A Quick Guide of China Map Apps
This blog will introduce six map apps that workable in China. Each has it own pros and cons, so what you need to do is know them well and use them at the right time. After the comparison of every app, I believe you will have a clear mind.
App | Works in China? | English UI | Offline Maps | Public Transit | VPN Needed? |
Baidu Maps | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | No |
Amap | Yes | Basic | Yes | Yes | No |
Google Maps | No | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
Apple Maps | Limited | Yes | No | Limited | Limited |
MetroMan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Maps.me | Limited | Yes | Yes | No | No |
The Best Map App Alternatives for China: Baidu Maps
Baidu Map: Basic Introduction
Baidu Maps is one of the most popular navigation and mapping applications on the Chinese mainland, offering real-time navigation, traffic condition inquiries, street view services and smart travel solutions. Baidu Maps, leveraging AI technology, offers more intelligent personalized recommendations and AR real-scene navigation. The maps are available on iOS, Android, and web versions, and support in-vehicle systems. Whether you are driving, walking, cycling, or taking public transportation, you can find the best navigation route.
Baidu Maps: How to Install Baidu Maps
1. Download it from the app store: Open the App Store or Google Play, search for "Baidu Maps", click download and install ✅.
2. Registration and Login: After installation is complete, open the application, register or log in with a Taiwan mobile phone number, and complete the identity verification.
3. Basic Settings and authorization after installation: To your phone Settings → Privacy → Location Services, allow Baidu Maps to use GPS for precise location 🔍.
4. How to use Baidu Maps on a computer?: Search for Baidu Maps → Log in to your Baidu account and you can use it.
Baidu Maps: Function Introduction
- Instant navigation and intelligent route recommendation
- Real-time traffic conditions and avoiding congestion
- Highway option
- Offline map download
- Custom Route
- Street View Mode and 3D Maps
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The Best Map App Alternatives for China: Amap
Amap is a professional navigation and map service application that offers real-time traffic conditions, intelligent route planning, and multiple traffic mode navigation, allowing users to enjoy a convenient and accurate travel experience. Gaode Map is compatible with iOS and Android, and supports in-car navigation systems. It can even be integrated into smartwatches and IoT devices to ensure a seamless usage experience across different platforms.
How to install Amap?
1. Download it from the app store: Open the App Store or Google Play, search for "Amap", click to download and install ✅.
2. Registration and Login: After installation is complete, open the application, register or log in with a mobile phone number from the Chinese mainland, and complete the identity verification. Unfortunately, for the registration of Amap, a mobile phone number from the Chinese mainland is still required to register and use all the functions.
3. Set personal preferences and frequently used locations: Enter "Personal Center", add frequently used locations such as home and company, and set navigation voice and travel mode 🚗.
4. Enable location permission and map Settings: To your phone Settings → Privacy → Location Services, allow Amap to use GPS for precise location 🔍.
5. Connect on-board devices with other applications: Connect to the in-car system via Bluetooth or CarPlay/Android Auto and enjoy the seamless navigation experience.
Amap: Function Introduction
- Real-time navigation and traffic condition prediction
- Multimodal transportation planning (driving, walking, cycling, taking public transportation)
- Precise positioning and 3D maps
- Voice navigation and smart assistant
- Indoor navigation and offline maps
- Parking lot and gas station information
Best English Map Apps for China
Except for Amap and Baidu Map, there are three map apps are also good for English-speaking visitors: Metroman, Mapsme and Apple map. They might solve some problems you might meet when traveling.
China Map App | MetroMan
For travelers needing English-only metro navigation in China, MetroMan excels with its intuitive interface. It delivers precise subway maps, exit numbers, and real-time schedules across 30+ Chinese cities — all displayed in plain English and functioning 100% offline, crucial for signal-free tunnels. Its limitation is exclusive subway focus (no walking/bus directions), making it best paired with Baidu/Amap for door-to-door navigation.
China Map App | Maps.me
Apple Maps provides a seamless English experience for locating major tourist sites (Great Wall, airports, international hotels) in China, using local Amap data for accuracy. Voice-guided driving/walking navigation works well between popular landmarks with its intuitive English interface. However, avoid relying on it: no offline maps, poor public transit details, and unreliable local searches make it unsuitable as a primary navigation tool. Use only for basic English navigation between hotspots.
China Map App | Apple Maps
Maps.me excels as a lightweight offline backup beyond Chinese cities. Pre-download entire provinces (e.g., Yunnan) before departure to navigate trails, temples, or remote roads without internet. User-shared POIs may reveal hidden gems like waterfalls. But avoid urban use: its China street data is outdated, lacking real-time transit, traffic, or updated businesses. Great for hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge; useless for finding Beijing cafés.
Feature | Maps.me | MetroMan | Apple Maps |
Works in China | Limited (Offline only) | Yes ✅ | Limited ⚠️ |
English Interface | Full ✅ | Full ✅ | Full ✅ |
Offline Maps | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full offline use | ❌ Not supported |
Public Transit | ❌ | ✅ Metro/subway ONLY | 🔄 Limited/unreliable |
Best For | Hiking, rural areas, temples | Subway navigation in 30+ cities | Basic English searches near tourist sites |
Key Limitation | ❌ Outdated urban data | ❌ No non-subway routing | ❌ No offline maps, sparse local data |
Comparison of Amap and Baidu Maps
Feature | Amap | Baidu Maps |
|---|---|---|
Parent Company | Alibaba (E-commerce focus) | Baidu (Search engine focus) |
Navigation Accuracy | ★★★★☆ (Better lane-level guidance) | ★★★★☆ |
Offline Maps | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
English Interface | Basic | Basic |
English Search | ❌ Limited | ⚠️ Partial (Works for landmarks/airports) |
Public Transit | ✅ Real-time bus/metro | ✅ Real-time + crowd levels |
🏆 Amap Key Strengths
- Driving Navigation: Amap owns superior lane guidance, with warns about traffic light cameras and speed traps
- Integrated Services: Direct links to Didi (ride-hailing app), shared bikes, and Alipay. And you can directly buy hotel and attraction tickets.
- Coverage Depth: More detailed rural/county-level maps
🏆 Baidu Maps Key Strengths
- Search & POI Database: Finds Western businesses (Starbucks, KFC) reliably by English name. It's also better at historical and cultural sites.
- Traveler Features: Explore Nearby, Crowd-sourced tips
- Voice Assistant: More forgiving with mispronounced Chinese
China Travel App Recommendation
Why it's indispensable for China:
As China's largest travel platform (with an international interface), Trip.com solves critical pain points compared to some Western apps struggle with:
- ✅ Full English UI & Support
- ✅ Zero VPN needed (unlike blocked sites like Booking.com maps)
- ✅ Direct access to China-specific inventory (high-speed trains, local flights, Chinese hotels)
- ✅ Alipay/WeChat Pay integration (crucial for cashless payments in China)
China's Hotel Recommendation
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Questions about China Map App
What do Chinese use instead of Google Maps?
Baidu Maps is undoubtedly one of China's most powerful map services, loved by a vast number of users for its convenient user experience and comprehensive features.Can foreigners use Baidu map?
Can foreigners use Baidu Maps? Yes, but with limitations: Without Chinese: Difficult due to the all-Chinese interface. With Workarounds: Use Pinyin for place names. Save locations with English names (via ★ Favorites → Rename/重命名).What is the google alternative in China?
Baidu is China's largest and most widely used search engine, much like Google in the U.S. Baidu works outside of China but was created for users in China.