Baidu Maps
China's other major maps app, with strong real-time transit data.
What Baidu Maps is
Baidu Maps is one of China's major mapping and navigation apps, with detailed local data, real-time transit information, and turn-by-turn directions. It's a strong choice in mainland China, where Google Maps is unavailable or unreliable, and where local apps simply have better, more current data. Travelers use it for navigating cities, finding metro and bus routes, and locating points of interest.
What it does for travelers
- ✓Detailed street, transit, and walking directions across mainland China
- ✓Strong real-time public transit data including metro and bus routing
- ✓Points of interest, reviews, and indoor maps for large venues
- ✓Driving navigation with live traffic conditions
- ✓Search for businesses, landmarks, and addresses in Chinese
Good to know
- The interface and search are primarily in Chinese, which can be a barrier for non-readers
- Works best with a data connection; offline support is limited compared to dedicated offline map apps
- Map coordinate offsets used in China mean locations may differ from what foreign apps show
- Free to use, generally without needing an account for basic navigation
Tips from the road
- Pair it with a translation app, since search and labels are mostly in Chinese
- Have a local contact write out destination names in Chinese to paste into search
- Transit directions are often more accurate here than in foreign map apps for Chinese cities
- A working SIM or eSIM with data makes it far more usable than relying on spotty Wi-Fi
When to reach for it
Choose Baidu Maps when you're in mainland China and need reliable, current navigation and transit routing that foreign map apps can't deliver behind the firewall.
Travelers use Baidu Maps in
Baidu Maps — frequently asked
Does Baidu Maps work in English?
It's primarily a Chinese-language app, so non-Chinese readers will struggle with search and labels and often pair it with a translation tool.
Is Baidu Maps better than Google Maps in China?
In mainland China it generally has more accurate, up-to-date local and transit data, and Google Maps is unreliable there, so Baidu is usually the better choice on the ground.
Can I use Baidu Maps offline?
Offline capability is limited; it's built around an active data connection, so plan to have mobile data while navigating.