When you first arrive in China to teach, daily tasks like getting to school, ordering lunch, or paying for groceries can feel unfamiliar. These are the apps that make those things easy.

1. Messaging & Payments – Your Digital Wallet

→ WeChat and Alipay are the foundation of life in China.

• WeChat

  • Messaging: all work and personal chats happen here.

  • Payments: scan any restaurant, shop, or street vendor.

  • Mini‑programs: order food, pay rent, call a taxi – all inside WeChat.

• Alipay

  • Alternative payment system, often works better with international cards.

  • Pay utilities (electricity, water, internet).

◆Related guide: Step-by-Step Guide to Opening a Chinese Bank Card and Mobile Payment for Foreign Teachers in China – Get your payment methods fully set up.

2. Transportation – Getting Around Seamlessly

→ Covers taxi, subway, bus, bike sharing, maps, and train travel.

• Didi – Ride hailing

  • Type your destination in English or paste Chinese address. GPS navigation means no language barrier with drivers.

• Baidu Maps – Navigation & public transit

  • Accurate subway/bus routes, real‑time bus locations, walking directions.

  • Offline maps available.

• MetroMan (or city‑specific metro app) – Subway only

  • First/last train times, station exit info, journey time between stations. Works offline.

• Shared bikes – Meituan Bike or HelloBike

  • Scan the QR code on any bike with the Meituan app or HelloBike app. Cheap and fast for short trips.

• Railway 12306 / Trip.com – Train & flight booking

  • 12306 is the official rail app (passport registration works). Trip.com offers English interface for trains, flights, and hotels.

▷Quick tip: Alipay and WeChat also have built‑in transport mini‑programs for buses, subway, and bikes – you may not need separate apps.

◆More transport tips: Getting Around China: A Foreign Teacher's Survival Kit – From taxis to high-speed trains, everything you need to know.

3. Food Delivery & Online Shopping

→ Combined for your daily needs – from lunch to electronics.

• Taobao Flash Buy  – Food delivery (formerly Ele.me)

  • Send groceries, meals, coffee, and snacks to your school or apartment in ~30 minutes.

  • English interface available; pay with WeChat or Alipay.

• JD.com  – Shopping for anything

  • Reliable electronics, household items, imported food. Usually delivers next day.

  • Important: JD does NOT accept Alipay. Use WeChat Pay, bank card, or JD’s own payment system.

• Taobao  – General shopping (clothes, furniture, gifts)

  • Massive selection. Translate product pages using Pleco or browser translation. Pay with Alipay.

◆Want more shopping advice? Check out Shopping in China: The Ultimate Guide for Foreign Teachers.

4. Translation & Teaching Support

→ One essential app for reading everything around you.

• Pleco

  • Point your camera at menus, signs, student notes – instant translation.

  • Audio pronunciation, stroke order, and vocabulary lists.

5. Entertainment & Social Discovery

→ What Chinese people actually use for fun and trends.

• Douyin  – Short videos

  • Chinese equivalent of TikTok. Discover local food, funny skits, and even English teaching content.

• Xiaohongshu  – Lifestyle & recommendations

  • Search "foreign teacher in China" to find tips on apartments, restaurant deals, weekend trips.

  • Great for seeing what's popular near you.

★ Quick Summary Table

Category	App	Main Use
Messaging & Payment	WeChat, Alipay	Chat, pay everywhere
Transportation	Didi, Baidu Maps, MetroMan, Meituan Bike, 12306	Taxi, navigation, subway, bikes, trains
Food & Shopping	Taobao Flash Buy, JD.com, Taobao	Food delivery, online shopping
Translation	Pleco	Camera translation, dictionary
Entertainment	Douyin, Xiaohongshu	Videos, lifestyle discovery