Quick Answer (30 Seconds)
For walking navigation in China, install Amap (Gaode Ditu) or Baidu Maps — either works. Both support switching to an English interface, you can paste Chinese addresses directly into the search bar, and walking, subway, and taxis are all handled in one app. Apple Maps works in China (data provided by Amap), but features are limited. Google Maps requires a VPN to even connect in China, and its data is outdated — don't rely on it. Before heading out, download offline maps for your destination city over WiFi — you know how China's network can be. Amap also has a built-in ride-hailing feature, so you can call a car directly.
Bottom line: Pick Amap or Baidu — one of them. Break your Google Maps dependency ASAP.
Full Guide
My first month in China, I survived entirely on Google Maps. After getting lost in hutongs three times and being led into dead ends twice, I surrendered and downloaded Amap. In hindsight, I should have switched way earlier.
Amap (Gaode Ditu)
Amap is one of China's biggest map apps and my go-to navigator. Why I chose it:
- English interface — You can switch the language in Settings (Chinese/English). Road names and POI names display in English. Some POI (point of interest) translations are mediocre, but generally usable.
- Paste Chinese addresses — Just paste a Chinese address (the kind your hotel front desk gives you) directly into the search bar. Recognition rate is very high.
- Walking navigation — Precise down to hutong (alley) level. Pedestrian overpasses and underground passages are clearly marked.
- Subway transfers — Enter your start and end points, and it automatically plans the optimal subway route, telling you which line and which exit to use.
- Ride-hailing integration — The app has a built-in ride-hailing entry that aggregates DiDi, T3, and other platforms — no need to open a separate app.
- Offline maps — You can download city offline packs for navigation without internet.
Baidu Maps
Baidu Maps is the other option, with basically equivalent features to Amap:
- English interface — Also supports English language switching.
- Strengths — In some regions (especially northern cities), POI coverage is more complete; real-time bus arrival info is decent.
- Weaknesses — Roughly on par with Amap, with no overwhelming advantage.
- Recommendation — Install one of the two. Amap is slightly better in southern cities, Baidu slightly better in the north, but the difference is negligible — pick either.
Apple Maps
- Usable — Apple Maps works in mainland China, with data provided by Amap. Navigation and search both function.
- Drawbacks — Less information than Amap/Baidu, mediocre public transit planning, incomplete POI database. The interface is what you're used to, but the features are a tier below.
- Who it's for — People who don't want to install a new app and only need basic navigation. For serious use, go with Amap/Baidu.
Google Maps
- VPN required — In mainland China, Google Maps requires a VPN to connect, and even then it frequently fails.
- Inaccurate data — Even when connected, Google's data for China hasn't been updated in years. Many new places don't show up, and navigation routes are outdated. Even with a VPN, don't rely on it.
- Verdict — Unless you're just checking a rough location on hotel WiFi, skip it.
Navigation Tips (For Foreigners)
- Paste Chinese addresses — Ask your hotel front desk or restaurant owner to write the address in Chinese for you (or copy it directly from Dianping/Meituan). Paste it into Amap's search bar — it's 100x more accurate than searching in English.
- Pinyin also works — Amap supports pinyin search, e.g., searching "wangfujing" will find Wangfujing (王府井). But Chinese is the most reliable.
- Screenshot method — After finding a location, screenshot it and show the screenshot to your taxi driver. Drivers don't read English — Chinese text or a map screenshot is most effective.
- Bookmark common locations — Save your hotel and frequently visited places for one-tap navigation.
- Trust the walking time — Chinese cities are huge. If Amap says "25-minute walk," believe it — don't overestimate your stamina.
Downloading Offline Maps
- Connect to WiFi at your hotel, open Amap/Baidu, go to "Offline Maps" (Amap: Me → Offline Maps), and download the cities you plan to visit (Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc.).
- Individual city packs range from tens to hundreds of MB. Download all the cities on your itinerary.
- Offline mode allows navigation (routes may not be the latest), but you can't check real-time traffic or hail rides.
Ride-Hailing Integration
- Amap has built-in ride-hailing: enter destination → tap "Ride" (打车) → select car type (Economy/Comfort/Premium) → confirm price → wait for a driver to accept. It aggregates DiDi and other platforms — whoever's fastest gets your ride.
- Baidu Maps has a similar ride-hailing entry.
- This way, one app handles "find route → call car" without switching between apps.
Disaster Manual
Disaster Scenario 1: Can't Find a Place in English
Problem: You search "Wangfujing Street" in Amap using English, and get a pile of irrelevant results.
What to do:
- Even with the English interface, entering Chinese into the search bar is most reliable. Ask the front desk to write the address in Chinese.
- Try pinyin (wangfujing) — Amap's pinyin support is decent.
- Still no luck? Open Dianping/Meituan, copy the merchant's address, and paste it into Amap.
- Ultimate fallback: screenshot it and show a taxi driver, or let the driver search.
Disaster Scenario 2: GPS Drift, Getting Led Somewhere Weird
Problem: You're in a downtown area surrounded by skyscrapers, and the blue arrow on the map is bouncing all over the place, with navigation telling you to walk through walls.
What to do:
- GPS signal degrading in dense building areas is normal — your phone isn't broken.
- Walk to an open area (intersection, plaza) and wait a few seconds. The location will recalibrate.
- Don't fully rely on the arrow direction — cross-reference with street names (Amap displays the street you're currently on).
- Indoors (malls, subway stations), just follow the signs — don't fight the GPS.
Disaster Scenario 3: No Offline Map, Bad Signal
Problem: You arrive somewhere with poor signal, didn't download the offline map, and navigation keeps spinning.
What to do:
- Don't panic. Walk toward an open area — many places just have temporarily weak signal.
- Find a nearby mall, Starbucks, or McDonald's to leech WiFi (Chinese chain store WiFi is generally free, often without a password).
- Truly no internet? Follow street signs + ask for directions, or just hail a taxi and let the driver lead the way (they don't rely on your internet).
- Lesson: Every time you arrive in a new city, connect to WiFi and download the offline map first.
Information verified: August 2026 · Sources: Amap App (App Store), Baidu Maps App (App Store), Apple Maps feature documentation · App features may update — check the current version.
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