Which map app should I use in China?
Amap (高德地图) is the most accurate option. Google Maps is blocked on the mainland, and Kakao Map / Naver Map have no China data. If searching in Chinese is the hard part, paste a blog link into map82 to get the place's Chinese name, address and Amap location.
Updated:
Map apps at a glance
| App | Works in China | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amap (高德) | ✓ Accurate | Partial | #1 in China, strong nav & live traffic |
| Baidu Maps (百度) | ✓ Accurate | ✗ | Street panoramas (全景) |
| Apple Maps | △ Partial | ✓ | Uses Amap data, weak POI search |
| Google Maps | ✗ | - | Blocked, stale data |
| Kakao/Naver Map | ✗ | Korean only | No China data |
If you can't type Chinese
Chinese map apps need Chinese input to find places. map82 reads the Chinese name and address out of a blog post or article link, then hands you the Amap location — open it in the app, or show the driver the address card.
Recommended combo
- Use map82 to get the Chinese name, address and location.
- Navigate with the Amap app.
- Check the Baidu panorama when you need to see the street.
FAQ
Does Amap work without a VPN?
Yes. Amap and Baidu are Chinese apps and work normally; only Google, Instagram and similar are blocked.
Can I travel with just Apple Maps?
Roughly, but its place search is weak. You often need the Chinese name to get a hit — getting the address from map82 first is safer.
How do I find my hotel's address?
Paste a booking confirmation or blog link into map82 — it returns the Chinese address and location you can show a driver.