China Shanhe Lu
Beijing Shaanxi Sichuan Yunnan Tibet Guangxi Zhejiang Fujian Gansu Xinjiang Hong Kong, China All provinces
Beijing Xi'an Hangzhou Chengdu Guilin Lhasa Huangshan Zhangjiajie Jiuzhaigou All destinations
Parent-child together Photography and sourcing material Accompanying the elderly Exploring the Flavors of China Ice and Snow Season Tracing the Silk Road
Camel Bells in the Great Desert · Ten Thousand Miles of the Silk Road Misty Waves and Ink Charm: A Poetry Journey in Jiangnan The Origin of Heluo ・ Tracing the Roots of China Tang Style and Han Charm・Chang'an Han China Silk Sea Sail Shadows · Homebound Journey of Overseas Chinese Ancient Shu Divine Relics · Minshan Civilization The Ancestral Court of Zen Buddhism: Tracing the Origins of Buddhist Chants Ancient Buildings of Shanxi Merchants・Ancient Charm of North China The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River・Chu Style and River Charm Five Great Mountains Bow to Heaven · A Tribute to Mountains and Rivers
Pre-trip Guide All routes FAQ Subject Index About Shan He Lu Contact Consultation Itinerary Customization
繁繁體中文KO한국어JA日本語THไทยRUРусскийFRFrançaisVITiếng ViệtESEspañolITItalianoDEDeutschENEnglish
FAQ

Can Google Maps be used in China? What should be used instead?

Google Maps cannot function properly within China (service is restricted, and the map data is also relatively outdated). Alternatives are Amap or Baidu Maps: both support registration with overseas phone numbers, provide navigation, public transport transfers, ride-hailing aggregation, nearby search, and real-time traffic updates, with data and updates far more accurate than foreign apps. Amap has a Traditional Chinese interface option, making it more user-friendly for travelers accustomed to Traditional Chinese. Practical tip: install and download offline map packages (download by province) before departure, and save the map data of the cities you plan to visit locally.

Updated on 2026-10-28

Google Maps cannot be used normally within China (services are restricted, and the map data is also relatively outdated). Alternatives are Amap or Baidu Maps: both support registration with overseas phone numbers, provide navigation, public transit transfers, ride-hailing aggregation, nearby searches, and real-time traffic updates, with data and updates far more accurate than foreign apps. Amap offers a traditional Chinese interface option, which is more friendly for travelers accustomed to traditional Chinese. Practical advice: install and download offline map packages in advance (download by province), and save the map data of the cities you plan to visit locally to avoid confusion upon arrival. In addition, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram cannot be accessed directly within China as well, so important information should be saved locally in advance.