Transit Apps in China: Alipay, WeChat & Maps (2026)
The apps you need to ride metro and bus in China — Alipay transit codes, WeChat codes, Amap and Baidu Maps routing, the in-station QR flow, and offline maps.
Your phone is your metro ticket, bus pass and map in China — if you know which apps to open.
Foreign tourists no longer need to fumble with paper tickets or decipher Chinese-only signs. With two or three apps you can plan any trip, pay for any ride, and follow your route in English. This guide covers the transit apps in China and exactly how to use them.
The short answer
- Alipay — opens the transit QR that works on metros and buses in most cities.
- WeChat Pay — a backup transit code in many big cities.
- Amap or Baidu Maps — your Google Maps replacement for routing, stop names and exit numbers.
- Download offline maps before you land, in case you lose signal.
Alipay: the one app for transit
Alipay is the closest thing to a universal transit pass:
- Open the app and tap 出行 (Transport/Transit), then choose your city.
- Select metro or bus — a QR code appears.
- Hold it against the scanner at the gate (metro) or the reader by the driver (bus), and the fare is deducted when you complete the trip.
Two settings matter for the transit QR to appear:
- Your account region must be set to mainland China — set this during signup with your Alipay setup.
- Location services must be on, because the app needs to know which city you’re in to show the right QR.
No ticket machine, no change, no card. It’s how locals ride.
WeChat’s transit code
WeChat has its own transport QR in most big cities:
- Open WeChat Pay → Transport, or search the city’s metro mini program (for example “乘车码”).
- Generate the QR and scan at the gate, exactly like Alipay.
- The QR is city-specific, so select the city when you arrive — the mini program usually prompts you based on your location.
Most travelers run Alipay as primary and WeChat as backup, since the two apps’ payment setups overlap. If one throws a QR error at the gate, the other usually saves you.
Amap and Baidu Maps: the Google Maps replacement
Google Maps works poorly in China — addresses, transit data and sometimes the map itself are unreliable. For routing, use Amap (高德地图, also called Gaode) or Baidu Maps (百度地图):
- Switch the language to English in settings, and the menus, route descriptions and stop names appear in English.
- Transit mode (the bus icon) shows the full trip: which line, which stop to board, which exit to leave from, and how long the walk is.
- They know exact station entrances and exit letters (A/B/C/D), which saves you from crossing six lanes of traffic.
- Both work in major cities and smaller towns, though English coverage is strongest in big cities.
If you prefer a familiar interface, Apple Maps on iPhone has decent China transit data in many cities; Google Maps remains unreliable.
The in-station QR flow, step by step
Here’s exactly what happens at the metro, end to end:
- Walk in and pass your bags through the security X-ray.
- Open Alipay → 出行 and pull up the city’s metro QR.
- Scan at the entrance gate — the gate opens.
- Ride and transfer freely; you’re inside the paid area.
- At your destination, scan the same QR at the exit gate — the fare is calculated and charged to your linked card.
The same flow works for buses: scan at the reader by the driver when you board. Some BRT stations (like in Guangzhou) have you scan at the station entrance before you board.
Offline maps and connectivity
Public transit apps need a connection, so plan for gaps:
- Download offline maps for each city in Amap or Baidu Maps while on Wi-Fi — routes, stops and search still work when you lose signal.
- A local eSIM or tourist SIM (set one up before you go) keeps you online on the street, which is where you’ll actually use these apps.
- If you rely on hotel Wi-Fi only, pre-download your offline packs and save your key station names the night before.
- Note that some apps (Google Maps, Google Translate) require a VPN to work properly in China — see our VPN guide if you plan to use them.
Which app for which job
| You want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Pay for the metro | Alipay 出行 QR (or WeChat) |
| Pay for the bus | Alipay 出行 QR, transit card, or cash |
| Plan a route | Amap or Baidu Maps |
| Find the right exit | Amap or Baidu Maps |
| Work offline | Offline packs + an eSIM |
| Use Google services | A VPN |
Before you go
- Set up Alipay (account region = mainland China) and bind a foreign card.
- Download Amap or Baidu Maps and switch the language to English.
- Download offline map packs for every city you’ll visit.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese and the Chinese names of your key stations.
Last updated: August 2026. Transit rules and fares change — confirm before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app do I need for public transit in China?
Two are essential: Alipay for the transit QR that pays for metro and bus, and Amap or Baidu Maps for routing. WeChat's transport code is a useful backup, since the Alipay QR is city-based and occasionally glitches.
How do I find the transit QR in Alipay?
Open Alipay and tap 出行 (Transport/Transit), then select your city and choose metro or bus. A QR code appears. For it to show, your account region must be set to mainland China and location services must be on.
Is Google Maps OK in China, or do I need Amap/Baidu?
Google Maps is unreliable in China — addresses and transit data are often wrong or missing. Use Amap or Baidu Maps instead and switch the interface to English in settings. Apple Maps on iPhone has decent transit data in many cities as a middle ground.
How do I scan the QR at the metro gate?
Hold the transit QR code flat against the scanner on the gate — usually a black panel with a red or blue light. The gate opens when it reads. Scan again at the exit gate of your destination, and the fare is charged automatically.
Do these transit apps work without internet?
No — the QR codes need a live connection. Download offline map packs in Amap or Baidu Maps before you travel so routing still works when you lose signal, and consider a local eSIM or tourist SIM to stay online on the street.
Does WeChat have a transit code too?
Yes. Open WeChat Pay → Transport, or search the city's metro mini program (for example 乘车码), and a QR code appears. It's city-specific, so select the city when you arrive. Most travelers run Alipay as primary and WeChat as backup.