Verified guide
Essential China Apps for First-Time Visitors
The core apps to install before landing in China, plus what each one is actually for during the first 24 hours.
Last verified: 2026-07-01. Travel, payment, app, and immigration rules can change. Use this guide as planning help, then confirm critical details with official providers before travel.
The core stack
Do not install ten apps on arrival day. Start with the few that solve payment, messaging, maps, and ride-hailing.
- Alipay or WeChat Pay for QR payment.
- WeChat for communication and mini programs.
- A map app that works for your comfort level.
- Didi or a ride-hailing access path through a wallet app.
- Your airline and hotel apps for confirmations.
Prepare account access
Make sure you can receive verification codes while traveling. If your phone plan changes overseas, account recovery can become a bigger problem than the app itself.
What paid users get
The survival pack provides a first-day app checklist by city, including which app you need at the airport, hotel, subway, taxi, and restaurant moments.
Next step
Turn this guide into a city-specific plan.
Start with your landing city, then preview a free itinerary. The paid pack adds Chinese address cards, route notes, and offline-ready survival content.
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