Apps You Can’t Live
Without in China
by Drabya Rana
WeChat
WeChat is a crucial app
for communication
in China, because it is
the most common app
used by both locals and
foreigners. Alongside its
use as a messenger, some of the other uses are
transportation hailing, food delivery, hotel book-
ing, and more. Your WeChat account can be used
to login to many other apps, and it can also be
used to pay vendors and friends. WeChat pay is
so popular in China that most people here prefer
to pay with their phones rather than the cash in
their wallets.
DiDi
DiDi is a Chinese
transportation app
that helps people
call taxis and private
rideshares. It is very
similar to the Uber
app that many people are familiar with. In fact,
DiDi was built on the Uber platform.
TaoBao
TaoBao is an online
shopping website
where you can find
almost anything you
are looking for (lit-
erally anything). It is
essential because stock and availability of items
is oft en limited in Shanghai, to the point where
shop owners will oft en tell you to search on Tao-
Bao for items they don’t have.
Ziroom
Ziroom is an app that
helps locate serviced
apartments that are
becoming increasingly
popular among tourists
and expats. Unlike most
apartment apps, Ziroom
off ers a monthly rent payment service directly
through the app. Ziroom markets itself as the
easiest and best way to find an apartment in
China.
Mobike and Ofo
Mobike and Ofo are
popular bike rental apps.
Ofo’s partnership with
DiDi means that users
can also look for bikes
while using the DiDi app.
Mobike, on the other hand, has made a similar
deal with a ride hailing company called Shouqi,
but the cities covered by the partnership are still
limited.
ele.me
Food delivery in China
is a tech driven indus-
try with a competitive
set of available apps. It
also off ers supermarket
delivery so you will never
have to leave your home again.