China
Set up payments, maps and transport before entering mainland China
Mainland China uses a distinct app ecosystem, and access to many foreign internet services is restricted on local networks.
The essentials
What to know before you go to China
Install and verify key apps before departure, but do not assume every Western app is unusable: access depends on the service and connection, while foreign roaming may behave differently from local Wi-Fi. Link at least two foreign cards to Alipay or Weixin Pay, keep some renminbi cash, and retain the phone number used for verification. Passport names must match bookings exactly. Hong Kong and Macao have separate immigration, payment and transport systems.
Since November 20, 2025, eligible arrivals can submit China’s free arrival card through official NIA channels before travel. Hotels register foreign guests, while travelers staying in private accommodation must follow the local registration process.
Ride Hailing
DiDi ChinaEssential
English-language car and taxi booking across mainland cities with overseas numbers and international cards.
Food Delivery
Payments
AlipayEssential
Visitor-friendly QR payments plus transport, DiDi and government mini programs using supported foreign cards.
Messaging
WeChatEssential
The standard way to message mainland hotels, guides, drivers, restaurants and personal contacts.
Navigation
AMap GlobalEssential
Multilingual mainland maps for walking, driving, cycling, public transport and local place search.
Super Apps
WeChatEssential
Messaging, Weixin Pay and mini programs for local businesses, attractions and transport in mainland China.
Travel & Booking
Trip.comEssential
Multilingual hotels, transport, tours and attraction bookings that accept foreign passports and international cards.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
Offline Simplified Chinese text and camera translation when the language pack is downloaded before travel.
Pleco
Offline Chinese-English dictionaries with character, pinyin, handwriting and pronunciation lookup.
Intercity Transport
Trip.com
Multilingual booking for Chinese trains, domestic flights, hotels and transfers using international cards.
Restaurants
Internet in China
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Real-name registration is mandatory by law for every SIM, and a passport is the only accepted ID for foreign tourists; your passport details are linked to the number. This applies even to SIMs ordered online for pickup, where the in-person passport check still happens, and foreigners are limited to about three SIMs per passport across all carriers.
- Expect roughly CNY 100 to 300 (around $14 to $42) for a 15-to-30-day tourist plan. A typical recent example is China Unicom's 30-day pack with 20 GB and 30 domestic minutes for around CNY 200 (roughly $28); city carrier stores come in cheaper than airport kiosks.
- Official carrier counters in the arrivals halls past customs at major international airports (Beijing PEK, Shanghai PVG, Guangzhou CAN) handle registration on the spot in about 15 to 30 minutes. Downtown carrier stores offer more plan choice at lower prices. Skip convenience-store SIMs, and do not rely on airport kiosks being open if you land at an odd hour.
- Airport kiosks are the expensive option; downtown carrier stores are cheaper and offer more choice, though the exact markup varies.
- A locally issued SIM or eSIM sits behind the Great Firewall, while a foreign travel eSIM roaming into China typically routes data outside the mainland, so Google, WhatsApp and other blocked apps keep working normally. That alone makes a travel eSIM the low-hassle choice for most visitors.
The Great Firewall is the headline issue: a Chinese SIM routes through the domestic internet, so Google, Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are blocked unless you have a VPN, and VPN apps are far easier to install before you arrive than after. Also, prepaid tourist SIMs expire at the end of their validity period, and topping up generally requires WeChat Pay or a carrier mini-program.
Local carriers
China Unicom
The most foreigner-friendly carrier, with tourist plans and the best-documented English support. The usual first pick for city trips.
China Mobile
The largest network, with the best rural and remote coverage (Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang) at a slightly higher cost.
China Telecom
The third option, with occasionally competitive tourist packages.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in China?
The essential apps for China are DiDi China, Alipay, WeChat, AMap Global, Trip.com.
How many travel apps does China have?
We've curated 13 apps across 10 categories for traveling in China, including 8 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in China?
DiDi China. English-language car and taxi booking across mainland cities with overseas numbers and international cards.
Keep exploring
Also traveling in East Asia?
Hong Kong
Use Octopus to pay, Citymapper to travel, and MyObservatory for official weather warnings
Japan
Rail-first travel, flexible IC cards, official Shinkansen booking, and disaster alerts
South Korea
Use Naver Map, visitor-ready taxi and dining apps, and a separate transit balance
Macau
Official bus tracking, metered taxis and typhoon alerts for Macau
Taiwan
Cash, a physical EasyCard and a few well-chosen apps cover most trips