Why you need a Chinese map app

Most international visitors find in their first hour that their usual map app isn’t much help in mainland China. Google services are not accessible in the mainland without special arrangements. Foreign map apps also often have patchy or out-of-date local data, such as metro exits, new roads, shop names and bus routes.

Amap (高德地图, Gāodé Dìtú, also written AMap or Gaode Maps) is one of China’s most widely used map apps, alongside Baidu Maps. It is part of Alibaba Group. Since 2025 it has had a version designed specifically for international users. For most English-speaking visitors in 2026, it is the most practical place to start.

This guide is based on official information from Amap and the Shanghai Municipal Government’s English portal. App menus change often, so treat the steps as a guide and follow what you see on screen.

What Amap’s international version offers

The Amap features for overseas users have been rolled out in stages:

• January 2025: English map. The Shanghai government reported that Amap launched its first English map of China for international users, available on overseas app stores. It includes English labels for attractions, restaurants and hotels, plus lane-level driving navigation and traffic-light countdowns.
• July 2025: multilingual version. On 9 July 2025 Amap added 14 more languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Malay, Indonesian and Vietnamese. The release included translated place names and descriptions. It also brought the full set of driving, walking, cycling and public-transport navigation to international users, plus an English ride-hailing interface.
• July 2026: trip services. The Shanghai government’s portal reported new services for international visitors in languages including English, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish and Korean. Before departure they cover entry requirements, arrival-card guidance and saving hotel details. After arrival they offer airport arrival guidance, internet-access information, routes to your hotel, bilingual phrase cards and emergency contact numbers. The main services can be used without logging in.
• August 2026: ride-hailing on “Amap Global”. In a press release dated 11 August 2026, Amap said its international app, Amap Global, now lets foreign travellers book rides in their preferred language. Users can sign in with a mobile number from 65 countries and regions and pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a credit or debit card. Amap also described HiChina, an inbound-travel service with an arrival guide, trip management and an AI ordering assistant.

Step 1: install the right app before you fly

Search your app store (Apple App Store or Google Play) for Amap or Amap Global. The Shanghai government’s guide refers to the international app as “AMap Global”. Install it at home, on a good connection, and open it once so it finishes setting up.

While you are still at home:

• Save your hotel. The July 2026 update lets you store hotel details and planned destinations in advance. Amap can then suggest routes from the airport.
• Copy your hotel’s Chinese name and address. Ask the hotel for it by email, or copy it from your booking confirmation. Pasting Chinese characters into search is the most reliable way to find the exact place.
• Sort out mobile data. Amap needs data for live routes. See our China SIM and eSIM guide.
• Set up payments. You’ll need Alipay or WeChat Pay for rides and most daily spending. See our Alipay and WeChat Pay guide for visitors.

Step 2: searching for places

Amap’s English version shows translated names for many attractions, restaurants and hotels, but not for every small shop or alley. Search in this order:

1. Chinese characters, copied from a booking, a website or a friend’s message. This is the most accurate option.

2. The English name of a well-known place, such as “Yu Garden” or “Temple of Heaven”.

3. Pinyin plus the type of place, such as “Nanluoguxiang”.

If several results appear, check the district and the map pin before you go. Chains have many branches, and big parks and stations often have more than one entrance.

Step 3: metro, bus and walking directions

Enter a start point (usually your current location) and a destination, then choose a transport mode. The Shanghai government’s guide notes that Amap offers several routes with estimated arrival times for driving, public transport, walking and cycling. Driving routes are colour-coded for live traffic: green means smooth, red means heavy congestion.

Tips that save time:

• Look at the metro exit. Chinese metro stations can have many exits that come out far apart. Check whether your transit directions suggest an exit, and match it to the exit letter or number on the station signs.
• Check the last train. Metro lines stop running in the late evening, and closing times vary by city and line. If a transit route looks unusually long late at night, it may be switching you to buses.
• Use walking navigation for the last stretch. In old neighbourhoods and big campuses, the walking route is usually more reliable than guessing from the map.

For how the metro itself works, including security checks, tickets and QR codes, see our Beijing subway guide for foreign visitors and our China metro etiquette guide.

Step 4: hailing a taxi or ride through Amap

Amap works as a ride-hailing aggregator: it lets you book a car from several ride-hailing and taxi operators in one place. According to Amap’s August 2026 announcement:

• You can sign in with a phone number from 65 countries and regions, so a Chinese SIM is not strictly required for sign-in.
• Pickup locations, routes and fare estimates appear in English and other languages.
• Payment is by Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card.

When you book:

• Set the pickup point carefully. At large stations, airports and malls, choose the exact gate or pickup zone the app suggests, and walk there before the car arrives.
• Check the plate number in the app before you get in.
• Show the Chinese destination to the driver if there’s any confusion. The bilingual phrase cards in Amap can help.

Prefer a single dedicated ride-hailing app? See our DiDi guide for foreign visitors. Many travellers keep both apps.

Amap vs Baidu Maps vs your home map app

• Amap: has a dedicated international app, English and multilingual interfaces, and visitor-focused trip services. It is the best first choice for most foreigners.
• Baidu Maps: is widely used by Chinese residents and has detailed local data, but it is designed mainly around the Chinese-language experience. It is worth trying if you read Chinese.
• Your home map app: fine for a rough overview and for Hong Kong or Macau, but don’t rely on it for live mainland navigation.

Common problems and fixes

• The pin is slightly off. In compounds, hospitals and universities, the pin may point to the main gate rather than your building. Use walking navigation and ask a guard.
• No results in English. Paste the Chinese name instead, or search for a nearby landmark and walk from there.
• The app is slow or drains your battery. Navigation uses a lot of power. Carry a power bank, or rent one using our power bank rental guide.
• Emergency. Amap lists emergency numbers, but remember the key ones: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance) and 119 (fire).

FAQ

Is Amap available in English?

Yes. Amap launched an English map for international users in January 2025 and added 14 more languages in July 2025. The international app is listed as Amap Global.

Can I use Amap without a Chinese phone number?

According to Amap’s August 2026 announcement, you can sign in for ride-hailing with a mobile number from 65 countries and regions. Some core features can be used without logging in at all.

Does Google Maps work in China?

Google services are not normally accessible in mainland China, and foreign map data there is often incomplete. Use a Chinese map app such as Amap for live navigation.

Can I book taxis on Amap as a foreigner?

Yes. Amap Global offers ride-hailing with English pickup details and fare estimates, paid through Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card.

Is Amap better than Baidu Maps for tourists?

For non-Chinese readers, usually yes, because Amap offers a dedicated international version with English and other languages. Baidu Maps remains a strong option if you read Chinese.

Bottom line

To use Amap in China as a foreigner, install Amap Global before you fly, save your hotel, and search with Chinese characters whenever you can. Use the transit tab for metro exits and walking navigation for the last stretch. Pair it with Alipay or WeChat Pay, a data plan and a power bank, and getting around Chinese cities becomes far less stressful. Features change often, so check in-app notices for the latest. Lovely China, founded in 2025, welcomes corrections at [email protected].