How to use Baidu Maps (百度地图) in China: download, language, sign-up and Amap

Baidu Maps (百度地图, Bǎidù dìtú) is a mainland China map and navigation app run by Beijing Baidu Netcom Science & Technology Co., Ltd. To use it, install the listing named 百度地图, search for places in Chinese, and check the interface language inside the app, because the App Store does not list Thai.

What is Baidu Maps, how do you say it, and who runs it?

Baidu Maps is the English name of the Chinese app 百度地图, pronounced Bǎidù dìtú, roughly “bye-doo dee-too”. The operator and App Store seller is Beijing Baidu Netcom Science & Technology Co., Ltd (北京百度网讯科技有限公司), and its official site is map.baidu.com.

For a short review based on public information, the strengths and limits are listed below. Baidu has other products too, but this guide covers only the map app.

How do you download Baidu Maps on iPhone and Android?

On iPhone, open the App Store and search for 百度地图. The same app (id 452186370) appears on the Thai and US storefronts, but its full title differs by storefront and is in Chinese, so match the name 百度地图 and the seller Beijing Baidu Netcom.

On Android, Google Play lists 百度地图 by the developer Baidu Map (package com.baidu.BaiduMap). As of November 2026 that listing was last updated on 18 August 2025, which is older than the iOS release, and Baidu's own client download page still shows a 2021 version, so rely on the store listing for current details.

Can you change Baidu Maps to English or Thai?

The sources conflict. The App Store lists English and Simplified Chinese but not Thai, while Baidu Baike lists the software language as Chinese, so neither English nor Thai is certain; look in the app itself.

For changing Baidu Maps to English, China Neighbor, a travel site, gives the path 我的 (Mine) > 设置 (Settings) > 语言设置 (Language settings), then English or 跟随系统 (follow system), and says search, reviews and ride hailing stay in Chinese. That is the site's guidance, not an official Baidu step, and menu names can differ by version, so look for 设置 and 语言.

Do you need a Chinese number to sign up for Baidu Maps?

No sign-up is needed for the main functions. Baidu Maps' privacy policy, updated on 5 June 2024, says not registering or logging in does not stop most business functions, and defines basic functions as positioning and navigation, though features needing real-name verification may be affected.

To register, a Baidu account requires a mobile number, and the policy also allows login through third-party accounts such as WeChat, Weibo and QQ. For visitors without a Chinese number, the policy does not cover passports or foreign numbers, and China Neighbor says SMS to foreign numbers is unreliable, which is that site's view. Try your own number at sign-in, and skip registration if the basic functions already work.

How do you use Baidu Maps step by step?

The shortest way to use Baidu Maps is to search in Chinese: copy the 中文 name from a hotel booking or ticket into the search box. Baidu's pages do not explain English or pinyin search, and China Neighbor says search stays in Chinese.

1. 1Install and open the appInstall 百度地图 before you leave and allow location access. The policy says it can be refused, but location-based features may then stop working.
2. 2Search with Chinese namesPaste the copied name, or type common words such as 地铁站 (metro station), 厕所 (toilet) or 机场 (airport).
3. 3Pick a travel modeChoose driving, cycling, walking or public transport, then start guidance.

Metro, bus and taxi

Government guides say Baidu Maps plans routes for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, and the store listing adds buses, trains, flights and real-time bus information. For taxis, the same listing says you can book and compare prices across car types, but no page explains how a foreigner pays, so see the payment options in the app. If you want ride hailing in English, Amap has published English ride-hailing information for visitors; for DiDi, see “Didi in China for Visitors: Booking and Safety”.

Does Baidu Maps have street view and offline maps?

Yes. Baidu calls its street view 百度全景 (panorama). Baidu's open platform lists panorama maps as a product, Baidu Baike says panoramas cover 95% of cities in China, and the policy lists location permission for panorama use. No official page explains how to open it in the app, so look on a place's page.

Offline maps exist too. Baidu's policy lists storage permission for downloading offline maps, which shows the feature exists. China Neighbor, a travel site, gives the path Mine > Offline Maps, though menu names can differ by version. Download while you still have a signal, and treat offline as a backup rather than a replacement for data.

Why can a pin in Baidu Maps differ from another app?

Baidu's developer docs say its API uses BD-09, which adds a second layer of encryption on top of GCJ-02, and GCJ-02 is itself encrypted from WGS-84 under the national surveying bureau's rules; other coordinates must be converted first. Two apps on different coordinate systems can therefore show the same place at slightly different spots, though Baidu's page does not say this directly. When meeting someone or booking a car, confirm the spot by place name, not by the pin alone.

Baidu Maps or Amap: which is better for a visitor?

For a visitor who does not read Chinese, Amap is the more practical pick, because it has published English information and ride-hailing information for foreign visitors; Baidu Maps works as the backup. This guide makes no claim about which app has more accurate data. The table sets out the comparable facts; Amap detail lives in our Amap guide, and the full comparison is in “Maps in China: Amap, Baidu, Apple and Google”.

Can you use Baidu Maps in Thailand, on a computer or in a car?

In Thailand, try it but do not rely on it. Google Play says international maps cover 200+ countries and regions, Baidu Baike repeats this and adds overseas ride hailing in 70+ countries, while China Neighbor says 50+ countries and domestic ride hailing only. These are claims, and no page confirms Thailand specifically.

On a computer, map.baidu.com is the web version, and Baidu's policy covers web use; check the page yourself for English. The iOS listing also mentions CarPlay lane-level cruise.

Why does mobile data matter for Baidu Maps?

Baidu's policy lists network access for all business functions, so search, live routes and ride hailing need a connection. Offline maps are a backup, but no app is guaranteed to load on every eSIM or network, so test it on arrival and keep a second app that works in China, such as Amap. For more, see “Great Firewall of China Explained for Travellers” and “Best eSIM for China 2026: LINE, Google and apps that work”.

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