Here are five highly essential Chinese apps you will want to download on your phone!

  1. 1 Baidu (百度)


    Baidu is basically the Chinese Google. Although it is predominantly a search engine, the Baidu app offers several useful functions:  

    • If you’re visiting China, Baidu has all the information you need, from city maps to information on purchasing train tickets 
    • Similar to Reddit, Baidu has forums in which people can ask questions and have other Baidu users respond
    • Baidu allows you to legally download Chinese pop music for free
    • Baidu constantly updates you with the latest Chinese news
    • The Baidu Wallet allows you to shop online and pay for third party services
    • Baidu’s comprehensive translation program translates between English and Chinese
    • If you’re visiting China, Baidu has all the information you need, from city maps o information on purchasing train tickets
    • Similar to Reddit, Baidu has forums in which people can ask questions and have other Baidu users respond.
    • Baidu allows you to legally download Chinese pop music for free
    • Baidu constantly updates you with the latest Chinese news
    • The Baidu Wallet allows you to shop online and pay for third party services
    • Baidu’s comprehensive translation program translates between English and Chinese



  2. 2 WeChat (微信)


    Owned by Tencent, WeChat is one of the most multi-functional social media apps available today. WeChat has over 1 billion monthly active users, 100 million of whom are international users. 

    Messaging might be WeChat’s primary function, but it also allows you to:

    • Participate in voice and video calls
    • Share your location in real time
    • Share your daily experiences using the Moments feature (like Snapchat)
    • Transfer money and pay in stores with the Wallet (like Venmo)
    • Gain access to third party services, such as online shopping and food delivery
    • Create a digital government ID card that can be used in various ways (security, hotel check in, etc)

    It’s worth noting that 83% of Chinese smartphone users have WeChat! Download it! It is essential for anyone looking to go to China or interact with the Chinese. 




  3. 3 Douyin, also known as TikTok


    More commonly known as TikTok outside of China, DouYin was launched in September 2016 in China, and it spread to the U.S. in 2017. Available in in 150 markets and in 75 languages, there are approximately 500 million TikTok monthly active users globally.

    Douyin literally means vibrating (抖) sounds (音). It allows people to record short 15 second videos with a designated audio in the background. The videos can be edited, filtered, and shared on various social media platforms. But if you are still unsure of what it does, check out the video below.


  4. 4 Tencent QQ


    Though more people use WeChat, Tencent QQ is the still one of the most commonly used messaging app in China. 

    In many ways, QQ resembles WeChat; it offers services including online social games, music, shopping, microblogging, movies, and group and voice chat software. Again, most Chinese people you run into are likely to have this app.

  5. 5 Alibaba (TaoBao)


    Last but not least is TaoBao, an app owned by the renowned Alibaba Corporation. TaoBao is one of the largest online shopping platforms in the world.  

    Make sure to download TaoBao! Besides finding products unique to the Chinese market, you will also find products sold at a much cheaper price than elsewhere!


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2 Comments

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  1. Hi ,, I am an american and i plan to move down to china soon ,, i have a wechat account and i learnt i can join a wechat group where i can meet and make chinese friends but i havent been able to find any ,, how can you help me with that ,, i also want to improve on my chinese

Sungho Moon

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