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Small travel stack

Best apps for China travel: the essential first-trip setup

A small, task-based app stack for payment, rail, maps, rides, translation and bookings.

Verified 1 September 2026 Source-linked

Quick answer

Install by task, not by popularity: one payment app, the official 12306 app or a booking alternative, a map, a ride-hailing route, translation and offline access to confirmations.

1

Core apps

  • Alipay or WeChat Pay for mobile payment.
  • 12306 for official rail booking, or a trusted third-party booking platform.
  • Amap or another map that reliably covers your China destinations.
2

Useful support

  • A translation app with offline language files.
  • Your airline and accommodation booking apps.
  • A secure note containing Chinese hotel addresses and emergency contacts.
3

Test before departure

  • Log in again after restarting the phone.
  • Make sure verification texts reach your number.
  • Download tickets, addresses and passport-safe backups for offline use.

Continue planning

Prepare mobile paymentFinish the most important app.Understand China trainsPrepare the next system.