How to Navigate in China
Google Maps doesn't work well in China. It has inaccurate positioning, missing street names, and no real-time traffic. Instead, everyone in China uses AMap (高德地图, gāo dé dì tú) or Baidu Maps (百度地图). This guide focuses on AMap — the most popular navigation app.
📄 Navigation Apps in China
| App | Accuracy | English | Offline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ AMap (高德地图) | Excellent | Partial (Pinyin search) | ✓ Yes | Daily navigation, transit |
| Baidu Maps (百度地图) | Excellent | Minimal | ✓ Yes | Indoor navigation (malls) |
| ❌ Google Maps | Poor | English | Limited | Avoid in China |
| Apple Maps | Good | English | Limited | Uses AMap data in China |
📱 How to Use AMap (高德地图)
Download AMap Before You Need It
Download 高德地图 (AMap) from your app store before arriving in China (or via VPN after arrival). The app icon is a blue circle with a white map pin. Search "AMap" or "Gaode" in your app store. If you search "高德地图" in the Apple App Store China, it's the first result.
Search in English or Pinyin
AMap understands Pinyin (Chinese romanization) and some English. Try these search strategies:
- English names work for major places: "Beijing Capital Airport", "Shanghai Disney", "Shenzhen Bay"
- Pinyin works for almost everything: "wangfujing" (王府井), "dongmen" (东门), "tiananmen" (天安门)
- Chinese characters work best: If you have the Chinese name of your destination, paste it directly into AMap. Always save your hotel address in Chinese before your trip.
Share Your Location (The Most Useful Feature)
When a Chinese friend asks "Where are you?" or a DiDi driver can't find you, this is the fastest way to share your exact location:
- Open WeChat.
- Open the chat with the person you want to share with.
- Tap the + button (bottom right) → tap Location (位置).
- Choose "Share Real-Time Location" (共享实时位置) or "Send Location" (发送位置).
- You can also tap the AMap icon inside WeChat — it opens AMap directly with your current location pinned.
For DiDi: If the driver can't find you, open your DiDi trip page and tap the "Share My Location" button — it sends your exact GPS coordinates to the driver via WeChat.
Use Public Transit Mode
AMap's public transit mode is excellent. Here's how to use it:
- Enter your destination.
- At the bottom, tap the bus icon (公交) for public transit mode.
- AMap shows you: metro + bus routes, estimated time, cost, and walking directions to each stop.
- It updates in real-time if you miss your stop or need to transfer.
- The metro maps in the app are accurate and English-friendly (major cities have English station names).
Download Offline Maps
No internet? No problem. AMap lets you download city maps for offline use:
- Open AMap → tap "Me" (我的, bottom right).
- Tap "Offline Maps" (离线地图).
- Search for the city you're visiting (e.g., "Beijing", "Shanghai").
- Tap "Download" (下载). Each city is about 200-500MB.
- Once downloaded, you can navigate the city without any internet connection.
⚠️ Download these maps before you arrive, using your home WiFi. They're too large to download on mobile data quickly.
💡 Navigation Tips for China
🌏 Addresses Are "Big to Small"
Chinese addresses go from largest to smallest: City → District → Street → Building. For example: "Shenzhen, Nanshan District, Keyuan Road, Building 3" instead of "3 Keyuan Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen". This confuses many foreigners but AMap handles both formats.
🏧 Elevator / Floor Confusion
In China, 一楼 (1F) = ground floor. In some malls, G层 (Ground) = ground floor and 1F = second floor. B1 = basement 1, B2 = basement 2. When entering a building, look at the elevator panel for the button labels.
📍 Lost? Use WeChat Location
If you're lost and need to tell someone where you are, don't try to describe it in English. Open WeChat, find the person's chat, tap + → Location → Share Real-Time Location. They'll see your exact location on a map. This is how Chinese people do it.
🚌 Metro Station Exits
Chinese metro stations have multiple exits labeled A, B, C, D (sometimes A1, A2, B1, etc.). Always check which exit to use. Different exits lead to completely different streets. AMap tells you which exit to take — pay attention to it.
🔧 Common Problems & Fixes
"AMap is all in Chinese, I can't read it"
The app is primarily in Chinese, but navigation is visual. You only need to: (1) Search your destination, (2) Tap the green "Go" button, (3) Follow the blue line and voice instructions. The app announces turns in Chinese but the visual directions are universal.
"I searched an English name and nothing came up"
Try Pinyin instead (e.g., "wudaokou" instead of "Five Corners"). If that fails, ask your hotel to write the address in Chinese and paste it into AMap. Most Chinese addresses have one standard translation.
"I have no internet — how do I navigate?"
If you downloaded the offline map before you needed it, AMap works completely offline. You can search saved locations and get walking directions. Public transit routing requires internet, but the downloaded map still shows your location and nearby streets.
"I'm walking and the direction says 'head north' — which way is north?"
Open AMap or any map app and look for the compass icon. If there's a compass, the top of the screen is north. Follow the blue dot's direction — it shows which way you're facing. In practice, just walk in the direction the blue line on the map is pointing.
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⚠️ Note
AMap is updated frequently. The interface may look slightly different from the screenshots above, but the core features remain the same. For the best experience, keep the app updated. Last verified: June 2026.