Who this is for

Use this guide if:

  • You’re in China and Google Maps is incomplete or routing poorly.
  • You keep getting stuck at malls / train stations because the driver can’t find the pickup point.
  • You can’t type Chinese, but you can copy/paste Chinese text when needed.

If you’re building an “offline day” backup stack first, start here: /blog/offline-maps-translation-china.

The 10-minute setup that removes most pain

1) Decide your “navigation stack”

For most travelers, a simple stack is:

  • Amap (Gaode) for routing and driver pickup points
  • DiDi for rides (and to reduce language friction)
  • Offline backup screenshots for when apps fail

If you haven’t set up rides yet: /blog/didi-in-china-for-foreigners.

2) Save an “address card” for your hotel (do this today)

Create one note (or one image) titled HOTEL ADDRESS containing:

  • Hotel name (Chinese + English)
  • Full address in Chinese
  • A nearby landmark in Chinese (mall / metro station)

Why: when you’re tired, you don’t want to search. You want to show.

If you don’t have the address in Chinese yet, use this template guide: /blog/chinese-address-format-templates-china.

3) Star (favorite) your anchors

In Amap, favorite/star:

  • Hotel
  • Nearest metro station
  • One “known anchor” (big mall, famous attraction, or a major station)

Your goal isn’t perfect routing. Your goal is always being able to get back to an anchor point.

The most common Amap win: pickup points (where drivers actually meet you)

In China, “the place” and “the pickup point” are often different:

  • Large malls have multiple gates/entrances
  • Scenic areas have designated ride-hailing pickup zones
  • Train stations have strict taxi ranks and separate pickup lanes

When your driver can’t find you, it’s usually not a language issue—it’s a pickup-point issue.

A simple pickup workflow

  1. In Amap, search the venue (mall / station / attraction).
  2. Look for entrance / gate / pickup-style POIs nearby (often multiple).
  3. Pick one pickup point and commit to it.
  4. Screenshot the map with the pickup pin visible.

Then share:

  • The screenshot
  • The pickup point name (copy/paste if possible)

If you’re using DiDi, Amap can still help you pick the correct gate before you request the ride.

Share-location tricks when you can’t type Chinese

Option A: Share a pin screenshot (works almost always)

Send a screenshot showing:

  • A clear pin
  • Nearby cross streets or a landmark label
  • Your venue name (if shown)

This works even if chat apps are slow or translation is failing.

Option B: Copy/paste Chinese place names

If you can get Chinese text anywhere (hotel card, booking confirmation, a friend, reception desk), you can paste it into Amap search.

If you don’t have a reliable way to translate “live”, keep a short phrase kit: /blog/offline-maps-translation-china.

When routing looks weird: do the “sanity checks”

If Amap suggests something that feels wrong, check:

  • Distance vs time (is it claiming 3 km takes 45 minutes?)
  • Mode mismatch (did it pick “walk” or “public transport” accidentally?)
  • Bad start point (is your GPS drifting indoors?)

Fixes that often work:

  • Walk 30–60 seconds to an open area (GPS stabilizes)
  • Use a nearby landmark as your start point
  • Re-run the route with one less transfer (boring routes are safer when tired)

Transport basics overview: /blog/getting-around-china-cities-metro-didi-tickets.

Amap + “bad internet day” survival

When data is weak, focus on prepared anchors:

  • Navigate to a favorite/starred place
  • Use your hotel address card
  • Prefer simple routes over “optimized” ones

If you consistently hit internet/app failures, use the checklist: /pain-points/internet-vpn.

Policies and networks change. Treat this guide as a workflow and verify important details with official guidance and your accommodation—especially for late-night travel and personal safety.

Last verified: 2026-06-12