Apps & Accounts

Essential Downloads.

Open the official Apple App Store or Google Play listing, then mark each app ready when installation and basic setup are complete.

China runs on apps. From paying for street food to hailing a taxi and navigating the metro, daily life in China happens inside a handful of super-apps — and most of them work best when installed, registered, and verified before you leave home. This checklist covers the essential downloads for a foreign visitor: mobile payment (Alipay, WeChat Pay), maps and translation, ride-hailing, train booking, and a way to stay reachable. Open each official App Store or Google Play listing from its card, complete installation and basic setup, then mark the app ready. A few notes: store availability and app names can vary by your account country; some apps require SMS verification, so register with a number you can receive texts on while traveling; and foreign bank cards must be linked inside Alipay or WeChat Pay before QR payments will work. Do this setup on Wi-Fi at home — app stores and verification codes are much harder to deal with after landing.

Recommended apps

Store availability and app names can vary by account country.

Download before departure when possible. Complete identity and payment verification only inside the official app, and never send verification codes to another person.