Useful Apps
In Sanya, a smartphone is all you need to manage dining, transport, payments, and sightseeing.
To make your journey smoother and more convenient, we’ve curated a list of essential travel apps widely used in China. We recommend downloading and setting them up before departure.
Transportation & Navigation
AMAP (Gaode Map)
One of the most accurate navigation apps in China. It provides detailed walking and driving routes, real-time traffic updates, and comprehensive public transport information.
DIDI (DiDi Chuxing)
China’s equivalent of Uber. With one-tap ride hailing, it offers taxis, standard rides, and premium services. The interface is user-friendly, and address inputs are often auto-translated for convenience.
12306 (China Railway 12306)
The official ticketing app of China Railway. If you plan to travel around Hainan by high-speed train, this is the most reliable and authoritative platform for purchasing rail tickets.
Payments & Social Connectivity
Alipay
More than just a payment app—it’s an all-in-one daily life assistant. Alipay supports linking international bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), enabling easy QR-code payments, and also integrates services such as ride-hailing and ticket booking.
WeChat
China’s most widely used social app. Beyond messaging and staying in touch, its built-in WeChat Pay is one of the most commonly accepted mobile payment methods across the country.
Travel & Local Living
Trip / Ctrip
Trip is the international version designed for overseas users, while Ctrip is the Chinese version. Both are leading platforms for booking hotels, flights, train tickets, and attraction tickets.
Meituan
A must-have app for discovering local food. Browse nearby restaurants, read user reviews, or order food delivery. It also offers group deals and discounts for a wide range of everyday services.
Language Assistance
Tencent Translator
A simple and reliable translation tool supporting voice and photo translation. Whether you’re reading a Chinese menu or navigating street signs, it serves as a handy on-the-go language companion.
Scan below to download: