China travel, WeChat is part messaging platform, part payment method, part translation tool, and part ride-hailing service.

It’s the app locals and tourists use multiple times a day, whether to pay for a meal at a restaurant, book a local service, or communicate with a local business. In fact, WeChat is not just used for personal use; many businesses, including hotels and tour companies, communicate with their customers via WeChat.

WeChat requires phone number verification, but you can use your international number. Still, you’ll need to set it up at least 48 hours before departure, as you’ll receive an SMS code to enter in the app to complete setup. 

Then, if you want to use the payment aspect of WeChat, further verification is required:

1. Verify your ID by uploading a photo of your passport and doing a face scan.
2. Link an international bank card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) WeChat will then complete a bank authentication by temporarily deducting a small verification fee.

WeChat and WeChat Pay are not separate apps; rather, WeChat Pay is an integration within the WeChat app. 

Getting around China without Google Maps

Most travelers come to rely on Google Maps, so it can feel scary not to be able to use it in a brand-new country. However, Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps, the two main navigation apps in China, work in very similar ways.

For most travelers, Amap will be the best option. It has English support, a foreigner-friendly setup process, and it’s best for getting around Shanghai and other major cities. 

The app gives real-time metro schedules, walking and cycling times, and rideshare options (through DiDi integration), similar to Google Maps. It also helps you find things to do in Shanghai and other cities, as you can see nearby landmarks and restaurants.

Then there’s DiDi, which works just like Uber by connecting passengers with local drivers. 

With the international version, you can search for locations, set your destination, and send messages to your driver in English (with auto-translation). Plus, drivers in major cities are used to giving rides to foreigners.

That said, it’s a good idea to screenshot your destination in Chinese characters before getting into a rideshare, in case the driver can’t read it clearly in the app. 

Download before you fly, because you can’t download in China

The most common mistake first-timers in China make is assuming they can sort out their apps once they land. 

But as Google Play is blocked, Android users often find themselves in a sticky situation, unable to download the apps they need during their trip. 

If you have an iPhone, you can access the App Store on arrival. However, some apps like WeChat require phone verification, and you might not be able to receive SMS once you arrive in China.

Plus, you’ll need mobile data to download these apps; public Wi-Fi at the airport or your hotel might not have a strong, secure connection.

That’s why you should run through this pre-departure checklist 48 hours before your flight:

Get data the moment you land, because your apps won’t work without it

Every app on this list needs a live connection. Amap for navigation, DiDi to call a car, Alipay or WeChat Pay to buy anything. Waiting to find airport Wi-Fi is not a plan when the first thing you need to do after baggage claim is get a taxi.

A Holafly eSIM is ready before you board. Activate it at home, step off the plane, and every app on your pre-departure checklist works immediately. Unlimited data across China’s major networks, no SIM swap, no setup queue at arrivals.

Holafly also builds Always On into every eSIM: 1 GB of backup data each month, at no additional cost, for as long as your eSIM stays on your device. It covers 70+ destinations and renews on its own, so whether China is a two-week trip or the start of something longer, you stay connected without thinking about it. Get your eSIM for China sorted before you fly. For more smart travel prep guides, follow Holafly on Google Discover.

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Michaela Park

Travel & Events Writer

Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of <a href="https://search-seoul.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Search SEOul</a>, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world. 안녕하세요, 미국에 거주 중인 여행 콘텐츠 라이터 미카입니다. Holafly에서 여행과 이벤트에 관련된 글을 쓰고 있어요. 여러분이 낯선 도시를 여행하든 대규모 국제 이벤트에 가든, 여러분의 일정이 좀 더 매끄러워질 수 있도록 실용적인 정보를 다루고 있습니다. 그리고 저는 한국을 대표하는 SEO(검색엔진최적화) 컨퍼런스 <a href="https://search-seoul.com/">Search SEOul</a>을 만들었고, 해당 컨퍼런스의 호스트이기도 합니다. 서치 서울은 전 세계 검색 마케팅 전문가와 연사들이 모이는 자리입니다.

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