The General Situation

While English is part of the mandatory education curriculum in China, many people may not be fluent speakers after they leave school. For travelers, this means a reliable translation app is an essential tool for smooth communication.

Recommended Translation Apps

To help you communicate, we recommend trying these translation apps:

• U Dictionary
• DeepL

Both are readily available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

As a side note, some AI apps can also be very effective. One we recommend is: Qwen.

When in Doubt, Ask for Help

Don't hesitate to approach younger people, especially those who look like middle school, high school, or university students. There's a good chance they can help you with English.

In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, and large provincial capitals such as Xi'an, Chengdu, Nanjing, and Guangzhou, you'll find that a significant number of young people can communicate in English, maybe not fluently, but they can help.