CHINA TRAVEL · trisAino
How Amap helps international visitors navigate China in their own language
Amap—China's Gaode Map—offers multilingual features that cover everything from pre-departure preparation to emergency contacts on the ground. Here's what the app can do at each stage of your trip.
A map app that actually speaks your language
You're planning a trip to China, and one of the first practical questions is which map app will work once you land. Amap—known domestically as Gaode Map—offers multilingual services for international visitors, covering entry information before departure, arrival guidance, city navigation, local recommendations, and emergency contact information during a stay.
The services are available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, and Korean.
Before you fly: saving the details that matter
Check entry information. Amap provides pre-arrival details on entry requirements and guidance on completing arrival cards, along with notes on local customs—useful background you can review while still at home.
Save your hotel and planned destinations. You can store accommodation details and key places you intend to visit in advance, which makes it easier to arrange transportation once you're on the ground.
Having your hotel address already loaded in a Chinese map app saves you from fumbling with characters at a taxi rank after a long flight—a small step that pays off quickly.
Touching down: from the arrivals hall to your hotel
Once you land, Amap offers guidance on airport arrival procedures and internet access—two things that tend to feel urgent the moment you step off the plane. Based on your current location and any hotel information you saved earlier, the app can suggest route options by taxi or public transportation to get you to your accommodation.
The platform also provides bilingual phrase cards designed to help travelers communicate with drivers, hotel staff, or passers-by. If your Mandarin doesn't stretch beyond nǐ hǎo, these cards can bridge the gap when you need to explain where you're headed.
Getting around once you've settled in
During your stay, you can search for nearby restaurants, attractions, shopping areas, and other places of interest based on your location and saved destinations. If you're visiting more than one city, Amap lets you organize hotel and destination details by city and switch between plans—handy for a trip that hops from Shanghai to Hangzhou or beyond.
City-specific curated lists add another layer. In Shanghai, the service features "Shanghai Style" and "Made in Shanghai" lists highlighting local brands, time-honored businesses, traditional crafts, customized products and services, and cultural and shopping destinations—the kind of recommendations that point you toward places with local character.
A couple of things worth knowing
Emergency contact numbers and selected public service information are available within the app. The main services can be accessed without logging in, which reduces the steps required for first-time users.
Consider downloading and exploring the app before your trip so you're familiar with the interface while you still have reliable Wi-Fi.