Amap (the Chinese Google Maps) Finally Has an English Version!

[Ottavia-Mandarin_Simplified_HS]

If you’ve ever tried getting around China without speaking Chinese, you know the struggle is real. Google Maps? Pretty much useless. Apple Maps? Meh. Other apps? Hit or miss. But guess what? Amap (高德地图), China’s go-to map app, now has an English version! Finally!

Amap is hands down the best navigation app in China. It’s super accurate, gives you real-time traffic updates, detailed public transport routes, and even bike-sharing info. The only problem? It was all in Chinese—until now!

This also signals an important shift—China is taking new steps towards becoming more accessible to foreigners.

This is the post that the official Amap account posted on their Instagram page:

Have you ever used 高德地图?

[Max]

The app actually changed name on my phone!

I always use 高德地图 as it’s by far the best one. Funny that it changed to English on mine, yet the app itself is in Mandarin still. I guess because my phone wasn’t purchased in China.

[Marine]

In Beijing I’ve always used Apple Maps and it was ok for directions, not so much to find specific places like restaurants and others, so I’m curious to see if Amap does that! I will definitely use it next time I travel there.

@Ottavia-Mandarin_Simplified_HS

This also signals an important shift—China is taking new steps towards becoming more accessible to foreigners.

I’ve noticed this straight from the airport where everything was translated in English, with foreigner faces on bank ads as well, which was def not the case before