How to Set Up and Use AMap in China
- Topic
- Transport· Essential
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time needed
- 10 minutes to set up
- Last updated
- Aug 6, 2026
Quick answer
- Install AMap Global — the English build — and sign in with your own foreign phone number. Setup takes about five minutes.
- Search by English name, Chinese name, or landmark. If an English search returns nothing, the venue is probably only listed in Chinese.
- Pick a travel mode, then compare the route options by time, transfers, fare, and walking distance before you set off.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Install AMap Global
AMap Global is the English build of AMap (高德地图). Install this version rather than the mainland app — the international build has the English interface and accepts a foreign phone number. Download it before you fly, while your app store still works normally.
Step 2
Sign in with your phone number
Open Phone number login, scroll the region list to your country, and enter your number. AMap sends a four-digit code by SMS. An unregistered number is auto-registered, so this one step creates your account and signs you in.
Step 3
Get your bearings on the home screen
The map opens on your current location. The search bar sits above two rows of shortcuts: the top row is travel modes — Driving, Transit, Walking, Cycling, and Ride — and the bottom row covers Hi China, Food, Enjoy, Mall, and Attractions. Live traffic shows as coloured lines along the roads.
Step 4
Search a place and open its detail page
Search by English name, Chinese name, or landmark. The detail page shows the straight-line distance, full address, and — for airports and stations — the specific terminals and parking areas. Reviews and photos from local users sit underneath. The blue button in the bottom-right starts directions.
Step 5
Set your starting point and destination
The top of the route screen holds two fields: the green dot is your starting point, the red dot your destination. AMap fills the starting point with your current location, but you can change it to plan a trip in advance. Use the swap arrows on the right to reverse the direction.
Step 6
Choose your travel mode
The icon row under the two fields switches the whole result list. From left to right: Driving, Public Transit, Taxi, Walking, and Cycling. Public Transit is the one most visitors want — it covers metro and bus together, with transfers worked out for you.
Step 7
Compare the route options
Each option shows total time, walking distance, the lines you will take, the number of stations, and the fare. Read past the first result: the fastest route often means more transfers and more walking. The line names and colours match the signs in the station.
Keep going
Related practical guides
How to Book a Taxi in China with AMap
Call a car in China with AMap Global: register with your own foreign phone number, set the pick-up point, choose a car type, prepay with Alipay or WeChat Pay, and match the license plate before you get in.
How to Use Shared Bikes in China
Use shared bikes in China with Alipay: scan the bike QR code, unlock, ride, park correctly, return the bike, and confirm payment.
How to Board a High-Speed Train in China
Get from station entrance to your seat: passport identity check, security, reading the departure board, finding your boarding gate, standing at the right carriage position, and storing luggage.
Before you rely on it
Q&A
Does Google Maps work in China?
Not usefully. Even when the app loads, the mainland data is stale, the coordinates are offset from what you see on the street, and transit directions are largely missing. Use AMap or Apple Maps instead.
Do I need a Chinese phone number for AMap?
No. AMap Global accepts an international number and auto-registers it at sign-in. No Chinese ID or bank account is required.
Do I have to sign in at all?
Not for maps. Searching places and planning routes works logged out. You need an account for ride-hailing, saved places, and favourites.
Is AMap Global the same as the Chinese 高德地图?
Same maps, different build. AMap Global has an English interface and accepts foreign phone numbers; the mainland app is built around Chinese numbers and ID cards.
Why can't AMap find the restaurant I searched for?
Many smaller venues are only listed under their Chinese name. Paste the Chinese name or address instead of the English one — it almost always works.
Is AMap or Baidu Maps better for foreigners?
AMap, mainly because of the English build and its ride-hailing integration. Both have comparable map data; Baidu's English support is weaker.
Can AMap tell me which metro exit to use?
Yes, and it is one of the best reasons to use it. Route details name the entrance and exit numbers, which matters in large stations where exits can be several hundred metres apart.
Will AMap work without mobile data?
Not for live search or routing. Plan the route while you have a connection and screenshot it, especially before going underground.
Can I use AMap to call a taxi?
Yes. The Taxi tab in the travel-mode row opens the ride-hailing flow, which runs on Alipay or WeChat Pay rather than a foreign card.
Does AMap show live traffic?
Yes. Roads are coloured green for clear, orange for slow, and red for congested. It is accurate and worth a glance before choosing a car over the metro at rush hour.