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必备APP
Essential Apps for China
Download these before you arrive — some are hard to install once you're in China.
Must-Have (Install Before You Go)
| App | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **WeChat** | Messaging, payments, everything | The "everything app" of China |
| **Alipay** | Payments, transport, booking | Better English interface |
| **Didi** | Ride-hailing | English version available |
| **Airalo / Holafly** | eSIM data | Get Chinese data before landing |
Highly Recommended
| App | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Meituan (美团)** | Food delivery, bike rental | Mostly Chinese, but intuitive |
| **Baidu Maps (百度地图)** | Navigation in China | Google Maps is inaccurate in China |
| **Trip.com** | Hotels, flights, trains | Best English travel booking |
| **Pleco** | Chinese dictionary | Offline, OCR camera translation |
| **Google Translate** | Translation | Download Chinese offline pack |
VPN
- Many Western websites and apps are blocked in China (Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.)
- **Install a VPN before arriving** — most VPN websites are blocked inside China
- Popular options: Astrill, ExpressVPN, NordVPN (check current availability)
Wholesale & Sourcing Apps
| App | Purpose |
|---|---|
| **1688 (阿里巴巴)** | Alibaba's domestic wholesale platform — much cheaper than Alibaba.com |
| **Pinduoduo (拼多多)** | Ultra-budget goods, sometimes good for samples |
| **Taobao (淘宝)** | Retail, but can find wholesale deals |