Part of YouChina Wiki — App Guides category
China apps guides
How to actually use the local apps you'll run into — reviews, delivery, shopping, and train tickets.
Overview
Most local apps have no English mode — here's how foreigners actually use them
Dianping, Meituan, and Taobao are Chinese-first apps with no (or only partial) English localization, while 12306 has an official English mode. A phone translation app, a linked foreign card on Alipay/WeChat Pay, and knowing what to expect are what actually get foreign visitors through them.
Guides in this category
How do foreigners use Dianping?China's Yelp equivalent — no English mode, but photo browsing and translation apps cover most of it.Can I use Meituan in English?Food delivery, deals, and bookings — Chinese-only, workable with a translation app and linked card.Can I use Taobao in English?A built-in translation toggle covers browsing — plus a section for shoppers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.How do I book train tickets on 12306?China Railway's official platform — has an English interface and passport-based registration.How do foreigners set up WeChat?Registration, QR-code contacts, and Moments — the messaging side, separate from payments.Is Alipay Tour Pass discontinued?A freshness check on an area older guides commonly get wrong, plus the current confirmed setup path.
Frequently asked questions
Related YouChina guides
- Alipay International — foreign card setup for travelers— Ant Group· Reviewed 2026-06-25
- Guide to Payment Services in China— Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK· Reviewed 2026-06-26
- WeChat Pay — foreign card support— Tencent· Reviewed 2026-05-18
- WeChat Pay Exempts 3% Transaction Fees for International Card Purchases Under CNY 200— Beijing Municipal People's Government (english.beijing.gov.cn)· Reviewed 2026-07-10
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