Tech in China: 5 Basic Apps You Need to Download in China
Thinking of visiting China very soon and want to know what you should not miss? Here are some app guides that would definitely help you!
1. Pleco
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Pleco is a Chinese dictionary app that has functions that makes lives easier for foreigners in China. Pleco's key features include OCR where you can look up chinese words with your phone camera, handwriting that allows you to draw the characters and look for translation, dictionaries that has translates Chinese to correct words, audio and speech translation, document reader, screen reader and flash cards.
2. Wechat
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You might want to download this chat app because facebook messenger, whatsapp, and viber doesn't work in China. Wechat is more than just a messaging app, as it is also a social media platform and mobile payment app. There isn't exactly an app that has the same functionalities of "all-in-one" outside China. Nevertheless, downloading Wechat in China will certainly let you blend in the culture much quickly than you thought.
*Note: You can add foreign credit card(Visa, Mastercard, JCB) to your wechat wallet.
3. Alipay
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Alipay is a mobile and online payment platform that works enables you to enjoy cashless payment too. Like Wechat, you can link your Alipay account to foreign cards like Mastercard and Visa.
4. Baidu Maps
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No Google in China means no Google Maps in China. However, if you have downloaded Pleco(and you own an android), Baidu Maps will help you a lot to navigate your way. Baidu maps can even allow you to explore the facilities and services around your you.
5. VPN (Download before entering China)
If you're want to stay in touch on foreign social media like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, twitter and various media and news sites. You need a VPN in order to access them. You can only download them outside Mainland China.
6. Dianping (Optional)
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Feel adventurous? download Dianping, the food social media platform to read and devour on delicious looking pictures and videos that invite you to explore those restaurants. It also allows you to group purchase and order food to be delivered to your doorsteps.
We hope that by reading this post, you will be more prepared than ever to explore China! Thank you for reading @cn-reader !
author:@asianetwork