How to use Amap (Gaode Map) in China: download, English, Thai and ride hailing

Amap, called 高德地图 (Gāodé dìtú) or Gaode Map in China, is a map and navigation app that Chinese government tourism sites recommend to visitors. Install the listing named “AMap Global”, search a destination, pick a transport mode and start navigation. Basic use works without logging in, but ride hailing needs a sign-in.

What are Amap and Gaode Map?

Amap is the English name and 高德地图 (Gāodé dìtú, pronounced roughly “gao-duh”) is the Chinese name, so a Chinese speaker saying Gaode Map means the same app. Shanghai's government site describes it as a mapping and local services platform under Alibaba Group, founded in 2002. The App Store seller is AutoNavi Information Technology Co. Ltd., and the official site is amap.com.

Is it any good? No reliable accuracy test was found, so the fair answer is limited: China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism recommends Amap and Baidu Maps to visitors. The comparison section below sets out what each app lists, so you can judge for yourself.

How do you download Amap on iPhone and Android?

Search for “AMap Global” in the App Store or Google Play and tap install. As of November 2026, the Thai and US App Store pages show “AMap Global”, while the China storefront shows 高德地图 for the same app ID. Google Play lists “AMap Global” under the developer name 高德地图.

Whatever you type when searching, whether download, install or Gaode, look for the name AMap Global. If the app opens in Chinese, see the next section.

Can you switch Amap to English or Thai?

English is available; for Thai, check inside the app. Amap announced English in January 2025 and added 14 languages on 9 July 2025, Thai among them. The App Store page, however, lists only English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, so look at the language list in the app itself.

1. 1Open Me and go to SettingsTrip.com's guide gives the path Me > Settings (设置) > General (通用设置) > Language (语言). Menu names can differ by version, so look for 设置 and 语言. This is Trip.com's path, not an official step.
2. 2Pick your languageTrip.com says the international app asks for a language at first launch. Check whether Thai is in the list; if not, choose English.
3. 3If the app stays in ChineseCheck that the installed listing is “AMap Global” and update it. Amap's overseas privacy policy says overseas users can use language modes other than Chinese and Cantonese.

If Amap won't change language or you cannot find the menu, work through the steps above. No official page says the phone's system language changes the app's language, so do not count on it following automatically.

Do you need to register or log in to Amap?

You do not need to log in for core use. Shanghai's government site says the main services work without logging in, and China's tourism ministry says core navigation needs no registration. Extended features such as taxi do need a login, by phone number or a third-party account according to the ministry.

Amap says it supports one-tap sign-in with mobile numbers from 65 countries and regions, but the list is not published. Try your own number at sign-in, and keep your Thai SIM able to receive SMS.

How do you use Amap in China, step by step?

1. 1Search for the destinationType it in English or Chinese. Xinhua reports that users can enter a destination in English and see attractions, restaurants and transport hubs on an English map. Useful Chinese searches: 地铁站 (metro station), 厕所 (toilet), 机场 (airport).
2. 2Pick a transport modeAmap offers driving, walking, cycling and public transit routes with step-by-step guidance.
3. 3Start navigatingTap to start. The app has lane-level and tunnel navigation, and a “Hello Xiao De” voice assistant that needs microphone permission. Whether voice guidance speaks English or Thai is something to check in the app.

Shanghai's government site says visitors can save hotel details and destinations in advance, and Amap's policy says locations, routes and maps can be shared with other people.

What if Amap cannot find a place?

Copy the Chinese name from your booking or hotel confirmation into the search box. The Government of Canada also advises having your hotel's name and address in Chinese characters before you travel. No official page covers pinyin search, so treat Chinese as the reliable input. A 6-digit location code (位置口令) for exact coordinates appears only in the China store notes.

Does Amap show the metro and buses?

Yes, as route information. Amap can find the nearest metro station, and its App Store page cites nearby bus and metro line information with real-time bus tracking. No source shows a full metro diagram, so do not expect one. Search 地铁站 (metro station) to see the stations near you.

How do you hail a car in Amap and how do you pay?

Ride hailing needs a login, and you pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a credit or debit card. Beijing Daily reported the English ride-hailing launch in May 2025 across 360-plus cities with nearly 100 mobility partners, calling several platforms with one tap.

• Amap says pickup points, routes and fare estimates appear in English and other languages, and the App Store page mentions comparing prices across platforms.
• China Daily's China Bound toolkit lists Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Diners Club for Alipay, and adds JCB for WeChat Pay, both with passport verification, and warns that rules may change.
• Amap publishes no list of accepted cards or of cities open to foreign accounts, so check inside the app.

On Amap taxi versus DiDi, China Bound describes DiDi as a separate ride-hailing app, and that is all the sources say. For DiDi, read “Didi in China for Visitors: Booking and Safety”; for payment setup, read “WeChat Pay and Alipay for a China business trip”.

Does Amap work offline, and is there street view?

Offline maps exist. The China Bound toolkit says “Offline maps work without internet”, and the App Store notes mention offline navigation. Trip.com gives the path Me > Offline Maps, though menu names can differ by version. Whether search or taxi works offline is not documented, so test it in the app.

As for street view, the store notes advertise “aerial street view” (飞行街景), which Huanqiu describes as a digital reconstruction from aerial views down to shop interiors. It is not shown to be panorama browsing like Baidu's, and how to open it in an English interface is not documented.

Why does Amap need mobile data, and what if it will not work?

Live navigation, real-time bus information, SMS sign-in codes and ride hailing all depend on a data connection, with offline maps as the backup. No official page says Amap works over a foreign eSIM, so test it on arrival and keep an app that works in China ready. See “Install a China eSIM Before You Fly: Step by Step”.

How does Amap compare with Google Maps, Baidu Maps and Apple Maps?

No official source ranks these apps for accuracy, so this guide names no winner. For Amap against Google Maps or Baidu Maps in full, read “Maps in China: Amap, Baidu, Apple and Google”.

Can you use Amap in Thailand or Hong Kong?

Google Play says services cover 230-plus countries and regions, while the China store notes say 200-plus; these are store claims and they conflict. Play also lists Hong Kong and Macau route planning and ride hailing in Hong Kong and mainland China. Using it in Thailand is something to try for yourself, because Amap's 2026 outbound programme is aimed at Chinese-language users.

Can you use Amap on a computer or in a car?

amap.com opens in Chinese and no English control appears in its page, so the app is the main tool for visitors. IT Home reported CarPlay dashboard navigation in August 2024 for the Chinese product; for Android Auto, check in the app.

What does Amap's privacy policy say about permissions?

Amap's overseas privacy policy says location-based features need location permission, walking navigation also needs storage and camera permissions, and voice needs the microphone. Refusing a permission may stop that feature working.

The same policy says Amap identifies a user's country from the download channel, current location, the phone number on the account and the country the user declares.

See China eSIM options for the day you land