Once you're in a Chinese city, getting around is easier than it looks - QR-entry metro, an English-friendly rideshare, and two maps that actually work. This is the 2026 foreigner briefing for moving inside the city.
China's city metros are clean, cheap, punctual and English-signposted. They are usually the fastest way across town - and the airport express links are part of the same network.
DiDi is China's rideshare (the local Uber). The app has an English interface, takes your Alipay/WeChat payment, and the driver sees your Chinese destination typed in for you.
For inter-city travel between entry cities, that's the high-speed rail - see the high-speed rail guide for 12306 vs trip.com.
Google Maps is unreliable on the mainland. Two local apps do the job - and both have English modes and offline download.
Before you fly: download offline map areas for each city you'll visit, and save your hotel and key sights inside the app. Paste the Chinese address into DiDi when you ride. Keep a paper or screenshot copy of the hotel's Chinese name for taxi drivers who don't read the app.
A local eSIM or SIM makes DiDi and maps live and lag-free. Pre-buy an eSIM or grab a SIM at the arrivals hall - see the eSIM vs SIM guide.
Both metro and DiDi run on them. Bind a foreign card before you leave the airport so you're never stranded without a way to pay.
Metros pack at 7:30-9:00 and 17:30-19:00. Build in buffer if you have a train or flight to catch.
Stations and cars are monitored and busy late. Stick to official DiDi and in-app share-trip, and you're set.
Plan the city-specific arrival - airport, transit and a local tip - on each of our 20 city guides. Xi'an is a favourite history stop with an easy metro in from XIY; see the Xi'an plan.
Yes. Every major city has an English-signposted metro. You enter with an Alipay or WeChat Pay QR code (bind a foreign card before you travel) or a disposable single-ride card from the station machine. Scan the QR at the gate to enter and exit; fares are distance-based and cheap. Some airport links are express - Shanghai's Maglev, Beijing's Airport Express - and the apps show lines and exits.
No - both work over Wi-Fi or roaming data, but a local eSIM or SIM makes it far smoother (live tracking, no roaming lag). Pre-buy an eSIM or grab a SIM at the arrivals hall; see the eSIM vs SIM guide for the options. Once you're online, DiDi and Baidu/Amap run fine.
Unreliable - it often shows wrong or outdated positions on the mainland. Use Baidu Maps (百度地图) or Amap / Gaode (高德) instead; both have English modes, correct routing and offline download. Save your hotel and key spots in them before you travel, and paste the Chinese address into DiDi for the driver.
Both take Alipay and WeChat Pay - bind a foreign card inside those apps first and you never need cash for rides. DiDi charges to the app automatically; the metro scans your wallet QR at the gate. For the full setup walkthrough, see the cashless payment guide.
Generally very safe. Use the official DiDi app (not street hailing), turn on in-app share-trip so someone sees your route, and keep Alipay/WeChat working so you're never stranded without a way to pay. Stations and cars are monitored and busy into the late evening.
Transit apps and coverage change; confirm the current app availability and your route in-app on the day of travel. For entry and transit rules that frame your trip, use the official English sources below.