How to Use Amap in China: A Practical Guide for Foreign Travelers

Last updated: July 15, 2026

If you are traveling to China, Amap is one of the first apps you should install before you leave your hotel. Known in Chinese as Gaode Maps or Gaode Ditu, Amap is a local navigation app developed by AutoNavi. It is widely used across mainland China for walking directions, public transport, driving routes, live traffic, bike routes, taxi hailing, and place searches.

For many foreign travelers, the most important point is simple: Amap is often more useful in China than Google Maps. Google Maps may still help with a general sense of geography, but it is not always the best choice for current local transport, accurate business listings, subway exits, building entrances, and route details inside Chinese cities. Amap is built for the local map ecosystem, so it usually gives better street-level information when you are actually moving around.

This guide explains how to download Amap, set it up, search for places, use it for walking and public transportation, and avoid the common mistakes that make navigation in China harder than it needs to be.

Official Amap Download Links

The international store listing is currently called AMap Global. App names and availability can change by country or region, so if a link does not open, search your app store for AMap Global and check that the developer is AutoNavi Information Technology Co. Ltd.

If you are planning the rest of your phone setup for China, read our broader guide to essential China travel apps. Amap works best when it is installed together with payment, translation, messaging, and mobile data tools.

Traveler using a smartphone map app near a subway entrance in a Chinese city
Amap is most useful when you use it as your street-level navigation app after arriving in China.

Why Foreign Travelers Need Amap in China

China is easy to travel in once your phone is ready, but the local digital environment is different from what many visitors expect. Addresses are often written in Chinese characters, attractions may have several English translations, and a hotel entrance might not be exactly where an international booking app places the pin. Subway exits can also matter a lot. The right exit may put you across the street from your hotel; the wrong one may leave you hauling luggage around a large intersection.

Amap helps because it is designed around the way people actually move through Chinese cities. It can show walking routes, metro transfers, road traffic, bus lines, cycling options, and taxi pickup points. In large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, and Hangzhou, it is especially helpful for short everyday decisions: which metro exit to take, whether a taxi is faster than the subway, how long a walk really is, and where the entrance to a mall, museum, station, or hotel might be.

Amap is not perfect for every foreign traveler. Some place names, reviews, promotions, and service screens may still appear in Chinese. However, even if you use another app for planning, Amap is worth keeping as your on-the-ground navigation tool once you are in China.

Set Up Amap Before You Go Out

Install Amap before your first full day in China, ideally while you still have reliable Wi-Fi at your hotel. Open the app, allow location access, and check whether the interface language is comfortable for you. The AMap Global listing is aimed at international users, but the exact language experience can vary by device, region, and app version.

Before you leave the hotel, complete these basic steps:

  1. Allow location permission while using the app.
  2. Make sure your phone has mobile data through roaming, an eSIM, or a local SIM.
  3. Save your hotel name and address in Chinese if possible.
  4. Search your first destination before leaving the lobby.
  5. Take a screenshot of the route in case your connection drops underground or in a crowded area.

If you are staying in a hotel, ask the front desk for the Chinese name and address of the property. Save it in your notes app and in Amap. This is also useful for taxi drivers, delivery riders, and anyone helping you on the street.

How to Search for Places in Amap

Searching is where many visitors get stuck. The same place may appear under an English name, a pinyin name, a Chinese name, or a translated name that does not match what you saw on Google, Trip.com, Apple Maps, or your hotel booking. If one search does not work, try another version before assuming the place is missing.

For the most reliable results, use this search order:

  1. Search the English name first, especially for major attractions, airports, railway stations, and famous hotels.
  2. If results look weak, paste the Chinese name from your booking app, official website, museum ticket page, or hotel confirmation.
  3. Use nearby landmarks, district names, or metro station names to confirm the pin.
  4. Check photos, opening hours, and the surrounding map before starting navigation.

For hotels, the Chinese name matters a lot. International hotel brands may have several branches in the same city, and a single English name can point to the wrong property. For restaurants and small businesses, the Chinese name is usually more accurate than the English one. When in doubt, compare the phone number, street, nearby mall, or nearest metro station.

For attractions, Amap is useful but should not be your only planning source. Some scenic areas have multiple gates, ticket entrances, shuttle bus stops, and visitor centers. Always check whether your route goes to the correct entrance, not just the center of a large park or attraction area.

Using Amap for Walking Directions

Walking directions are one of Amap’s strongest everyday features. In Chinese cities, the shortest route is not always the most comfortable route. Large roads may require pedestrian bridges, underpasses, or long crosswalk loops. Amap can often help you understand these details better than a simple point-to-point map.

When using walking navigation, zoom in before you start. Look for road crossings, station exits, mall entrances, river crossings, and building access points. If your destination is inside a mall, railway station, hospital, university, or scenic area, the final 200 meters may be more confusing than the rest of the trip.

A practical habit is to start navigation while you are still standing still, then walk only after the direction arrow has settled. Dense streets, tall buildings, and underground passages can briefly confuse your phone’s compass. If the arrow points the wrong way, walk a few steps into open space, then check again.

Using Amap for Metro, Bus, and Public Transportation

For most first-time visitors, the metro is the easiest way to move around large Chinese cities. Amap can help you compare metro routes, transfers, walking time to the station, and the best exit near your destination. This is especially useful in huge station areas where one exit can save a long walk.

When checking a metro route, pay attention to three things: the line color, the transfer station, and the exit number or letter. Station signs in major cities often include English, but the app may still show useful details in Chinese. If you are new to the system, pair Amap with our Chinese metro guide, which explains security checks, escalator habits, and payment basics.

