MOST USEFUL APPS IN CHINA

1. Wechat

Of all the apps that you need in China, WeChat definitely deserves a place on the top of the list. It is not only the means of communication between friends and family, but many companies have started using WeChat for professional communication channel as well, especially companies with more young people who typically find it a pain to send emails. WeChat also acts as your virtual wallet, as almost all stores and restaurants in China, even the street vendors not only accept but actually prefer to receive payments through WeChat Pay or Alipay. It also acts as a platform that other apps and run on through WeChat mini programs, so that you can order takeout, call a taxi, go online shopping or even rent apartments all in one app.

2. Taobao

As the largest e-commerce company in China, Taobao offers a plethora of options for anything you want to buy from clothes, electronics to those ingenious little gadgets you didn’t think would exist. Shipping is fast in China and you can receive what you order typically within three days. Taobao only works with Alipay, which is another payment service widely accepted in China, provided by Taobao’s parent company Alibaba group. 

3.VPN

As we all know that China has blocked many foreign websites such as Facebook, Youtube, Instagram etc. If you come to China, you cannot open these apps without VPN, so try to get a stable VPN is necessary when you are in China. There are many VPN apps in your APP store you can choose. Here are some pop ones among foreigners, for instance: Experess VPN, Lord VPN, Pisphon VPN, Shadowsocks etc 

4. Meituan/Eleme

These are the two most popular takeout platforms and offer a myriad of choices when you don’t feel like leaving the room for food or have just gotten tired of the restaurants near campus. Food will arrive typically within 20 minutes to an hour depending on how far the restaurant is and you can track where your food is as it’s being delivered real-time on the map to more efficiently plan your time before the food arrives.

5. Didi/Xiangdao

These Didi is the main ride-sharing app used in China. They have English version of the app, with all the major points of interest database as well; If you want to go somewhere but don't want to take public bus or metro, Didi is the best option to get a cab. With Didi, it will locate your pickup based on GPS, type in your destination address, and the driver will pick you up based on your location! You even don't need to know Chinese or speak Chinese.