Before you fly, install WeChat for messaging, Alipay for payments, Amap for maps, DiDi for taxis and Baidu Translate for translation. WeChat Pay is built into WeChat. WhatsApp and Google are blocked on Chinese networks, so also set up a VPN or a travel eSIM that routes your data outside mainland China.
- Create your WeChat and Alipay accounts at home. Registering inside China can be harder.
- Amap and Apple Maps work in mainland China. Google Maps is blocked on Chinese networks.
- DiDi has an English version. You can also book rides inside Alipay and Amap.
- Install your VPN before you fly. Apple removed VPN apps from its China App Store in 2017.
The checklist
| Need | Download | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging | Essential for reaching tour guides and hotel staff | |
| Maps | Amap, or Apple Maps on an iPhone | Google Maps is blocked on Chinese networks |
| Payments | Alipay, plus WeChat Pay inside WeChat | You pay for almost everything by scanning a QR code |
| Taxis | DiDi | English version, with taxis and private cars |
| Translation | Baidu Translate and Pleco | Baidu translates voice, text and photos; Pleco is a Chinese dictionary |
| VPN and eSIM | A VPN, a travel eSIM, or both | WhatsApp and Google are blocked on Chinese networks |
Messaging
- WeChat. Shanghai’s government calls it one of the most popular apps in China, used for messages, calls and paying bills. AFAR says it’s essential for keeping in touch with tour guides and hotel concierges. Tencent says you can sign up with your international phone number. Create the account at home, because registering inside China can be troublesome. See WeChat in China.
- WhatsApp. Keep it, but it’s blocked on Chinese networks. AFAR says you can only use it with a VPN or an international roaming package from your carrier at home. See WhatsApp in China.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government (July 2026), Tencent (June 2025) and AFAR (May 2025).
Maps
- Amap (Gaode Maps). Shanghai’s government lists it as an essential app. It shows real-time traffic and routes for every kind of transport. Amap has an English version, and in July 2025 it added 14 more languages. Download it from the App Store or Google Play.
- Apple Maps. On an iPhone, Apple Maps works in China. It connects to local servers once you arrive. See Apple Maps in China.
- Baidu Maps. Another local option, with GPS navigation, traffic information and route planning.
- Google Maps. It’s blocked on Chinese networks, so don’t rely on it. Lonely Planet says you need a VPN to use it on a Chinese SIM or Chinese Wi-Fi. Airalo lists Google, including Maps, among the services that are generally inaccessible on Chinese networks. See Google Maps in China.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on essential apps (July 2026) and Amap’s new languages (July 2025), a USTC symposium visitor page (checked Oct 8, 2026), Lonely Planet (checked Oct 9, 2026) and the Airalo help center (checked Oct 8, 2026).
Payments
- Alipay. Shanghai’s government lists Alipay and WeChat Pay as the two major ways to pay in China. You scan a QR code to pay for almost everything, and both apps have an English version. AFAR says Alipay can be linked to most international credit cards. Setup steps: Alipay for foreigners.
- WeChat Pay. It’s part of WeChat, so there’s nothing extra to download. Tencent says you can link Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Discover Global Network (including Diners Club) and UnionPay cards. Setup steps: WeChat Pay for foreigners.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government (July 2026), Tencent (June 2025) and AFAR (May 2025).
Taxis
- DiDi. Shanghai’s government calls DiDi the Chinese equivalent of Uber. It’s available in English and offers both taxis and private cars.
- Alipay or Amap. If you’d rather not install another app, AFAR says Alipay has a DiDi mini app. Amap’s multilingual version also has an English ride-hailing screen that books rides from several providers.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on essential apps (July 2026) and Amap’s new languages (July 2025), and AFAR (May 2025).
Translation
- Baidu Translate. Supports more than 100 languages. You can translate by voice, text or photo.
- Pleco. Type a word or phrase, and it lists all the possible translations.
- Alipay. AFAR mentions a translation service among Alipay’s mini apps.
- Google Translate. Google ended Google Translate in mainland China in October 2022, citing low usage, and the translation built into Chrome stopped working there too, AP reported. If you use it, download the Chinese language pack before you fly. Shanghai’s government notes that downloaded packs work without an internet connection.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on essential apps (July 2026) and translation tools (checked Oct 8, 2026), and AFAR (May 2025).
VPN and eSIM
WhatsApp, Google, Instagram and YouTube are blocked on Chinese networks. AFAR says you can only use them with a VPN or with roaming data. Set up at least one before you fly. eSIM or VPN for China? explains which to pick.
- A travel eSIM. Airalo says its China, Regional Asia and Global eSIMs don’t need a VPN, because your traffic goes through gateways outside mainland China. Compare plans on our eSIM page.
- A VPN. Install it and test it at home. Apple removed VPN apps from its China App Store in 2017. Compare the VPNs we track on our VPN page.
Sources: Airalo help center (checked Oct 8, 2026), AFAR (May 2025) and TechCrunch (July 2017).
FAQ
Which map app should I use in China?
Amap, which has an English version. On an iPhone, Apple Maps also works. Google Maps is blocked on Chinese mobile data and Wi-Fi.
Can I use WhatsApp in China?
Not on Chinese mobile data or Wi-Fi. It works with a VPN, or with roaming data such as a travel eSIM that routes your data outside mainland China.
Do I need a VPN for WeChat, Alipay or DiDi?
No. They are Chinese apps, and Shanghai's government lists all three as essential apps for living in the city. You need a VPN or a roaming eSIM for blocked services such as WhatsApp and Google.
Sources
- Essential apps for living in Shanghai (Shanghai Municipal People's Government), July 2026
- Google discontinues Translate service in mainland China (VOA, from AP), October 2022
- Mobile Payment Solutions for Your China Journey: A Practical Guide (Tencent), June 2025
- China's first multilingual map adds 14 new languages (Shanghai Municipal People's Government), July 2025
- 8 translation tools that break language barriers (Shanghai Municipal People's Government), accessed Oct 8, 2026
- Stay connected in China: is a VPN required? (Airalo help center, sells eSIMs), accessed Oct 8, 2026
- Using Map Apps in China (visitor page for a 2026 symposium, USTC Indico), accessed Oct 8, 2026
- What It's Like to Travel in China Right Now, and How to Do It (AFAR), May 2025
- Apple removes VPN apps from the App Store in China (TechCrunch), July 2017
- How to get your cell phone connected in China: eSIMs, wi-fi and mobile networks (Lonely Planet, affiliate links), accessed Oct 9, 2026