If you’re planning to study in or travel to China, you probably already know that you need to prepare to not have access to many of your usual apps. For the last 15 years or so, China has been blocking many Western apps and websites, using what is commonly referred to as “the Great Firewall of China”. Luckily, China has developed a lot of its own apps, many of which are as good or even superior to their Western counterparts. So, what are the best apps for traveling in China?
You’ll need the best apps to navigate such a bustling country!
First, we’ll tell you more about why China is blocking Western apps and which of your apps you can expect to be blocked. Keep in mind, you can use a VPN service that allows you to bypass the firewall and continue using your regular apps. However, if you’re curious about which Chinese apps you should use to make your life more convenient in China, we’ve got you covered.
Why are certain apps and websites blocked in China?
As mentioned above, China has been blocking Western apps and websites since around 2008. The “Great Firewall” was originally created to block western social media apps and websites for “public security” reasons, but has since expanded to block a wide range of apps and websites, including news outlets, search engines, maps, blogs, and even daily productivity apps.
By blocking foreign websites and apps, China created an opportunity for many local internet companies to emerge and, consequently, China has developed its own unique and exciting internet industry. Although many Western websites are not accessible in China, there are (sometimes better) Chinese equivalents.
If you are planning to travel or live in China, you should be prepared and learn which apps are blocked and what the local alternatives are.
READ MORE: How to Get a Visa for China
21 popular apps blocked in China
So that you can plan accordingly and avoid any unpleasant surprises or confusion, here is a list of popular Western apps blocked in China:
- Google Maps
- Google Play
- Wikipedia
- Telegram
- Line
- Signal
- YouTube
- Spotify
- Netflix (not technically blocked but no content is available for mainland China)
- New York Times
- BBC
- CNN
- Dropbox
- G-Suite (Google Drive, Docs, Calendar)
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Slack
Top 10 apps in China for traveling and studying
The best apps for traveling in China will make you feel more like a local.
There are many great apps that will make your life in China easier for traveling and living. Some apps are equivalent to familiar Western apps while some are unique to China. Here are our top recommendations for the best apps for living in China:
1. Any VPN
- Why it’s helpful: The number one app that you should definitely download before coming to China is a paid or free VPN service. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a phone and computer software that allows you to bypass the Chinese firewall and access all blocked apps and websites from within China. A VPN creates an IP address for you that appears as if it’s outside of China. Please note that there are free VPN services, but they are often blocked in China.
- Recommended VPNs: Panda Pow, Express VPN
2. Digital Wallet
- Why it’s helpful: China is in the process of getting rid of cash. When you arrive in China, you will notice that you can pay using one of two popular Chinese digital wallets everywhere, including in small food stalls.
- Recommended apps: Alipay, WeChat (includes WeChat Pay). Please note that while Alipay has an option for tourists to use a foreign credit card, WeChat Pay requires a Chinese bank account and phone number.
3. Ride Hailing: Didi Chuxing (Didi)
- Why it’s helpful: As the biggest Chinese ride-hailing platform, Didi is one of the best apps for traveling in China on a local scale. It has an English language app and allows you to hail almost any mode of transport, including a taxi, van, limo, and even a shared bicycle. Didi is also integrated with WeChat, so if you have WeChat you can just find it inside your WeChat Wallet.
4. Pleco
- Why it’s helpful: If you’re in China and aren’t fluent in the language, you will probably need a good pocket dictionary to help you get around. Pleco is the best phone dictionary app out there. It has a great English-Chinese and Chinese-English dictionary and a lot of other cool functionalities. For example, you can look up Chinese characters that you see on the street using the hand-writing function. Definitely one of the best apps for living in China!
5. Messaging: WeChat
- Why it’s helpful: WeChat is the largest messaging app in China, so if you want to make new friends, this app is a must-have. In addition to its chat function, WeChat has a lot of extra functionalities. Besides WeChat Pay, the digital wallet we mentioned before, WeChat also has “Moments”, which is similar to a Facebook feed; “Channels”, the equivalent to Reels on Instagram; integrations with online shopping; ticket booking; and much more. There are certainly other messaging apps in China, but WeChat is by far the most popular. If you download nothing else, download WeChat—it’s a must-have app in China!
6. Maps: Maps.me, iMaps or Baidu maps
- Why it’s helpful: Since Google Maps is blocked in China, you will need an alternative. Apple users can use iMaps, but for Android users, you can use Maps.me or the Chinese app, Baidu Maps. Baidu Maps is the most accurate, but while you can input names of places using English letters, the interface is all in Chinese.
7. Streaming: iQiyi or Bilibili
- Why it’s helpful: If you are missing YouTube or Netflix, these are some of your must-have apps in China. Both iQiyi and Bilibili are the most popular Chinese video equivalents. iQiyi is the biggest Chinese streaming platform with lots of paid content and affordable monthly fees, and Bilibili is the Chinese equivalent to YouTube.
8. Travel Booking: Trip
- Why it’s helpful: From booking hotels to ordering train tickets online, this app is another of the best apps for traveling in China. Trip has you covered for all your long-distance travel needs within China. With a completely English-language interface, this Chinese app is specifically designed for the foreign market and can be used not only for China but also worldwide.
9. Food Delivery: Meituan or Sherpas
- Why it’s helpful: Meituan is the biggest Chinese food delivery app in China. It covers all major cities and offers many different types of Chinese cuisine, thought is does require basic knowledge of Chinese. In Beijing and Shanghai, there is also a popular English-language app called Sherpas. Delivering mostly from Western restaurants and slightly more expensive places, Sherpas is completely in English and offers discounts for new users.
10. Online Shopping: JD and Taobao
- Why it’s helpful: Taobao is the biggest online shopping platform in China. JD is slightly smaller, but it’s also more selective in quality and has quicker delivery (usually next-day). You can find just about anything on these apps, from daily household items to cellphones to e-bikes to imported products.
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Familiarize yourself with the most popular apps in China
Your time in China will be the experience of a lifetime, no matter what!
Life in China is super exciting and so is the world of Chinese apps. Of these top 10 apps in China, some apps, like WeChat or Alipay, are often called “super apps”, since they have a lot of useful functionalities that allow you to do multiple tasks within one app, instead of downloading different apps for different needs.
While you can still access your apps from back home using a VPN, you will notice that the longer you’re in China, the more likely you are to switch to using the Chinese apps, just because of their functionality and ease of use.
We also recommend learning at least some Chinese before coming to China, as it will help you to get familiar with the most popular apps in China and settle down more quickly. (If you’re looking for a great online program to help you learn Chinese before you arrive in China, check out Culture Yard!)
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