Amap vs Apple Maps vs Baidu vs Google Maps in China

The short answer

Sources: Shanghai official travel site on the Amap English launch; Apple (China) Maps privacy page; China National Tourist Office UK.

Amap (Gaode): the one to install first

Amap, also called Gaode or AutoNavi, launched an English-language map for overseas users on 21 January 2025. You can download it from the App Store and Google Play before you leave home (Shanghai official travel site; China Daily). Amap says the English version has:

• An English interface, with English labels for attractions, restaurants and hotels
• The same route planning as the Chinese app, for driving, public transit, walking and cycling (Hainan Provincial Government)
• Real-time traffic, ETAs, lane-level navigation and traffic-light countdowns
• A taxi feature that books a car from inside the map

The App Store listing, "AMap Global", also includes arrival guides, real-time bus tracking, "bilingual help cards" and taxi booking that compares several ride-hailing platforms (App Store).

Be careful. A January 2025 Chinese report said the English mode was first limited to overseas users visiting China, and that the language switch did not work in some builds (Tencent News). Before you fly, open the app and confirm that English is on.

Apple Maps: a real option on iPhone

Apple says that in mainland China, Apple Maps uses map services from Amap Software Co., Ltd (Apple China privacy page). Its China credits page lists AutoNavi/Amap as the map data provider, with business listings from Dianping, Meituan and Ctrip (Apple Maps acknowledgements). So Apple Maps in China sits on similar base data to Amap, with an interface you already know.

Beijing's official guide for new arrivals says "iOS Maps works with English" and notes that most Chinese map apps do not have English interfaces (Beijing Municipal Government). That page dates from 2024, before Amap's English launch. The China National Tourist Office in the UK says it could not use Apple Maps reliably to find attractions and restaurants, and recommends Amap instead (CNTO). Use Apple Maps as a backup, not your only map.

Baidu Maps: Chinese-first

Baidu Maps covers China in depth, but it uses its own coordinate system, BD-09, which adds a further shift on top of China's standard system (Wikipedia: Restrictions on geographic data in China). In January 2025 Baidu also announced an English map product (Tencent News). We could not confirm how complete it is today, so check locally. It is most useful when Amap can't find a small shop and you have the Chinese name.

Google Maps: why it goes wrong

Even when Google Maps loads (whether it can depends on your connection, so check with your mobile provider), the street map has problems. Approved map providers in China must use a coordinate system called GCJ-02, which shifts positions away from standard GPS (WGS-84). Put a GPS point on a GCJ-02 map, or the reverse, and it can land 100–700 metres from the real spot. Google's street layer in China uses GCJ-02, but its satellite layer does not, so the two layers don't line up (Wikipedia).

In practice:

• A pin saved in Google Maps at home may be hundreds of metres off when you open it in Amap, or the other way round.
• Coordinates copied from a blog or a GPS watch may not match Chinese maps.
• Fix: search for the place by its Chinese name in Amap instead of pasting coordinates.

Searching: Chinese beats English, and pinyin is a fallback

The CNTO suggests copying and pasting the Chinese name of a place rather than typing English. Big landmarks have English labels, but many small restaurants and side streets only show their Chinese names (CNTO).

A search order that works well:

1. Paste the Chinese name (e.g. 故宫博物院 for the Palace Museum). Take it from your hotel booking, the venue's official website, or a Chinese menu.
2. Type the English name for big landmarks and international hotels.
3. Try pinyin without tones (e.g. "gugong") if you only know how it sounds. Chinese phone keyboards turn pinyin into characters, but the right result isn't guaranteed, so check the map pin before you set off.
4. Check the district. Many places have branches. Pick the one in the right district (区, qū).

Sharing a location with a taxi driver

Most drivers won't read English. Beijing's official guide tells visitors to "print your destination's address in Chinese before arrival" (Beijing Municipal Government).

• Best: book the car in an app (DiDi, Amap's taxi feature, or Alipay). The driver gets your pickup and drop-off pins, so nobody has to explain anything. See our DiDi and taxis guide.
• Street taxi: open the place in Amap, switch the place card to Chinese if you can, then show the screen with the Chinese name and address.
• Hotel card: take a photo of your hotel's business card at check-in. It has the Chinese address and phone number.

Related guides

• DiDi and taxis
• Using a foreign card in China
• City starter guides: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu

FAQ

Does Google Maps work in China?

Not reliably. China's tourist office in the UK advises against relying on it, and even when it loads, the street map is offset from GPS because of China's GCJ-02 rule. Use Amap or Apple Maps.

Is Amap available in English?

Yes. Amap launched an English version for overseas users on 21 January 2025, available from the App Store and Google Play. Check that English mode is switched on before you travel.

Is Apple Maps good enough in China?

It's a solid backup on iPhone. In mainland China it uses Amap's map services. Some travellers find Amap better at finding small businesses.

Why is my location a few hundred metres off?

China requires approved maps to use the GCJ-02 system, which is shifted from GPS. When the two systems are mixed, points can be 100–700 m out.

How do I tell a taxi driver where to go?

Book through an app so the driver gets your pins, or show the place's Chinese name and address on your screen.

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