How to Use Baidu Maps in English: Complete Tutorial (2026)

Baidu Maps (百度地图) is one of the best ways to not get lost in China. And yes—you can use it in English, even though a lot of place data remains in Chinese.

This tutorial is written for people who:

• don’t read Chinese fluently,
• want step-by-step instructions,
• and prefer a map app that actually knows where the restaurants are.

We’ll cover installation, English language switching, core navigation features, offline maps, and how to share locations in a way that works with taxis and ride-hailing.

Quick Answer

To use Baidu Maps in English:

1. Install Baidu Maps on iOS/Android.
2. Switch the interface language to English (where available).
3. Search places using copy-paste Chinese names from bookings when English search fails.
4. Use Transit and Walking routing for cities, and download offline maps before you go underground.
5. For pickups, use pin-sharing and nearby landmarks instead of typing addresses from memory.

If you want the full “don’t get lost” setup (map apps + ride-hailing + translation), use: /guide/03-daily-survival/navigation.

Table of Contents

• Install Baidu Maps (iOS/Android)
• Switch Baidu Maps to English (Language Steps)
• Core Features Tourists Use
  • Navigation (Walking/Driving)
  • Public Transit (Metro/Bus)
  • Taxi and Pickup Points (Practical Tips)
  • Street View / Panorama
  • Offline Maps
• Baidu vs Gaode vs Google Maps (China Reality Check)
• Pro Tips: Favorites, Sharing, and “Chinese Name Copy-Paste”
• Common Problems (and Fast Fixes)
• FAQ
• CTA: Build Your Navigation Stack

Install Baidu Maps (iOS/Android)

iOS (iPhone)

1. Open the App Store
2. Search “Baidu Maps” or “百度地图”
3. Install the official app
4. Open it once and allow Location permissions

Screenshot description:

• App Store listing with a map-style icon and “Baidu” developer info, plus the “Get” button.

Android

The simplest path is to install before arrival using your usual app store.

1. Open Google Play (if available)
2. Search Baidu Maps
3. Install and open once to accept permissions

If you’re installing from inside China and your app store experience is… complicated:

• use official sources where possible,
• avoid random APK sites.

Switch Baidu Maps to English (Language Steps)

Baidu’s English support is “interface English,” not “China magically becomes English.”

What typically changes:

• menus and basic buttons

What often stays Chinese:

• place names
• reviews
• some advanced feature screens

Step-by-step language settings

1. Open Baidu Maps
2. Go to your profile area (often 我的 / “Me”)
3. Open Settings (gear icon; often 设置)
4. Find Language (often 语言设置)
5. Choose English
6. Restart the app if it doesn’t switch immediately

Screenshot description:

• A settings screen with a language row and a dropdown showing “English.”

First 5 Minutes: The Setup That Makes Everything Easier

Do these once and Baidu Maps becomes dramatically more usable.

1) Turn on precise location (iPhone)

If you’re on iOS:

1. Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services
2. Baidu Maps → enable Precise Location

Why it matters:

• In dense cities, a “slightly wrong dot” can put you on the wrong side of a mega-block. That’s a 20-minute detour, not a 20-meter mistake.

2) Enable “While Using” location permissions

Baidu Maps needs real-time location. “Ask next time” turns your map into a passive-aggressive suggestion.

3) Download offline maps for your first city

Do this on good Wi‑Fi before you start relying on the subway. Offline maps are cheap insurance.

4) Save your hotel and an anchor landmark

Save:

• your hotel
• nearest metro station
• one “anchor place” (a mall or landmark near your hotel)

When you get lost (and everyone gets lost), you can route back instantly.

5) Recognize four Chinese words

Even in English mode, you’ll see Chinese. These are worth recognizing:

Chinese	Meaning
我的	Me/Profile
设置	Settings
地铁	Metro/Subway
出口	Exit

Core Features Tourists Use

Navigation (Walking/Driving)

Baidu Maps is excellent for walking because it understands:

• pedestrian overpasses and underpasses,
• mall entrances,
• complex station exits,
• and dense city blocks that confuse non-China apps.

How to start walking navigation:

1. Search your destination
2. Tap the place card
3. Tap Route
4. Choose Walking
5. Tap Start

Driving navigation (even if you’re not driving) is useful for:

• understanding pickup/drop-off points
• estimating realistic travel time in traffic

Search Like a Local (Even If You Don’t Read Chinese)

This is the skill that makes Baidu Maps “click.”

Method A: Copy-paste the Chinese place name (best reliability)

Where to grab Chinese names quickly:

• hotel booking confirmations (name + address)
• Trip.com attraction tickets
• official attraction pages
• your hotel front desk (ask them to type the destination in Chinese)

How to use it:

1. Copy the Chinese name/address
2. Paste into Baidu search
3. Verify with photos + the address line
4. Save as a favorite so you don’t repeat the process tomorrow

Why it works:

• Baidu’s POI search is optimized for Chinese text. English works best for major landmarks and big brands.

Method B: Category search + neighborhood

If you don’t have an exact name, search by category (coffee/pharmacy/ATM), then zoom into the correct neighborhood and choose based on distance + photos.

Method C: Drop a pin when names are ambiguous

“Central Plaza” is not unique in China. When in doubt:

1. Long-press to drop a pin
2. Share the pin
3. Navigate to the pin

Public Transit (Metro/Bus)

Transit is where tourists win time and lose anxiety.

How to use transit routing:

1. Search your destination
2. Tap Route
3. Select the transit icon (metro/bus)
4. Compare options (fastest vs fewest transfers vs least walking)
5. Screenshot the route before entering the subway

Screenshot description:

• A route screen showing multiple options with transfer counts and estimated time.

