Connectivity & Apps
The essential apps for life in China
✅ Updated May 2026
A few super-apps run daily life: WeChat (微信) for messaging, payments, and mini-programs; Alipay (支付宝) for payments and city services; Amap (高德) or Baidu Maps for navigation; DiDi (滴滴) for taxis; Meituan (美团) or Ele.me for food and services; Taobao or JD for shopping; and a dictionary like Pleco for Chinese. Set up WeChat and Alipay first — almost everything else links to them.
Messaging & payments
WeChat 微信
Chat, pay, mini-programs
Alipay 支付宝
Payments & city services
Getting around
Amap 高德地图
Maps & ride-hailing
Baidu Maps 百度地图
Maps & navigation
DiDi 滴滴出行
Taxi & ride-hailing
Food & local life
Meituan 美团
Food delivery & deals
Dianping 大众点评
Reviews: food & bars
Shopping
Taobao 淘宝
Everything marketplace
JD.com 京东
Fast electronics & goods
Xianyu 闲鱼
Cheap second-hand deals
Video & streaming
Bilibili 哔哩哔哩
Video, anime, live
Youku 优酷
TV shows & movies
iQIYI 爱奇艺
Dramas & variety shows
Tencent Video 腾讯视频
Movies & series
Shows & nightlife
Damai 大麦
Concert, theatre & dance-drama tickets
Dianping 大众点评
Find bars, live music & venues
Learning Chinese
Pleco
The best Chinese dictionary
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