The essential apps every foreigner in China actually needs

Every "apps for China" list online is either outdated or written by someone who spent two weeks in Shanghai. This one is written by someone who has lived here for two years and uses these daily.

Non-negotiables

*WeChat* — You already know this. But WeChat in China is not the messaging app you use abroad. It's everything: payments, mini-apps, bank verification, government forms, group chats, work communication. Learn to use it properly.

*Alipay* — The other payment app. Some places accept one but not the other. You need both linked to a Chinese bank card.

*Didi* — The Chinese ride-hailing app. More reliable than taxis in most cities. International version works with foreign cards, but the main app linked to WeChat Pay is smoother.

*Meituan* — Food delivery, hotel booking, cinema tickets, bike rental. If Deliveroo and Booking.com had a child that also rented bikes.

Genuinely useful

*Pleco* — The best Chinese dictionary app, full stop. Works offline. Has handwriting input for when you're trying to read a menu.

*Amap (高德地图)* — Chinese maps. More accurate than Google Maps in China (obviously). Public transit directions are excellent.

*XiaoHongShu (Little Red Book)* — Part Instagram, part review site, part search engine. Increasingly useful for finding recommendations from real people rather than sponsored content.

A note on VPNs

A reliable VPN is genuinely useful for accessing Google, international news, and some work tools. I won't recommend specific ones here because the landscape changes — ask in the community for current recommendations.

What you can skip

Most "China must-have app" lists include apps that are either no longer functional for foreigners, duplicated by the apps above, or simply not worth the setup time. Start with the list above and add from there based on your actual needs.