Our verdict
No谷歌地图Barely
Blocked without a roaming eSIM or VPN, and offset when it loads
The short answer
Not well. Google Maps is blocked on Chinese networks, so it only loads through a roaming eSIM or VPN, and even then its street map sits 50 to 500 metres away from the satellite view and your GPS dot. Use Apple Maps, which runs on Chinese map data from AutoNavi in China, or AMAP, Amap’s English app.
| Google Maps | Blocked on Chinese networks; street map offset 50–500 m |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple Maps: English, Chinese map data, transit routes |
| Android or iPhone | AMAP, Amap’s English app: places, routes, taxis |
| Metro | Plan in Apple Maps or AMAP; pay with Alipay’s ride code |
| Before you fly | Install your map app and a roaming eSIM |
Map apps in China, compared
What works for a visitor, checked against the sources below. App features change, so check the app store before you fly.[1][2][3][4][6]
| App | Works in China? | English | Transit and metro | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Maps | Only with a roaming eSIM or VPN | Yes | Patchy | Street map offset from the satellite view and GPS; thin data on shops and transit |
| Apple Maps (iPhone) | Yes, no VPN | Yes | Yes, once you are in mainland China | Uses AutoNavi (Amap) data; fewer small shops than Amap’s Chinese app |
| AMAP 高德地图 (English app) | Yes | Yes, plus 14 other languages since July 2025 | Yes | Some small places still show Chinese names; also books taxis |
Why Google Maps goes wrong in China
Google’s services, including Maps, are not available on mainland Chinese networks. A roaming eSIM whose traffic leaves China, or a VPN, will load the app.
Even then the map is unreliable. Chinese law requires maps to use an official coordinate system, GCJ-02, that shifts positions by a few hundred metres. Google draws its China street map in that system but keeps its satellite photos and your GPS position in the standard one, so the blue dot and the satellite view sit 50 to 500 metres away from the streets.
Apple Maps and Amap use licensed Chinese data with the correction built in, which is why they line up.[2][1]
Get around without Google Maps
- 1
Pick your map app
On an iPhone, Apple Maps works in English with Chinese map data. On any phone, install AMAP, Amap’s English app.
- 2
Save your hotel and key places
Search them before you fly and save them, with the Chinese name and address for taxis.
- 3
Plan metro trips in the app
Both apps give metro and bus routes with transfer stations and walking directions.
- 4
Set up a way to pay for the metro
Alipay’s transport ride code works on metros in most big cities; some, such as Shanghai and Beijing, also take foreign bank cards tapped at the gate.
Questions readers ask
Is Google Maps blocked in China?
Yes, on Chinese mobile and Wi-Fi networks. It only loads when your connection leaves China, through a roaming eSIM or a VPN, and its China street map is offset from the satellite view and your GPS position.
Does Apple Maps work in China?
Yes, without a VPN. In mainland China it runs on map data from AutoNavi, the company behind Amap, and offers English place names, driving, walking and public transport directions.
What is the best map app for China?
Apple Maps on an iPhone, or AMAP, the English version of Amap (高德地图), on any phone. Both show metro and bus routes in English.
Why is my location wrong on Google Maps in China?
Chinese maps must use an official coordinate system, GCJ-02, which shifts positions. Google uses it for the street map but not for satellite photos or GPS, so your dot lands 50 to 500 metres away from the right street.
How do I use the metro in China as a foreigner?
Plan the route in Apple Maps or AMAP, then pay at the gate with Alipay’s transport ride code, which works in most big cities, or with a foreign bank card where accepted, such as Shanghai and Beijing.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Restrictions on geographic data in China (GCJ-02, Google Maps offset) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- BGR, Does Google Maps work in China? (16 July 2026) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- Trip.com, Apple Maps in China (20 April 2026) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- Newsfile, Amap launches multilingual map with 14 new languages for overseas users (10 July 2025) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- ChinaPass, China metro QR codes and foreign card tap by city (verified 11 September 2026) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- Wikipedia, Apple Maps (AutoNavi data for iPhones in China) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
Update log. 28 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 26 January 2027. Suggest a correction