What apps do I need before flying to China?

These two QR-code apps cover almost every purchase in China. Link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to each before departure; the verification step is much easier on home WiFi. The related questions below cover whether Venmo and PayPal work (they don't) and exactly where Apple Pay helps.

Google Maps is unreliable inside mainland China — the map data is offset and transit directions are poor. Apple Maps works well, and Amap (Gaode) is the local standard with the best transit and walking directions, though its interface is mostly in Chinese.

DiDi is China's equivalent of Uber, with an English mode and payment through Alipay. It's the cleanest way to get a car without negotiating fares or speaking Chinese. Save your hotel as an address in Chinese characters so drivers know exactly where to go.

Install Google Translate and download the offline Chinese pack before you fly, so it works even without a connection. Pleco is the best Chinese dictionary and excellent for menus. Camera translation handles signs and menus on the spot.

Buy an international eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily), install it at home, and activate it on landing. A good travel eSIM keeps Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram working without a VPN — see the related question below on eSIM versus VPN.