Getting around China without speaking a word of Chinese

Most drivers don't speak English, taxis are hard to flag, and — surprise — Google Maps barely works here. None of that matters once you have the two apps locals actually use.

01Taxis: use DiDi, not your arm

Flagging a street taxi works, but two things make it harder than at home: drivers rarely speak English, and in busy areas free taxis can be tough to find. DiDi solves both. It's China's equivalent of Uber, it has a built-in English mode, and because you type your destination into the app, there's no language barrier with the driver at all.

• Download DiDi and register with your phone number and an international card before you need it.
• Set your pickup and destination in English inside the app — the driver gets it in Chinese automatically.
• Pay through the app (often via Alipay), so no fumbling with cash or working out the fare.

02Navigation: Google Maps is the wrong tool here

This catches almost everyone out. Google Maps and Apple Maps are unreliable inside China — listings are out of date and directions are often wrong, even if you have a VPN running. The app locals actually use is Amap (Gaode Map), and it now has an English mode.

03The metro: easier than you'd expect

Big-city metros (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and more) have English signage and English ticket machines, and they're fast and cheap. In many cities you can pay for the metro straight from Alipay or WeChat Pay with a QR code — no separate ticket needed. Amap will tell you which line, which platform, and which exit to take.

04The one trick that saves every taxi ride

Most drivers can't read English or pinyin (romanized Chinese). So before you head out:

05Quick reference