Amap 高德地图

China’s most detailed map for walking, metro and buses, with an English version. Since August 2026 you can also book rides in English, paid through Alipay or WeChat Pay.

EssentialSet up before you flyWorks with your own phone numberNo foreign cards

App Store Android

Set it up at home

1
Install AMap Global
In the App Store and Google Play the app is listed as “AMap Global”, by AutoNavi. It is the same map locals call Gaode (高德地图), with an English interface and English place names.
2
Make sure it is in English
With your phone set to English, the app normally opens in English. If you see Chinese, look for the language option under Me (我的) → Settings (设置). Some travellers report the option is missing; setting the phone to English and reinstalling usually helps. Do this at home.
3
Sign in with your own number
Maps and routes work without an account, but you need to sign in to book rides and keep saved places. Amap accepts mobile numbers from 65 countries and regions, so you do not need a Chinese SIM.
4
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay first
Amap does not take cards directly. Rides are paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay, so link your Visa or Mastercard in one of those apps before you try to book.
5
Save your hotel and download your cities
Save your hotel as Home or a favourite. The app offers offline maps and navigation; if your version shows the option, download the cities you will visit on Wi-Fi so the map still works with a weak signal.

Using it in China

Metro and bus routes

Choose the public transport option to see which line to take, where to change and how many stops. Check which station exit is closest to your destination: big stations have many exits spread over several blocks.

Walking directions

Amap knows small lanes, underpasses and footbridges that other maps miss. In old towns and big stations the blue dot can drift, so check street names and landmarks as you go.

Book a ride

Enter your destination and choose the ride option. You see the pickup point, route and fare estimate before you confirm, and the fare is paid through Alipay or WeChat Pay. It is a good second option when DiDi is not cooperating.

Show the Chinese name

Place pages can show the Chinese name and address. Show them to a taxi driver or to someone you ask for directions: they will understand it far better than English or pinyin.

Problems and fixes

Searching in English does not find the place

Many small shops, restaurants and hotels only have a Chinese name in the map. Paste the Chinese name or address, copied from your booking or from our sight pages. Pinyin without tone marks sometimes works. You can also search for a nearby landmark and walk from there.

Coordinates from Google Maps land in the wrong place

Maps in China use an officially shifted coordinate system, so raw GPS coordinates from Google Maps or other foreign apps often land a few hundred metres off. Search by the place name or Chinese address instead, and share locations from inside Amap rather than copying numbers.

The app is stuck in Chinese

Set your phone’s language to English, update the app, then look again under Me (我的) → Settings (设置). If the option is still missing, delete and reinstall the app with the phone in English. Until then, your phone’s camera or screenshot translation can read the menus.

I cannot sign in with my phone number

Check the country code and leave out any leading 0, and make sure your home SIM can receive texts. Sign-in covers 65 countries and regions; if yours is not on the list, you can still use maps and routes without an account and book rides with DiDi instead.

I cannot pay for a ride

Amap rides need Alipay or WeChat Pay with a working card. Open that app and check your card is linked and verified, then try again. If your bank blocked the payment, approve it in your banking app. If it still fails, book with DiDi.

My location dot is wrong or jumping around

Allow precise location for the app and turn on Wi-Fi, which helps positioning even without connecting. Tall buildings, old lanes and underground stations weaken the signal, so walk into the open for a moment. If you use a VPN, try turning it off.

Bus stops or small places only show Chinese names

English coverage is good for main sights, metro stations and hotels but thinner elsewhere. Count the stops shown in the route instead of listening for names, and compare the characters on the stop sign with the ones in the app.