Maps & Navigation in China — How to Not Get Lost

Maps & Navigation in China

Priority: 🟡 Learn before your trip

Google Maps has very limited functionality in China — navigation doesn't work, many locations are missing, and the data is outdated. You need a Chinese map app.

The Problem with Google Maps in China

• ❌ Navigation (driving/walking directions) doesn't work
• ❌ Many businesses and POIs are missing
• ❌ No real-time traffic data
• ❌ Address search is unreliable
• ❌ Requires VPN to access

Use Amap (Gaode Maps) Instead

Amap (高德地图) is China's most popular navigation app. It's like Google Maps but with much better data for China.

How to Get It

• iOS: Search "Amap" or "高德地图" in the App Store
• Android: Download from the Amap website (Google Play is blocked in China)

How to Use It (Even Though It's in Chinese)

The interface is primarily in Chinese, but you can still use it effectively:

Searching for Places

1. Search in English: Some popular tourist spots appear in English
2. Search in Pinyin: Type the pinyin of a place name (e.g., "Chunxi Road" for 春熙路)
3. Copy-paste Chinese: Copy the Chinese name from Google/TripAdvisor and paste into Amap
4. Use coordinates: If you have GPS coordinates, paste them directly

Navigation

1. Search for your destination
2. Tap the blue "路线" (Route) button
3. Choose: 🚗 Drive | 🚌 Transit | 🚶 Walk | 🚲 Bike
4. The app shows routes with time estimates
5. Tap "开始导航" (Start Navigation) to begin turn-by-turn directions

Key Chinese Words to Know

Alternative: Maps.me

Maps.me is an offline map app that works in China:

• ✅ Works without internet (download maps in advance)
• ✅ English interface
• ✅ Good for hiking and outdoor activities
• ❌ POI data is less complete than Amap
• ❌ Navigation is less accurate
• ❌ Some hotels/restaurants are missing

💡 Pro tip: Use Maps.me for offline backup and hiking trails, but Amap for day-to-day navigation.

How Chinese Addresses Work

Chinese addresses are written in the opposite order from English:

• English: Street → City → State → Country
• Chinese: Country → Province → City → District → Street → Building

Example:

• English: 88 Chunxi Road, Jinjiang District, Chengdu
• Chinese: 成都市锦江区春熙路88号

When entering an address in Amap, you usually just need the street name and number or the landmark name.

Finding Your Way Back to Your Hotel

Before you leave your hotel each morning:

1. Open Amap
2. Tap on your hotel location
3. Tap "收藏" (Save/Bookmark) — the star icon
4. Now you can always navigate back by tapping the saved location

💡 Pro tip: Take a photo of your hotel's business card (usually at the front desk). It has the Chinese address, which you can show to taxi drivers or paste into Amap.

Getting a Taxi Without Chinese

If you can't use Didi and need to hail a taxi:

1. Open Amap and find your destination
2. Show the map screen to the driver — they can see the location
3. Or take a screenshot of the Chinese address and show it to the driver
4. Use the "附近" (Nearby) feature to find your hotel's exact Chinese name

FAQ

Does Google Maps work in China? No. Google Maps navigation doesn't work in China, many locations are missing, and real-time traffic data is unavailable. You also need a VPN to access Google Maps.

What is the best map app for China? Amap (高德地图) is the most recommended. It has the most complete POI data, accurate navigation, and real-time traffic. It works on both iOS and Android.

Can I use Amap in English? Partially. The interface is primarily in Chinese, but you can search for popular tourist spots in English. For best results, search using pinyin (e.g., "Chunxi Road" for 春熙路) or copy-paste Chinese text.

How do I navigate Chinese addresses in Amap? Chinese addresses are written in reverse order from English: Country → Province → City → District → Street → Building. In Amap, you usually only need the street name and number, or a landmark name.

Can I get around Chengdu without knowing Chinese? Yes. Download Amap and set it up before your trip. Use the photo-of-hotel-card trick: take a photo of your hotel's Chinese address card (available at the front desk) to show taxi drivers or paste into Amap.

Is offline maps available for China? Yes. Amap has offline map download functionality. Download city maps before you go to ensure navigation works without a stable data connection.