China Apps Guides: Dianping, Meituan, Taobao & More 2026

Guides in this category

How do foreigners use Dianping?With a translation app running alongside it — Dianping's interface is mostly Chinese-onlyJul 2026 Can I use Meituan in English?Yes — Language lists English. Hotels and restaurants are translated; delivery checkout stays Chinese.Aug 2026 Can I use Taobao in English?Partially — Taobao has a built-in translation toggle, but it's not a full English localisationJul 2026 How do I book train tickets on 12306?Through 12306, China Railway's official platform — it has an English interfaceJul 2026 How do foreigners set up WeChat?Download the app, verify with your home phone number, and you're set for messagingJul 2026 Is Alipay Tour Pass discontinued — what replaced it?Widely reported as wound down — the confirmed current path is direct card bindingJul 2026 Amap or Baidu Maps: which one should foreigners use in China?For most foreign travelers, AMap Global is the more practical pickJul 2026 How do foreigners use Xiaohongshu (RED)?Chinese-first with no full English mode — usable with a translation app alongside itJul 2026 How do I book travel on Trip.com?With your passport details, the same way you would on any international travel siteJul 2026 Can tourists use robotaxis in China?Sometimes — access is reported as limited and varies a lot by cityJul 2026

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. Our /en/apps profile pages cover individual apps (like Amap) in more depth as standalone entries.

How foreigners actually use them

Dianping

China's Yelp equivalent — no English mode, but photo browsing and translation apps cover most of it.

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Meituan

Language has English. Hotels and restaurants are translated; delivery checkout stays Chinese. Pay with Alipay.

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Taobao

A built-in translation toggle covers browsing — plus a section for shoppers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

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12306

China Railway's official platform — has an English interface and passport-based registration.

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WeChat setup

Registration, QR-code contacts, and Moments — the messaging side, separate from payments. Dianping, Meituan, and WeChat are Chinese-first with no full English mode.

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Tour Pass

A freshness check on an area older guides commonly get wrong, plus the current confirmed setup path.

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Amap or Baidu

Which map app foreign travelers should pick — English support, coordinate accuracy, and the download to avoid.

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