China runs on apps. That is not an exaggeration. You pay for coffee with an app. You order lunch with an app. You hail a taxi, buy train tickets, split bills with friends, check your campus schedule, and even unlock shared bicycles with apps. Cash and cards are almost irrelevant here.
The problem for international students is that these apps are mostly in Chinese, they do not show up in regular Google Play searches, and nobody gives you a proper walkthrough. This guide fixes that.
Here are the apps you actually need, in the order you should set them up.
Tier 1: Install These Before Anything Else
WeChat (微信)
What it does: Everything. Messaging, group chats, voice calls, video calls, mobile payments, mini-programs (apps inside the app), file sharing, social media feed, ticket booking, and more.
Why it matters: WeChat is the default communication platform for everyone in China: your classmates, professors, university admin staff, landlords, delivery drivers, and every group project you will ever do. If someone asks for your contact, they mean your WeChat ID.
Setup tips:
- Download before arriving in China (it is available worldwide)
- You need a phone number to register. A home country number works initially, but switch to your Chinese number once you have one
- WeChat Pay requires identity verification and a linked Chinese bank card. Set this up after opening your bank account. See our WeChat Pay and Alipay guide
Alipay (支付宝)
What it does: Mobile payments, money transfers, bill payments, flight and train bookings, food delivery, and a growing list of services.
Why it matters: While WeChat Pay is slightly more popular for person-to-person transfers, Alipay is stronger for paying bills, buying train tickets, and some online shopping. Many merchants accept both. Having both set up gives you maximum flexibility.
Setup tips:
- Sign up with your Chinese phone number
- Alipay now supports international credit cards for basic payments (the “Tour Pass” feature), but full functionality requires a Chinese bank account
- The English interface has improved significantly in recent years
Baidu Maps (百度地图) or Amap (高德地图)
What it does: Navigation and mapping. Think Google Maps, but for China.
Why it matters: Google Maps does not work in China (it is blocked), and even if you use it through a VPN, the positioning data is offset and unreliable. Baidu Maps and Amap use China’s coordinate system and give accurate directions, public transit routes, walking paths, and real-time traffic data.
Which one: Both work well. Baidu Maps has a slightly better English interface. Amap (Gaode Maps) is the backend for most ride-hailing apps and tends to be more accurate for driving routes. Install one or both.
DiDi (滴滴出行)
What it does: Ride-hailing. The Chinese equivalent of Uber.
Why it matters: When the metro is closed, when you have heavy luggage, when you need to get to the airport at 5 AM. DiDi is affordable (often cheaper than taxis) and available in every Chinese city.
Setup tip: The app works with your Chinese phone number. There is an English interface option. Payment through Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Tier 2: Set Up During Your First Week
Meituan (美团) and Eleme (饿了么)
What they do: Food delivery. Order from any restaurant near you and it arrives at your door in 20 to 40 minutes.
Why they matter: These are your lifeline when you are tired, sick, studying late, or just do not feel like walking to the canteen. Prices are reasonable, especially with the frequent discount coupons both apps offer.
Meituan is the larger platform and also handles group-buy deals, movie tickets, and hotel bookings. Eleme (owned by Alibaba) integrates well with Alipay. Both have similar restaurant coverage.
Tip: Set your delivery address to your dormitory building. Most campus buildings have a designated pickup area where delivery drivers leave orders.
Taobao (淘宝)
What it does: Online shopping. Anything you can think of, Taobao sells it. Clothes, electronics, household goods, textbooks, phone accessories, bedding, decorations, food, and specialty items from around the world.
Why it matters: Taobao delivers to your campus in 1 to 3 days, often with free shipping for orders above 9.9 CNY. Prices are consistently lower than physical stores. For international students, Taobao is how you buy the things you did not pack (and the things you did not know you needed until you got here).
Alternative: JD.com (京东) is the other major shopping platform. JD has stricter quality control and faster official shipping (same-day or next-day in major cities). Use JD for electronics and branded goods. Use Taobao for everything else.
12306 (铁路12306)
What it does: Official China Railway train booking.
Why it matters: China’s high-speed rail network is one of the best in the world, and train travel is the most common way to explore the country. Need to go from Beijing to Shanghai? From Wuhan to Xi’an? Book through 12306. Read our budget travel guide for tips on finding cheap tickets.
Setup: Register with your passport number. The app is mostly in Chinese but has a partial English version. You can also book through the Trip.com app (see Tier 3) if you prefer an English interface.
