Our answer
Five apps
Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, Amap and Meituan or Dianping
The short answer
Install Alipay and WeChat to pay, DiDi for taxis, Amap for maps, and Meituan or Dianping for food. DiDi, Amap’s English version and Dianping work in English with a foreign phone number. Meituan’s app is still mostly Chinese, so use its WeChat mini-program, which can translate pages. Set everything up before you fly.
| Pay | Alipay 支付宝 and WeChat 微信 |
|---|---|
| Taxis | DiDi 滴滴 (English; foreign cards) |
| Maps | Amap 高德 (English version AMAP) |
| Food and deals | Meituan 美团, Dianping 大众点评 |
| Video | Bilibili 哔哩哔哩 |
The apps, and how they work for visitors
Checked against each company’s announcements or recent guides; app features change, so check in the app store before you fly.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
| App | What for | English? | Foreign phone number | Pay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay 支付宝 | Paying almost everywhere; also opens DiDi and other mini-programs | Yes | Yes | Linked Visa, Mastercard and other foreign cards (see our payments guide) |
| WeChat 微信 | Messaging, WeChat Pay, mini-programs such as Meituan’s | Yes | Yes | Linked foreign card (see our payments guide) |
| DiDi 滴滴出行 | Taxis and ride-hailing | Yes (Me → Settings → Language) | Yes; you need roaming or an eSIM to receive the code | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Discover, UnionPay; or Alipay, WeChat Pay, Apple Pay |
| Amap 高德地图 (AMAP) | Maps, navigation, and taxis in the English app | Yes, a separate English version, AMAP | Yes, numbers from 65 countries and regions | — |
| Dianping 大众点评 | Restaurant reviews, rankings and vouchers | Yes (Profile → Settings → Language) | Yes | Not foreign cards directly; pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay |
| Meituan 美团 | Food delivery, group deals, tickets, hotels | No full English setting; use its WeChat mini-program and tap 翻译 to translate | Yes, in full international format | International credit cards |
| Bilibili 哔哩哔哩 | China’s main long-video site, like YouTube | The main app is in Chinese; an international app relaunched in August 2026 | — | — |
Set up before you fly
- 1
Get mobile data working
You need data and a way to receive text codes. See our eSIM guide.
- 2
Install Alipay and WeChat and link a card
These are how you pay, and they open other services as mini-programs. See our payments guide.
- 3
Install DiDi and switch it to English
Register with your own number and add a card, or pay through Alipay.
- 4
Install AMAP, Amap’s English version
It searches places and plans routes in English, and can book taxis.
- 5
Add Dianping and Meituan’s WeChat mini-program
Dianping for choosing restaurants in English; Meituan for delivery and deals.
Questions readers ask
Does DiDi work in English?
Yes. Switch the language under Me → Settings → Language. You can register with a foreign number and pay with Visa, Mastercard and other foreign cards.
Is there an English version of Amap (Gaode)?
Yes. AMAP, Amap’s English app, shows China’s map, searches places and plans routes in English, and added taxis that accept phone numbers from 65 countries and regions.
Is Meituan in English?
Not fully. The app is mostly in Chinese. Its WeChat mini-program can translate pages into English if your WeChat is set to English.
Does Dianping have English?
Yes. Change the language under Profile → Settings → Language. Pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay rather than a foreign card.
Can I use Google Maps in China?
Google services are blocked on Chinese networks unless your connection leaves China, and its China data is less complete. Use AMAP for navigation.
Sources
- Trip.com, How to use DiDi in China as a foreigner (30 October 2025) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- IT Home, Amap launches English ride-hailing for visitors to China (10 July 2026, in Chinese) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- Trip.com, How to use Meituan as a foreigner (25 May 2026) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- Trip.com, Dianping app guide (30 March 2026) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- Semafor, China’s YouTube, Bilibili, plans global expansion (19 August 2026) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
- IT Home, Amap opens world map service with English map of China for visitors (19 July 2025, in Chinese) · accessed 25 Oct 2026
Update log. 25 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 23 January 2027. Suggest a correction