Can foreigners use AMap in English? The short answer
Yes. AMap (高德地图, Gaode Map in Chinese) now has an English version for international users and a multilingual version covering Chinese, English and 14 more languages. Download AMap Global from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It plans metro, bus, walking, biking and driving routes, and a July 2025 announcement describes an English ride-hailing screen. The main services work without logging in, according to Amap’s own July 13, 2026 service list.
Which AMap app should I download as a foreigner?
The Shanghai government’s English guide calls it “Gaode Maps (also known as AMap Global)”, available on Android and iOS. The App Store listing is named AMap Global, from AutoNavi Information Technology Co. Ltd. It is free, with in-app purchases.
The timeline, in the Shanghai government’s own words:
- January 2025: an English-language version for overseas users, “now available for download on overseas app stores” (page of January 23, 2025). It includes lane-level navigation and traffic light countdowns.
- July 9, 2025: the multilingual version rolled out, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play (page of July 11, 2025). It gives translated names and descriptions for attractions, restaurants and hotels.
Beijing’s government site also lists “Amap (English Version)” as a map with marks for attractions, restaurants and hotels across China. The same page lists a separate government map, the English City Map of Beijing. That one is not AMap.
Do I need a Chinese phone number or a login to use AMap?
You can start without logging in. Amap’s July 13, 2026 service list, republished by the Shanghai government, says “The main services can be accessed without logging in, reducing the number of steps required for first-time users.”
That page says nothing about phone numbers. It does not say whether a foreign or a Chinese number is accepted for an account, or which features need one. You will still want mobile data to use a live map; our China SIM card guide covers that.
How do I search AMap: English, Chinese characters or pinyin?
English works. The Shanghai government’s “How to use Gaode Maps” page says you can type English, such as “Hongqiao Airport”, and the possible options appear in a drop-down menu. Pick the most accurate one. Its example result reads “上海虹桥国际机场 Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport”, with the Chinese name next to the English.
For the multilingual version, the July 2025 page says it shows translated names and descriptions for tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and other key destinations.
Chinese characters and pinyin: neither the “How to use Gaode Maps” page nor the July 2025 page says whether you can type Chinese characters into the place search, and neither mentions pinyin. Don’t count on pinyin until you have tried it on your own phone.
Can AMap plan metro and bus routes, including which exit to use?
Yes. The Shanghai government’s guide says you tell AMap where you are and where you want to go, and it generates several routes with estimated times of arrival (ETAs) for each mode of transport. Routes are colour-coded: green means smooth traffic, red means heavy congestion.
Button names may differ
The step-by-step below comes from an older Shanghai page, “How to use Gaode Maps”. Its first sentence says the app “is not available in English”, which conflicts with the 2025 pages above. Read it as a description of the Chinese-interface app. Use it for the logic of the steps; button names in the English app may differ.
- Open the app and tap the blue arrow at the bottom for “路线 Route”.
- The top box is your starting point, or your current location. The bottom box is your destination.
- Type the destination in English and choose from the drop-down list.
- Pick “bus and metro”. The fastest route appears at the top, and you can choose other routes.
- Tap a route for the detail. It tells you where to take the metro or bus, which station to exit at, and how long you need to walk or cycle to the destination. The page doesn’t say whether it names the station exit to use.
The same page lists these other options: “driving”, “taking a taxi”, “biking” and “on foot”. Biking offers bicycle and e-bike, with the time, distance and number of traffic lights along the route. Tapping “驾车 Driving” starts navigation.
The Shanghai pages cover route planning, not paying the fare; see our Beijing subway payment guide and Shanghai metro foreign card guide.
Can I book a taxi or ride-hailing car in AMap and see the price in English?
Three Shanghai government pages mention it:
- The guide says that if no metro station or bus stop is nearby, you enter your location and destination and the app helps you book a taxi.
- The “How to use Gaode Maps” page says car-hailing offers economical, taxi, car pooling or luxury options. The estimated price is shown, and after selecting a service you can call a car.
- The July 11, 2025 page describes an English-language ride-hailing interface. Users “book rides from various providers with one tap and view key details like pickup locations and fare estimates in English”.
So an English price estimate is described. What those pages leave out is a price list, the names of the providers, and how you pay. They don’t say whether a foreign card works or whether you need a Chinese payment account. For general money questions, see is cash accepted in China.
The App Store listing also mentions hotel and attraction ticket purchases and an auto-renewal subscription, “Gaode Digital Assets Monthly Subscription”, at 9.9 CNY/month. The listing doesn’t say you need the subscription to use maps or ride-hailing.
How do I change AMap to English, and which languages are there?
Neither the Shanghai government pages nor the App Store listing give the steps for switching the interface language, or say whether the app opens in English by default. The pages do describe the languages differently:
| Page | What it says about language |
|---|---|
| Shanghai guide to using AMap in English | “Language: English” |
| Shanghai government, July 11, 2025 | Chinese and English, plus 14 more: Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Malay, Indonesian and Vietnamese |
| Shanghai government, July 13, 2026 | Services in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish and Korean |
| App Store listing | Language line shows “EN + 2 More” |
These do not add up to one number, and no page reconciles them. If your language is not English, look at the app’s language list on your own phone before you rely on it.
What else does AMap offer visitors besides navigation?
Amap’s July 13, 2026 service list, republished by the Shanghai government, covers the whole trip:
- Before you fly: entry requirements, guidance on completing arrival cards, and local customs. Our China arrival card guide covers the form itself.
- Saved plans: hotel details and planned destinations can be saved in advance. For multi-city trips you can organise them by city and switch between plans.
- On arrival: guidance on airport arrival procedures, internet access and onward travel to your accommodation. From your location and saved hotel, it can suggest route options by taxi or public transportation.
- Talking to people: bilingual phrase cards for drivers, hotel staff or passers-by.
- Nearby places: restaurants, attractions, shopping areas and other places of interest, based on your location and saved destinations. In Shanghai, it features “Shanghai Style” and “Made in Shanghai” lists.
- Emergencies: emergency contact numbers and selected public service information.
The older “How to use Gaode Maps” page adds a smaller trick. Tap the yellow star icon (Favorites) to save home and work addresses, then tap “去设置 Set your location” and enter the address.
Battery and help
The App Store listing warns that voice navigation for driving, transit transfers and walking uses satellite positioning (BeiDou, etc.) continuously, even in the background, which may increase battery consumption. For problems, it points to “Me -- Help and Feedback” and a customer service hotline, 400-810-0080. It does not say which languages that hotline handles.
Where AMap fits in your trip
AMap handles the map. It is one of a few apps you will use; our WeChat registration guide covers another. For city plans, see the Shanghai and Beijing guides. We can help you plan the day and tell you how to book flights, hotels, train tickets, a local guide or a private car.
