What apps should travellers set up before visiting China?
Before departure, make sure you can pay, book a train, translate an address, find your hotel and get online. For many travellers this means Alipay or Weixin Pay, the official 12306 railway service, a translation app, a map that works in mainland China and a reliable data plan.
Full answer
You do not need dozens of apps for China.
You need a few important ones to work before you land.
Mobile payment
Set up Alipay or Weixin Pay before departure.
Complete any identity checks, link an eligible bank card and make sure you can open the payment code. Add a second card when possible. Keep access to the phone number or banking app used for security checks.
Learn the two common ways to pay: scanning the merchant’s code, and showing your own code to be scanned.
Do not rely on one app and one card for the entire trip.
Train booking
The official China Railway 12306 service lets travellers search and book rail journeys where available.
Register with the passport you will carry. Enter the name and passport number exactly. Search a real route before departure so you understand the station names and booking process.
Some travellers use a third-party service because the interface is easier. Check the booking fee and the process for changes or refunds.
Translation
Download a translation app with camera translation and offline language support if available.
Camera translation is useful for menus and signs. Save a few important phrases for allergies, medical needs and hotel check-in. Keep the hotel name, address and nearest station written in Chinese.
A translated address on the screen is often more useful than trying to pronounce it.
Maps
Choose a map that works properly in mainland China.
Test each hotel, station and attraction before departure. Save pins and screenshots, and keep the written Chinese address as a backup.
Large cities may have several stations with similar English names. Check the exact one before leaving the hotel.
Internet access
Decide how the phone will connect before flying.
Keep bookings, passport copies, train details and hotel addresses available offline. Do not store the only copy inside a service that may be difficult to reach.
Check whether the data option supports the websites and apps you expect to use. Access rules and products change, so confirm current conditions close to departure.
Ride-hailing and local transport
Ride-hailing may be available through a dedicated app or a service inside another app. Save the destination in Chinese and confirm how payment will work.
Metro tickets and transport apps differ between cities. You do not need to set up every local service before the trip, but know how you will reach the first hotel if mobile payment or ride-hailing fails.
Test the setup at home
Open the payment app. Search a train. Translate a menu photograph. Find the hotel on the map. Turn on airplane mode and check that the saved documents still open.
Downloading an app is not the same as having it ready.