Even though I lived in China for five years, I have to admit—I was a little nervous going back this time. China in 2025 is completely cashless, highly digital, and moves at a lightning pace. No need to worry—I’ve got you covered with the apps and tools that made my stay smooth, connected, and surprisingly easy. Here’s your essential list of apps (and a few insider tips) to prepare for your trip to China.
✈️ BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT
Power Banks
If you’re arriving by air and bringing a power bank, make sure it has the CCC certification—any other power banks will be confiscated at security.
🧭 How to Connect
eSIM
Before you land, you’ll want a reliable eSIM to stay online. I used Trip.com—it’s more than a booking app; it offers great hotel, car, and attraction deals plus travel coupons.
Here’s the exact eSIM I bought—it comes with clear installation instructions sent by email: China Mainland + Hainan eSIM with VPN.
It worked perfectly everywhere and even included a built-in VPN, so I could use Instagram and Google.
💡 Tip: Avoid turning on your location in TikTok while using this eSIM—it confused my app settings when I got back!
I normally use Airalo everywhere I go, but for China, the Trip.com eSIM was a bit cheaper. However, if you apply the code WANDER15, you’ll get 15% off your eSIM, so the price might end up about the same. Just make sure to contact support first to confirm that a VPN is included and that Google and WhatsApp will work upon arrival.
VPN
Baidu.com is the dominant search engine in China, offering services similar to Google but tailored for the Chinese market. You can use it without a VPN, but if you want access to other sites, you can try VPN apps like VPN Proxy Master, vpnify, PlatoVPN, VPN-Super Unlimited, Planet VPN, v2RayTun, or Shadowrocket.
💬 How to Communicate
Messenger
You can skip this part if your eSIM includes a VPN. The most popular all-in-one messaging app in China is WeChat. Everyone uses it—for chats, calls, and even payments. It works perfectly even with an international number.
Translator
Mr. Translator is free, quite accurate, and handles both photo and live voice translations, even with dialects and background noise.
AI assistant
Meet China’s twin of ChatGPT! You can use DeepSeek AI for real-time translations or travel help. It’s super handy for quick text or menu translations on the go.
💳 How to Pay
China is now completely cashless, so get your mobile wallet ready.
Cashless payment
Download Alipay and complete the full ID verification (passport scan + selfie).
It accepts international cards and worked everywhere I went—from restaurants to buying strawberries on the street. Note: there’s a small 3% transaction fee, but it’s still worth it for the convenience.
WeChat Pay is also an option, but Alipay felt easier.
🏠 How to Register Your Stay
If you’re staying in a hotel, you’re all set—registration is done automatically.
If you’re staying with friends or in a private home, you’ll need to register within 24 hours at your local police station or online. Here is an online registration link for Shanghai.
🚖 How to Navigate
Taxi
Download Didi – China’s version of Uber. You can register your international card and choose between Didi Pay or Alipay (just remember that a 3% transaction fee applies to Alipay payments, so Didi Pay is the better option).
💡 Tip: If you forget to pay after a ride, your next trip won’t start until you settle the previous invoice—so double-check before your next journey!
Map
AMap Global is China’s best English-friendly navigation app with real-time traffic and detailed place info.
It’s reliable, but expect a few Chinese characters here and there—knowing Mandarin definitely helps.
I hope this article helps you prepare for your trip to China and makes your travel experience stress-free. If you’re planning a trip soon, set up your eSIM, Didi, and Alipay, everything else flows easily—so you can relax and enjoy China’s temples and teahouses.
