China, land of wonders, a mystery for many and clearly one for us! If you are visiting soon or maybe even settling in, then be aware that your mobile phone will be one of your best friends in the challenges and triumphs to come.

We’ve compiled a list of apps that you cannot do without when living in China. For this week, here are the first 5 must-have apps in China:

 

WeChat
微信（wēi xìn）

The app of all apps, Wechat, definitely is the most useful app in China. People in China use WeChat to text and call each other, as well as sharing their moments and daily posts with friends. It’s often considered to be China’s answer to Facebook but in reality, it’s so much more than that. Wechat is also used for payments, shop online, or settle your bar tab, it’s as simple as scanning a QR code on the Wechat app.

Alipay

支付宝 (zhī fù bǎo)

Don’t have a Chinese card? Alipay is there! With the option to add foreign cards you will be able to pay with your phone as well. Alipay provides features such as bank account management and P2P transfer. You can also use Alipay to top up your phone, rent a bike, bus and train ticket purchase, food order and a lot more.

 

Taobao
淘宝  (táo bǎo)

This app has made our lives a lot more comfortable over the years in China.

Taobao is one of the largest online shops in the world with prices, choices, and delivery speeds that leave those western giants looking like like crippled old dinosaurs by comparison.You can buy whatever you need. The only issue you’ll find is, it only works in Chinese. So yeah, LEARN CHINESE and you will see the benefits!

 

Pleco

One of the best translation apps that every foreigner must have it in China.  You will even get access to medical words in there (could be useful if you need Ibuprofen or Paracetamol ! ).You can also practice your writing with this app.

QQ

QQ as well as Weibo are great options. If only to keep your Wechat for close friends, then you can use QQ for colleagues, students, and random people you are not particularly interested in having in your inner circle. You can also share documents with different formats using QQ.

Follow our updates as we will share the next 5 must have apps in China next time!