Traveler checking a smartphone map route inside a modern Chinese metro station
Metro routing in Amap is helpful for choosing transfers and exits, but always confirm with station signs.

Bus routes can be useful, especially in cities where metro coverage is limited or when traveling to a scenic area outside the center. However, buses are often harder for foreign visitors because stop names, announcements, and route changes may be less English-friendly. If you use Amap for buses, screenshot the bus number, the stop name, and the direction of travel before boarding.

For long-distance transportation, Amap is good for getting to stations, but it is not a replacement for ticketing tools. For train travel, use a proper ticketing platform and read our foreigner’s guide to taking high-speed trains in China.

Using Amap for Taxis and Ride Hailing

Amap includes taxi and ride-hailing related features in China, and it may show route options that compare walking, transit, driving, and taxi time. This is useful when you are deciding whether to take the subway, call a car, or simply walk.

That said, foreign travelers should understand that ride-hailing features can depend on your phone number, account status, payment setup, and the current app version. Some services may require a Chinese mainland phone number or a linked local payment method. If you cannot complete a booking inside Amap, use another ride-hailing option, ask your hotel to help, or use a taxi from an official taxi queue.

Before taking a taxi, keep your destination in Chinese on your phone. If the driver asks where to go, showing the Chinese place name and address is usually easier than trying to pronounce it. You can also keep WeChat ready for communication and payments; our guide to using WeChat in China explains why it matters for daily travel.

Traveler comparing walking transit and taxi route options on a smartphone near a hotel lobby in China
Use Amap before leaving your hotel to compare walking, transit, and taxi options.

Can You Use Amap in English?

The international app listing is called AMap Global, and recent store information describes travel services designed for international visitors, including bilingual help cards and local travel guidance. In practice, you should still expect a mixed experience. Core navigation may be easy enough to understand, while place names, reviews, promotions, service screens, and detailed local information may still appear in Chinese.

The best workaround is not to fight the Chinese text. Instead, collect Chinese names before you travel. Save the Chinese name of your hotel, airport, railway station, attractions, restaurants, and meeting points. Copy and paste those names into Amap. This usually gives better results than typing an approximate English translation.

A translation app is also useful. If you do not understand a screen, take a screenshot and translate it. This is especially helpful for pop-up warnings, service notices, or ride-hailing details.

Amap vs Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Baidu Maps

Amap vs Google Maps: Google Maps is familiar to many travelers, but in mainland China it may not be the most reliable source for local routing and business data. Amap is usually better for real-time local navigation, public transportation, traffic, and finding the correct entrance or pickup point.

Amap vs Apple Maps: Apple Maps can be surprisingly useful for iPhone users in China, especially for basic navigation. However, Amap often provides a deeper local experience, especially if you need transit details, taxi options, local rankings, and Chinese place data.

Amap vs Baidu Maps: Baidu Maps is another powerful Chinese map app. Many locals use it, and it can be excellent. For foreign visitors, Amap is often the friendlier first choice because of its international store presence and travel-oriented features, but having both can be helpful if you are staying longer or going outside major tourist areas.

Practical Amap Tips for Foreign Visitors

For more general planning help, browse our Apps & Tools section and our China travel FAQ. If you want a shorter overview of why Amap matters, you can also read our earlier article, Navigating China: Why Amap is Your Ultimate Travel Companion.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

The app store link does not work in my country

Search for AMap Global in your app store and check the developer name. Store availability can vary by country. If Google Play does not show the app, try the official Amap website or install it after you arrive in China using a network that can access the local download page.

Amap cannot find my hotel

Use the Chinese hotel name from your booking confirmation or the hotel’s official website. If the hotel is inside a mixed-use complex, search for the mall, building, or nearest metro station as a backup.

The route looks strange

Zoom in and check whether the app is routing you to a car entrance, side gate, underground passage, or a different branch of the same business. If it still looks wrong, cross-check with Apple Maps, your hotel, or the attraction’s official address.

I do not understand the Chinese text

Use screenshots and a translation app. Also keep important Chinese names in a note so you can copy and paste instead of typing.

Taxi hailing does not work

Your account, payment method, or phone number may not support the service. Use an official taxi queue, ask your hotel for help, or use another ride-hailing app that you have already set up.

Final Verdict: Is Amap Worth Downloading?

Yes. If you are visiting mainland China, Amap is one of the most useful apps you can have on your phone. It is especially valuable for walking directions, metro exits, local place searches, traffic-aware routes, and checking whether a taxi, subway, bus, or walk makes more sense for a specific trip.

The key is to prepare before you need it. Download Amap, save your hotel in Chinese, test a few searches, and learn how to compare route options while you are still on hotel Wi-Fi. Once that is done, China becomes much easier to navigate.

Amap FAQ for Foreign Travelers

Is Amap free?

The app is free to download. Some connected services, such as taxi rides, transport bookings, or third-party travel services, may involve payment.

Do I need a Chinese phone number to use Amap?

Basic map browsing and navigation may work without one, but account features and ride-hailing services may require phone verification. Requirements can change by version and service.

Does Amap work outside China?

The app can be installed before arrival, but it is most useful inside mainland China. Use it mainly as your China navigation tool.

Is Amap better than Google Maps in China?

For most practical city navigation in mainland China, yes. Amap usually has better local route data, business listings, public transport details, and traffic information.

Should I install Amap before arriving in China?

Yes. Install it before you travel, then test it on hotel Wi-Fi after arrival. This prevents avoidable stress when you need directions quickly.