The main app in China is WeChat (Weixin), a "super app" essential for daily life, combining messaging, social media (Moments), mobile payments (WeChat Pay), e-commerce, and services like ride-hailing and booking through its Mini Programs, used by over a billion people across all ages for everything from chatting to paying bills. While WeChat dominates, Douyin (TikTok's Chinese version) is huge for short videos, and Alipay is another crucial payment/super app.
Popular Chinese Social Media Apps
WhatsApp, along with many other popular Western social media and communication platforms, is blocked by China's sophisticated internet censorship system, often referred to as the Great Firewall. It restricts access to various foreign platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Google services.
WeChat had over 889 million monthly active users by 2016, and as of 2019 WeChat's monthly active users had risen to an estimate of one billion. As of January 2022, it was reported that WeChat has more than 1.2 billion users.
Enter Didi, the country's go-to ride-hailing app, similar to Grab or Uber.
DiDi is China's top ride-hailing app (like Uber) that foreigners can use with international phone numbers and credit cards. The English version lets you book cars, bikes, and even buses across most Chinese cities, with cashless payments via Visa/Mastercard or Alipay.
Benefits: DiDi is approximately 10% cheaper than Uber. It also has a generous $20 referral voucher for anyone who shares the app and offers 50% off rides for the first month in most cities.
The "Three Ts" in China refer to the highly sensitive topics of Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen Square, which are major taboos and subjects of strict censorship, with discussions often discouraged or forbidden due to their challenge to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative and authority. Foreigners are often advised to avoid these topics to prevent discomfort, legal issues, or awkwardness with Chinese citizens.
Go to "Settings" – "General" – "Translation" and select the language. WeChat is available in multiple languages. You can click "General" - "Multilanguage" and choose your preferred language.
Not without a VPN. Google and all its services (Gmail, Maps, Docs, etc.) are blocked in China and require a reliable VPN to access.
The legality of VPN use in China isn't black and white. Officially, only government-approved VPNs are legal. These are typically used by corporations for internal communications, not by individuals. However, in practice, millions of expats and tourists use VPNs daily without facing penalties.
Can I use Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in China? No, popular Western platforms are blocked by the Great Firewall. You'll need a VPN or use roaming/eSIM services.
Netflix is not available in: China. Crimea. North Korea.
Does WeChat cost money? WeChat is free to download! All of WeChat's core features are free to use. Should you exceed your data usage from the app, you may incur additional charges from your network provider.
Top 10 Most Popular and Used Mobile Apps in the World- Updated 2025
Yes, it is possible for users who aren't Chinese citizens or permanent residents to use WeChat Pay. However, you might need to download the international version of the app, and you'll face restrictions unless you have a Chinese bank account.
You can chat with a friend by choosing them from the Contacts screen. Once in the chat, just type what you want to say in the area at the bottom of the screen and press Send. Tip：Use Translate to decipher messages sent in a foreign language.
Lastly, change your WeChat back to English by clicking on "我" (me) in the bottom right, then "设置" (settings) at the bottom, then "通用" (general), then "多语言" (more languages) and select "English." 6. When you go into a chat and long press, "translate" should now display as an option.
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
What are the laws in China for tourists? Tourists in China must abide by strict local laws. This includes respecting cultural sites, not engaging in political activities, and avoiding drug use or possession. Photography in restricted areas, such as military zones, is also prohibited.
In 2018, according to Business Insider, China ordered that the Winnie the Pooh theme be banned and replaced with a new one due to the character's use in censored internet memes.
Uber's "5-minute rule" refers to the time window for riders and drivers, where drivers can typically cancel a trip and earn a fee after waiting a certain amount of time (often around 5 minutes for standard rides), while riders get charged wait time fees if they aren't ready within a shorter grace period, usually 2 minutes for UberX, before the driver cancels. The exact times vary by location, ride type (e.g., UberX vs. Uber Black), and whether it's a shared ride, but it's designed to compensate drivers for waiting and keep the platform efficient.
For a $20 Uber ride, a tip of $2 to $4 (10-20%) is generally appropriate, with $4 being a good standard for good service, but you might tip more for exceptional experiences or less for very short rides, keeping in mind a minimum of $2-$5 is often suggested.
Yes, DiDi is still operating in Australia, offering rideshare and delivery services in numerous cities across several states, including NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, and the ACT, despite being less prominent than Uber, with services like DiDi Max (standard) and DiDi Delivery available.