What Apps Should You Install Before Flying to China?

核心问题不是有哪些 App，而是很多 App 依赖你的家里的手机号、银行短信系统，或者落地中国后很难访问的服务。

• 支付宝绑卡通常需要向你的国内手机号发送验证码。
• 部分应用商店或下载页面在中国 IP 下表现不同。
• 谷歌服务（包括 Gmail 和 Google Maps）在中国没有 VPN 基本无法正常使用。
• 到了机场，你已经处于时间紧迫的环境中。

最稳妥的方式是把 App 设置当作打包的一部分，而不是落地后的事。

The core problem is not which apps exist. It is that many of them depend on your home phone number, your bank's SMS system, or access to services that are hard to reach after you land in China.

• Alipay card binding often sends a verification SMS to your home number.
• Some app stores or download pages behave differently from a Chinese IP.
• Google services, including Gmail and Google Maps, do not work reliably in China without a VPN.
• Once you are at the airport, you are already in a time-pressured environment.

The safest approach is to treat app setup as part of packing, not part of arrival.

对大多数外国游客来说，支付宝是中国最重要的单个 App。便利店、餐厅、地铁站、打车服务和很多景点都能用它支付。

• 趁手机号还能正常收验证码时安装支付宝并登录。
• 绑定你旅途中打算用的海外卡，不要绑旧的备用卡。
• 出发前完成所有身份验证提示。
• 检查设置页面确认卡已绑定成功。

不要以为一次设置成功就意味着所有商户都会接受同样的流程。这就是你还需要备用方案的原因。

For most foreign visitors, Alipay is the single most important app in China. It handles payments at convenience stores, restaurants, metro stations, ride-hailing services, and many tourist sites.

• Install Alipay and sign in while your home number still works normally.
• Bind the overseas card you plan to use on the trip, not an old backup card.
• Complete any identity verification prompts before departure.
• Test the setup screen to make sure the card appears as linked.

Do not assume one successful setup screen means every merchant will accept the same flow. That is why you also need a backup.

Google Maps 在中国的准确度有限，交通数据也不可靠。高德地图才是本地人实际使用的步行导航、地铁规划、打车定位和实时路况工具。

• 出发前安装高德地图，趁还有时间学习界面时先搜索地址。
• 提前保存酒店地址和几个关键目的地。
• 高德地图特别适合用中文给司机展示精确的上车位置。

如果你已经熟悉支付宝，也可以用支付宝内置的高德地图小程序，不用单独安装 App。

Google Maps has limited accuracy and unreliable transit data in China. AMap is the tool locals actually use for walking directions, metro routing, taxi pickup points, and real-time traffic.

• Install AMap before departure so you can search addresses while you still have time to learn the interface.
• Save your hotel address and a few key destinations in advance.
• AMap is especially useful for showing drivers a precise pickup location in Chinese.

If you are already comfortable with Alipay, you can also use the built-in AMap mini-program inside Alipay instead of installing the standalone app.

你不需要中文完美也能游上海，但总会遇到需要快速翻译解决实际问题的时刻：看菜单、读懂标识、或跟司机确认地址。

• Google Translate 出发前下载中文语言包后可以离线使用。
• 百度翻译和 Apple Translate 处理中文也不错。
• 拍照翻译功能对菜单和标识特别有用。

出发前把离线包装好。落地后下载语言包可能很慢，甚至被网络环境阻断。

You do not need perfect Chinese to visit Shanghai, but you will hit moments where a quick translation solves a real problem: reading a menu, understanding a sign, or confirming an address with a driver.

• Google Translate works offline if you download the Chinese language pack before departure.
• Baidu Translate and Apple Translate also handle Chinese text well.
• The camera translation feature is especially useful for menus and signs.

Set up the offline pack before you fly. Once you land, downloading language packs can be slow or blocked depending on your network.

微信在中国无处不在，但对大多数外国游客来说，把它当次要 App 比当主要支付工具更容易。国际卡的绑定流程没有支付宝顺畅。

• 安装微信以便扫描餐厅、服务和部分景点的二维码。
• 微信支付可以用国际卡，但支付宝通常是更顺畅的首选。
• 一些本地服务、小程序和联系方式只能通过微信使用。

把微信当作你庆幸已经装好的 App，而不是在压力下才去设置的那个。

WeChat is everywhere in China, but for most foreign visitors it is easier to treat it as a secondary app rather than the primary payment method. The setup process for international cards is less straightforward than Alipay.

• Install WeChat so you can scan QR codes for restaurants, services, and some tourist sites.
• WeChat Pay can work with international cards, but Alipay is usually the smoother first option.
• Some local services, mini-programs, and contact points only work through WeChat.

Think of WeChat as the app you are glad you already have, not the one you want to be setting up under pressure.

如果你依赖谷歌服务、WhatsApp、Instagram 或其他在中国大陆被屏蔽的平台，你需要在出发前就配好可用的 VPN。这不是落地后能可靠解决的事。

• 选择一个已知在中国可用的 VPN 服务商，而不是随便选个热门的。
• 在出发前安装并测试。
• 在你计划使用的所有设备上都下载 VPN App。
• 把 VPN 登录凭据离线保存，以防需要重装。

没有预先配置好的 VPN，你在中国可能连 VPN 服务商的网站都打不开，更别说下载 App 了。

If you rely on Google services, WhatsApp, Instagram, or other platforms blocked in mainland China, you need a working VPN before departure. This is not something you can reliably fix after landing.

• Choose a VPN provider that is known to work in China, not just any popular option.
• Install and test it before your flight.
• Download the VPN app on every device you plan to use.
• Save your VPN login credentials offline in case you need to reinstall.

Without a pre-configured VPN, you may not be able to access the VPN provider's own website to download the app once you are in China.

这些不是每个旅行者都必须的，但它们能很好地解决特定问题。

• Apple Maps — 如果你用 iPhone，在中国比 Google Maps 好用，但高德地图在本地细节上仍然更准确。
• 大众点评 — 中国版的 Yelp，找餐厅和看评价很有用。
• 支付宝内的打车功能 — 可以通过支付宝内的高德地图小程序直接叫车，不用装单独的 App。
• 离线地图 — 在支持离线地图的 App 中下载上海地图作为备用。

These are not critical for every traveler, but they solve specific problems well.

• Apple Maps — works better than Google Maps in China if you are on iPhone, though AMap is still more accurate for local details.
• Dianping — the Chinese equivalent of Yelp, useful for finding restaurants and reading reviews.
• Ride-hailing inside Alipay — you can call taxis directly through the AMap mini-program inside Alipay without installing a separate app.
• Offline maps — download Shanghai offline maps in any app that supports it as a fallback.

• 支付宝已安装、已登录、已绑卡、已验证身份。
• 高德地图已安装或支付宝小程序已测试。
• 翻译 App 已安装，中文离线包已下载。
• 微信已安装并登录。
• VPN 已安装并测试（如需要）。
• 酒店中文地址已保存在高德地图或截图中。
• 关键文件已离线保存：护照扫描件、酒店确认单、航班信息。

落地后，你唯一的工作应该是确认一切正常，而不是从头设置。

• Alipay installed, signed in, card bound, identity verified.
• AMap installed or Alipay mini-program tested.
• Translation app installed with Chinese offline pack downloaded.
• WeChat installed and signed in.
• VPN installed and tested (if needed).
• Hotel address saved in Chinese in AMap or as a screenshot.
• Key documents saved offline: passport scan, hotel confirmation, flight details.

Once you land, your only job should be confirming things work, not setting them up from scratch.

App 准备好之后，接着看这些。

Use these next once the apps are ready.