GUIDE
Connectivity, Maps and Apps in China
Set up your phone stack before departure to avoid day-one friction.
1. SIM / eSIM — choose your path
| Option | Best for | Risk | Fallback |
|---|
| International roaming | Short trips, minimal setup | High cost; may be throttled | Buy local SIM on arrival |
| Travel eSIM (pre-trip) | Most travelers; buy before departure | Activation can fail on some devices | Keep roaming as backup until eSIM confirmed |
| Local SIM (on arrival) | Longer stays; cheapest data | Requires passport; queue at airport counter | Use roaming while queuing |
- Store QR codes and setup steps offline before boarding.
- Always keep one backup data option active until primary is confirmed.
2. Map apps — recommended paths
- Amap (高德): amap.com — most complete for mainland China navigation.
- Apple Maps and Google Maps work for general navigation but may have coverage gaps in some areas.
- Save hotel, station, and airport names in both English and Chinese before departing.
- Screenshot key routes for offline fallback.
3. Essential app stack
| App | Purpose | Official path | Offline backup |
|---|
| WeChat Pay | Payment | wechat.com | Keep Alipay + cash ready |
| Alipay | Payment | alipay.com | Keep WeChat Pay + cash ready |
| Didi | Ride-hailing | didiglobal.com | Official taxi queue at station/airport |
| Amap | Navigation | amap.com | Offline screenshots of key routes |
| Translation app | Emergency comms | Search by name in App Store / Play Store | Download offline language packs before trip |
4. Connectivity failure recovery path
| Failure | Immediate action | Next step |
|---|
| SIM/eSIM won't activate | Enable roaming as temporary fallback | Go to airport telecom counter for local SIM |
| Map app won't load | Use offline screenshots | Ask hotel/staff; use address card in Chinese |
| Ride-hailing won't work | Go to official taxi queue | Show destination address in Chinese text to driver |
| Payment app blocked | Switch to second app | Use cash; see payment fail fixes |
Open the pre-trip checklist