Navigating a country without google, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and email access can be challenging. However, the good news for travellers visiting China for the first time, is that there are many travel friendly apps to aid you for your trip in China. Local travellers also make use of a few useful apps for their trips within the country using this list of apps that we have curated below:
1.Betternet
Betternet is a free VPN service that requires no registration and allows you to access almost any website in any country. (It allows you to update your followers about your travels in China in real time on your various social media platforms. It also ensures privacy by encrypting your private information from hackers when utilising public wifi hotspots. However, the app requires a stable wifi connection through a hotspot and can’t be used with mobile routers
2.Waygo
Waygois a visual translator app than scans foreign text (Chinese, Japanese or Korean) and automatically translates them into English even without an internet connection. It works best and is mostly used to translate restaurant menus and signages. The free trial version allows 10 free translations per day but there are purchase options: S$2.58 for one week of free unlimited translations and S$8.58 for unlimited translations for a lifetime
3.Pleco
Plecois one of the most popular Chinese dictionary apps available to travellers in China. This app has handwriting recognition (a paid add-on), which would help those who find it challenging to pronounce conversational Chinese words. It’s not only useful for those visiting China but also for those who are interested in picking up the language
4.Baidu Maps
Baidu Mapsis a web mapping service application offered by Baidu and can be used on both web-based and mobile platforms. It provides voice-guided GPS navigation for walking, public transportation or driving together with live traffic conditions. It is incredibly detailed with a comprehensive list of restaurants, cafes, cinemas, shopping malls and many other services. However, like Dianping but it can only be accessed in Chinese
5.DiDi
With over 550 million users across 4 cities in China, it provides services including taxi hailing, private car hailing, Hitch (social ride-sharing), DiDi Designated Driving, DiDi Bus, DiDi Test Drive, DiDi Car Sharing, DiDi Enterprise Solutions, DiDi Minibus, DiDi Luxe, bike and e-bike sharing and food delivery to users in China via a smartphone application
6.Fliggy
The app with over 200 million users lets customers book flights and related services like hotel and inn apartment bookings for competitive prices. It offers excellent deals and packages for the explorers of China
7.Mafengwo
Touriststhat are opting forindependant traveloverpackage trips, travel social network can access Mafengwo to help them plan their trips, handle logistics when they get there and most importantly, record their experiences for the world to see
8.Qunar
Qunar is a travel search engine exclusively devoted to aid Chinese travellers in comparing prices and features for domestic flights and hotels
9.WeChat
WeChat lets travellers avail an array of services like transfer of payments, bookings of cabs, flights, trains in China along. It makes commuting convenient for travellers with services like mobike that also runs its mini programs
10.Dianping
Dianping is China’s leading platform in providing independent consumer reviews and merchant information. The platform is built on hundreds of thousands of recommendations by locals ensuring authenticity and quality. Dianping has exceptional functions such as making online restaurant reservations, take-out service, coupon promotions and visitors to China will find the reviews section the most useful. They can find the best rated restaurants, attractions or entertainment by proximity, cuisine/type. In addition, in each restaurant listing has recommendations on which dishes to order, the price and how to get there
