Amap vs Baidu Maps — what's the difference?
Both are China's top-2 Chinese-language maps. Amap (高德, Alibaba) is stronger for navigation and POIs; Baidu Maps (百度) is stronger for street panoramas. map82 finds places on Amap and gives you a Baidu link too.
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Comparison
| Amap (高德地图) | Baidu Maps (百度地图) | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Alibaba (AutoNavi) | Baidu |
| Strength | Navigation, POI accuracy, transit | Street panoramas (全景) |
| Language | Primarily Chinese | Primarily Chinese |
| Apple Maps data | Provides mainland China data | — |
Which one when
For directions, navigation and nearby search, Amap is the safe default. For previewing a shopfront or alley visually, Baidu's panoramas help. You don't need to pick upfront — map82's result includes links to both.
Practical tip for non-Chinese readers
The bottleneck in either app is typing Chinese. Copy the Chinese name map82 finds into the app's search box, or just open the map link from the result.
FAQ
Do I need both apps?
One is enough. Amap for navigation, Baidu if you want to preview street scenes. map82 links to both so you can choose per place.
Can either replace Google Maps?
Yes — their data is the most current and accurate in China. Both are Chinese-first, which is why map82 handles the finding step.
Which do taxi drivers use?
Doesn't matter — the Chinese address card works with any. If you must show a map, open the Amap link.