Shared Bikes: Meituan Bike (美团单车) or HelloBike (哈啰单车)
What they do: Unlock shared bicycles parked around the city. Scan the QR code, ride, park it at any approved location.
Why they matter: Perfect for short trips around campus and the nearby area. Costs 1.5 to 3 CNY per 30 minutes. No registration beyond your Alipay or WeChat account.
Tier 3: Useful But Not Urgent
Trip.com (携程)
What it does: All-in-one travel booking: flights, trains, hotels, tours. Available in English.
Why it matters: The English interface makes it easier for international students to book domestic travel. It also handles visa-related hotel bookings and has customer service in multiple languages.
Pleco
What it does: Chinese-English dictionary with OCR (camera translation).
Why it matters: Point your camera at any Chinese text (menus, signs, product labels, documents) and Pleco translates it. The dictionary is comprehensive and includes handwriting recognition, stroke-order demonstrations, and flashcard creation. Free with optional premium features.
Google Translate (with VPN)
What it does: Real-time translation, camera translation, conversation mode.
Why it matters: The conversation mode (where two people speak in different languages) is handy for communication with taxi drivers, bank tellers, or anyone who does not speak English. Requires a VPN since Google is blocked in China. Download the offline Chinese language pack before you arrive so the basic dictionary works without internet.
For VPN setup, see our VPN guide and step-by-step VPN setup.
Xiaohongshu (小红书 / RED)
What it does: Social media platform focused on lifestyle content, reviews, and recommendations.
Why it matters: Think of it as Instagram meets Yelp meets Pinterest, but for China. Useful for finding restaurant recommendations, travel ideas, dorm decoration inspiration, and campus life tips from other international students in China. The search function works well for specific queries like “best food near [your university name].”
Douyin (抖音)
What it does: Short-form video platform. This is the Chinese version of TikTok (same parent company, different app).
Why it matters: More for entertainment and cultural immersion than practical survival. Watching Douyin content is actually a decent way to pick up colloquial Chinese and understand current trends. Some students have also found university-specific content and campus tours on Douyin.
Apps You Do NOT Need in China
| App | Why Not |
|---|---|
| Google Maps | Blocked; positioning inaccurate even with VPN. Use Baidu Maps |
| Uber | Does not operate in China. Use DiDi |
| Blocked without VPN. Use WeChat for local communication | |
| Facebook / Instagram | Blocked. Use WeChat Moments or Xiaohongshu |
| Spotify | Blocked. Use QQ Music (QQ音乐) or NetEase Music (网易云音乐) |
| Gmail | Blocked. Use your university email or set up Gmail through VPN |
Download Strategy
Before you fly to China:
- Download WeChat, Alipay, and Pleco (these work worldwide)
- Download your VPN app (cannot download inside China)
- Download Google Translate and get the offline Chinese pack
- Download Baidu Maps or Amap
After you arrive and have a Chinese SIM card:
- Register and verify WeChat with your Chinese number
- Set up Alipay
- Download DiDi, Meituan, Taobao, 12306
- Set up shared bike access through Alipay or Meituan
After you have a bank account:
- Link your bank card to WeChat Pay
- Link your bank card to Alipay
- You are now fully equipped for life in China
Join the CGS World Telegram group to ask other students which apps they actually use most at their specific university. Different campuses have different ecosystems.
FAQs
Q: Are these apps available on both iPhone and Android? A: Yes, all of them. iPhone users should keep their App Store region set to their home country (not China) so they retain access to VPN apps and international apps. Chinese apps are available in all App Store regions.
Q: Do I need a VPN to use Chinese apps? A: No. Chinese apps work perfectly without a VPN. In fact, some Chinese apps work worse with a VPN because they detect the foreign IP and may restrict access. Toggle your VPN off when using WeChat Pay, Alipay, Taobao, and other domestic services.
Q: What is the best app for learning Chinese? A: Pleco for dictionary and character lookup. For structured learning, see our survival Mandarin guide which covers apps, courses, and free resources.
Q: Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay? A: Very limited. Apple Pay works at some stores that have NFC terminals, but coverage is far below WeChat Pay and Alipay. Google Pay does not work at all. Set up WeChat Pay and Alipay for smooth daily transactions.
Part of our pre-departure series. See also: SIM card and phone number setup and WeChat Pay and Alipay setup.