Navigation is where the Great Firewall causes the most friction for international travellers. Google Maps is heavily degraded in China — it loads slowly via VPN, satellite imagery is intentionally offset, and public transit routing is incomplete or absent. Getting this right before you arrive prevents a lot of getting lost.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
- Why Google Maps Doesn’t Work Well in China
- Amap / AutoNavi (高德地图) — Best Overall for Foreigners
- Baidu Maps (百度地图) — Strong but Less Foreigner-Friendly
- Apple Maps in China
- Google Maps: What Actually Works
- Specific Use Cases: Which App for What
- Translating Maps and Signs
- Offline vs Online Maps: What to Download
Why Google Maps Doesn’t Work Well in China
Two distinct problems affect Google Maps in China:
-
Firewall blocking: Google services are blocked by the Great Firewall. Without a VPN, Google Maps won’t load at all. With a VPN, it loads slowly and unreliably.
-
Coordinate offset: China mandates a proprietary coordinate system called GCJ-02 (informally “Mars Coordinates”). Google Maps uses WGS-84. This means that even if Google Maps loads, street-level positions are shifted by up to 500 metres in China — you appear to be a block away from where you actually are, walking directions become unreliable, and “you have arrived” may trigger half a street from your actual destination.
The solution: use Chinese mapping apps, which all use GCJ-02 natively.
Amap / AutoNavi (高德地图) — Best Overall for Foreigners
Amap (known in Chinese as 高德地图, Gāodé Dìtú, or “AutoNavi”) is owned by Alibaba and consistently rated the most accurate for:
- Walking directions
- Public transit routing
- Traffic conditions
- Points of interest density
Foreigner-friendly features
- English interface available (tap the profile icon → Language Settings → English)
- English point-of-interest search
- Offline map downloads (essential for areas with poor connectivity)
- Integrated DiDi ride-hailing (call a taxi from within the app)
- Indoor maps for major airports and malls
Setup
- Download 高德地图 or search “Amap” on the App Store (it appears as “Amap-Map Navigation & Transit”)
- Allow location access
- Switch to English in settings
- Download the offline map for your primary region (Wi-Fi recommended)
Rating: ★★★★★ — The recommended choice for most travellers.
Baidu Maps (百度地图) — Strong but Less Foreigner-Friendly
Baidu Maps has slightly larger coverage in rural and remote areas, and arguably more complete satellite imagery. However:
- The app interface is primarily in Chinese; English mode is limited
- Pinyin address input works but is less intuitive
- Some features require a Chinese mobile number for full access
Best for: Travellers who read Chinese or have Chinese-speaking travel companions.
Apple Maps in China
Since 2019, Apple Maps in China uses AutoNavi (Amap) data as its underlying map provider. This means:
- Apple Maps works correctly in China (no coordinate offset)
- Transit routing is accurate in major cities
- Street-level navigation is correct
Limitations:
- Not as feature-rich as Amap directly
- Some smaller towns and rural areas have incomplete transit data
Rating: ★★★★ — A reliable built-in option if you prefer the Apple interface. Does not require any setup.
Google Maps: What Actually Works
Despite the problems, Google Maps has limited utility in China:
What still works (usually):
- Finding the general area of a destination
- Checking opening hours and user reviews (if these were synced before you left)
- Reading cached offline maps (download before entering China)
Download offline maps before you go:
- Open Google Maps in your home country
- Navigate to the city you’re visiting
- Tap your profile photo → Offline Maps → Download
- Select the region and download (requires 200–500MB per city)
Cached offline maps bypass the firewall block and show correct route lines — though transit updates and live traffic won’t work.
Specific Use Cases: Which App for What
Walking directions in a city
Winner: Amap (精准, reliable to within 10 metres for walking routes)
Metro and bus navigation
Winner: Amap for most cities. Apple Maps also good. Cross-reference with the city’s own official transit app (see our metro guide).
Rural and hiking areas
Winner: Baidu Maps (better satellite coverage). Also consider: Bigemap or Kaituhi for serious hiking, which use OSM + local data.
Driving
Winner: Amap or Baidu Maps (both have real-time traffic and speed camera alerts). Note: International visitors technically cannot drive in China without a Chinese driving licence — car rentals are impractical.
Finding restaurants, hotels, attractions
- Amap: good POI data, user reviews
- Dianping (大众点评): best for restaurant reviews and finding places to eat by cuisine and price (see separate guide)
- Mafengwo (马蜂窝): travel-specific POIs and traveller reviews
Translating Maps and Signs
When a street sign or building name is only in Chinese characters:
- Google Translate (camera mode): point your phone at text for live translation. Works offline after downloading Chinese language pack.
- Pleco: excellent Chinese dictionary with character handwriting input and OCR (scan characters you can’t type).
- Amap: if you find the location name in Chinese characters, paste it into Amap search for precise directions.
Offline vs Online Maps: What to Download
Before entering China (on your home Wi-Fi):
- Amap: download offline maps for each city you’ll visit
- Google Maps: download offline maps for city centres as a backup
- Translate: download the Chinese language pack for offline camera translation
Offline maps are essential backup for: rural areas, subway dead zones, and situations where your VPN is slow.
Last updated: May 2026 · App interfaces and features change with updates. Screenshots may differ.