To survive as a student in China, you must install WeChat for communication, Alipay for payments, Baidu Maps for navigation, Didi for transportation, and Pleco for language translation to navigate daily life easily.
The must-have apps every international student in China needs to install in their first week — payments, maps, delivery, study and more.
Life in China runs on apps. Installing and setting up the right ones in your first week will make daily life dramatically easier. Here are the apps every international student needs.
Essential apps
- WeChat — messaging, payments, mini-programs, university communication. The single most important app in China.
- Alipay — the second payment app; some merchants only take one. Link your bank card.
- Taobao — the main shopping app; anything you need, delivered in 1–3 days.
- Pinduoduo — cheaper than Taobao for everyday items; great for bulk dorm shopping.
- Meituan — food delivery, movie tickets, group buys, local services.
- Ele.me — the alternative food delivery app (owned by Alibaba).
- Didi — ride-hailing, the Chinese Uber.
- Amap (Gaode) — maps and navigation; better than Google Maps in China for local detail.
- 12306 — official high-speed rail and train booking app.
- Baidu Maps — backup maps; good for transit.
- Ctrip / Trip.com — flights, hotels, trains, international travel.
University and study apps
- DingTalk — used by many universities for class groups and attendance
- Tencent Meeting / Zoom — online classes and interviews
- SuperStar / Xuexitong / Chao Xing — learning management systems used in Chinese universities
- Pleco — the best offline Chinese dictionary app (essential)
- Anki / Quizlet — for HSK vocabulary memorization
- HelloChinese — beginner Chinese learning app
Payments and banking
- Bank apps (ICBC, Bank of China, China Merchants) — to top up WeChat Pay / Alipay
- XE Currency — to track exchange rates
VPN note
Some home-country services (WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google) require a VPN in China. Install and test your VPN before arrival — installing one inside China can be unreliable.
Install these in the first 24 hours and your daily life in China will feel effortless within a week.
People also ask
Quick, clear answers to the questions students search for most.
Need help studying in China?
StudyInChina provides university selection, scholarship assistance, application support, visa guidance and one-on-one student consultation — free, within 24 hours.
The StudyInChina Education Team is a group of admissions advisors, scholarship specialists and former international students who have guided thousands of applicants into Chinese universities. This article is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly.
Last updated 9 Sept 2026
