Navigating China as a first-timer was a little intimidating based on some stories we've read online. Luckily, our counterparts from Klook's global team had already been there before, and we also had local counterparts from China that we were able to ask advice from.
According to research and our actual experience, these are the must-have navigation apps you'll need when visiting mainland China. We only went to Shanghai and Beijing, but we didn't experience any issues at all! If you're a Pinoy traveler planning your first trip, here is how we easily got around by foot, car, high-speed train, and metro.
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1. Getting Around on Foot: Amap vs. Apple Maps
Nguồn: CNN
Google Maps isn't reliable in mainland China due to GPS calibration offsets, so you'll need a solid alternative for walking around the city.
- Amap (Gaode Maps): Personally, at the beginning, we kept using Amap. It’s the gold standard locally for real-time transit and exact subway exit numbers.
- Apple Maps: When a friend mentioned that Apple Maps works just as fine, we shifted to it out of sheer familiarity! For iPhone users, Apple Maps automatically pulls precise local data from Amap while keeping the entire UI, street names, and directions in full English.
2. Ride-Hailing: DiDi vs. Alipay/WeChat
Getting a cab in Beijing or Shanghai is completely cashless and hassle-free once you set up the right app.
- Standalone DiDi App: We tried both for ride-hailing and found it much less complicated to just use DiDi directly, rather than using the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay.
- User Experience: If you've ever used ride-hailing apps in the Philippines like Grab or InDrive, you should be able to navigate DiDi easily! The app auto-translates your messages with the driver in real time and automatically charges your linked card upon drop-off.
3. High-Speed Bullet Trains & Seat-Side Delivery
Inter-city transit in China is remarkably fast, comfortable, and modern.
Booking via Klook
We booked our train tickets via Klook for obvious reasons, and we encountered zero issues with boarding our train. Your ticket links straight to your passport number, so you just scan your physical passport at the manual gate.
Ordering Food on the Train (Lesson Learned!)
Photo Source: International Services Shanghai Website (shanghai.gov.cn)
Did you know you can order food delivered straight to your train seat from restaurants at upcoming stations? However, we actually missed out on ordering food because by the time we decided to order, the mobile signal where we were at the time was weak.
Pro-Tip: Best to order your food right away as soon as you settle into your seat, especially if you're not sure about the cellular signal in the rural areas you'll be passing through!
4. Metro & Buses: Alipay Transport Code
For quick subway rides, skip the physical ticket counter queues altogether. Open Alipay, tap the Transport tab, select Beijing or Shanghai, and generate your digital transit QR code. You just tap-and-scan at the subway turnstiles just like using an AutoSweep or Beep card, and the fare deducts straight from your linked card.
