Install Amap (Gaode) and keep Apple Maps as your second option. Google Maps is not a safe plan in mainland China, because Google Search, Gmail, Maps and YouTube are blocked there[1].
It is a small shock when the one app you use every day goes quiet. The fix takes an evening at home, not a clever trick on arrival.
Which map app should you install?
Pick by who is holding the phone. The table shows how the three compare for a visitor.
| App | Language | Good for | Check before you fly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Maps | Familiar layout | iPhone users who want no new app | Search for your hotel and two sights |
| Amap (Gaode) | Chinese, plus an English version | Walking, buses, metro and ride-hailing | Switch to English and test a search |
| Baidu Maps | Chinese first | Reading local detail with a Chinese-speaking relative | Whether the English screens are enough for you |
Apple Maps keeps working in mainland China even though Google Maps is disrupted[2]. Amap added English language support in 2025, with ride-hailing in the English version in 360 or more cities[3]. Dates differ between sources, so verify in the app.
What should you set up before you leave Malaysia?
Do these in order, at home, on Wi-Fi.
- Install Amap and Apple Maps, then open each once and allow location.
- Download offline maps for every city on your route.
- Save each hotel name, address and phone number in Chinese, as text and as a screenshot.
- Keep the same details on paper in one bag.
- Check how your phone gets data in China, using our eSIM, roaming and local SIM guide.
Our bilingual hotel and transfer sheet guide shows how to lay that page out.
What if the pin is in the wrong place?
Large stations and hotels have more than one entrance, so a pin can be correct and still leave you on the wrong side of the building. Zoom in and look for the gate, exit letter or hotel entrance before you start walking.
When in doubt, stop and ask someone, showing the Chinese address on your screen. Staff at hotel desks and station help counters will point you the right way. Our guide to reading metro and rail station signs helps you find the right exit.
Can a first-timer manage with just one app?
Yes. One map app plus one saved Chinese address is enough for most days in a big city.
Choose Apple Maps if you are on an iPhone and want less to learn. Choose Amap if you will use buses, metro and ride-hailing. Add Baidu only if a Chinese-reading relative wants to use it.
What about WhatsApp and Google while you travel?
Those are blocked too, so tell family at home how to reach you before you fly[1]. Our guide to WhatsApp, Google and Instagram in China covers the options. Read the translation apps guide next, and browse the preparation topic page for the rest of the checklist.