Pro tip: pay attention to exit numbers. The right station with the wrong exit can turn a 3-minute walk into a 20-minute loop.

A transit “exit strategy” that saves time

Before you go underground, screenshot:

• the route overview
• the transfer station name(s)
• the destination exit number

Then follow station signage + your screenshot. Data may drop underground; your screenshot won’t.

Taxi and Pickup Points (Practical Tips)

In China, “address” is not always enough. Many venues have:

• multiple entrances,
• different pickup zones,
• and fences that force detours.

Here’s the taxi-proof method:

1. Search your destination
2. Open the place card
3. Tap Share
4. Share the pin via WeChat (or screenshot the map pin + Chinese name)

If you’re using ride-hailing, use these strategies:

• choose a pickup point on a main road
• use “nearby landmarks” (mall name, gate number, metro exit)
• avoid placing pickup pins deep inside a mall complex

Using Baidu Maps to Choose a Pickup Point (Even If You Use Another Ride App)

Even if you call rides with another app, Baidu Maps is excellent for one thing: choosing a pickup point a car can actually reach.

Practical workflow:

1. Search the destination and open the place card.
2. Zoom out slightly and identify the nearest main road.
3. Drop a pin where cars can stop (not inside a pedestrian-only plaza).
4. Screenshot the pin + Chinese name, or share it via WeChat.

This avoids the classic tourist conversation:

• You: “I’m at the mall.”
• Driver: “Which entrance? Which gate? Which level?”
• You: “Yes.”

Street View / Panorama

Baidu’s panorama/street view helps you confirm:

• the correct entrance,
• what the building looks like,
• whether you’re on the right side of the street.

How to use it:

1. Search a place
2. Look for a panorama/street view option on the place card
3. Use it to match the entrance and nearby storefronts

Screenshot description:

• A panoramic view with draggable camera and a small map inset.

Offline Maps

Offline maps are your backup when:

• you’re underground,
• your signal is weak,
• or you’re in a scenic area with “one bar and a dream.”

How to download offline maps (typical flow):

1. Settings → Offline maps
2. Search your city
3. Download the city package
4. Test once (Airplane Mode on, open the map, confirm it loads)

What offline maps usually give you:

• base map tiles
• saved locations
• basic route planning (limited)

What you often lose offline:

• real-time traffic
• live transit arrival updates
• some POI detail pages

A Mini Glossary (Useful Searches That Actually Work)

These searches work well in Baidu Maps. If English search fails, copy-paste the Chinese term.

Need	English search	Chinese search
Convenience store	convenience store	便利店
Pharmacy	pharmacy	药店 / 药房
Hospital	hospital	医院
ATM	ATM	取款机 / ATM
Police	police station	派出所
Subway	subway	地铁
Train station	train station	火车站
Airport	airport	机场

Pro tip: when you find something useful (a pharmacy, a 24/7 convenience store), save it. “I’ll remember where it was” is a lie your tired brain tells you.

Baidu vs Gaode vs Google Maps (China Reality Check)

Let’s be honest: people try to use Google Maps in China, then wonder why they’re standing 300 meters away from their hotel entrance.

Why Google Maps is unreliable in mainland China

• blocked access (without workarounds)
• incomplete POI database
• coordinate system differences and mismatches
• local routing complexity that global maps often miss

Baidu Maps vs Gaode (Amap)

The practical “tourist answer” is: install both.

Scenario	Better choice	Why
Finding small local POIs	Baidu	Often better POI coverage
Driving-style navigation	Gaode (Amap)	Clean, strong turn-by-turn
Public transit planning	Tie	Both are good; screenshot routes
Confusing venue entrances	Baidu + Street View	Better verification tools
When one app can’t find it	Use the other	Search results vary

If you want the deeper head-to-head, see: Gaode (Amap) vs Baidu Maps comparison.

Real-World Scenarios (Copy These Workflows)

If Baidu Maps still feels abstract, use these “copy-paste workflows.” They’re designed for real travel moments when your brain is operating at 30% capacity.

Scenario 1: Airport → Hotel (without getting lost at the wrong entrance)

1. Open your hotel booking and copy the Chinese hotel name (or address).
2. Paste into Baidu Maps search and open the correct result.
3. Tap Route and choose:
   • Transit if you’re comfortable with metro transfers, or
   • Driving if you’re taking a taxi/ride-hailing.
4. Screenshot the route overview and the destination card (Chinese name + address).
5. When you arrive near the hotel, switch to Walking mode for the last 300–800 meters. This is where most “wrong gate” mistakes happen.

Why this works:

• Driving routes get you close.
• Walking routes help you find the actual entrance when the building is huge.

Scenario 2: You’re meeting someone (and “near the mall” isn’t a location)

1. Drop a pin on your exact location.
2. Share the pin via WeChat (or screenshot it and send the image).
3. Add one landmark note: “I’m at Metro Exit B2” or “North gate.”

Scenario 3: Subway navigation when you don’t want to rely on signal

Before entering the station:

• Screenshot the route overview.
• Screenshot the transfer station name.
• Screenshot the destination exit number.

Then follow:

• station signage
• exit numbers
• your screenshots

If you get confused, don’t keep walking for 10 minutes hoping it fixes itself. Stop, check the map, and reroute. China metro stations are gigantic; “just keep going” is not a strategy.

Scenario 4: Finding an English-friendly place (restaurants, cafes, bars)

Baidu Maps won’t magically label places “English friendly,” but you can infer it.

Look for:

• lots of photos in the listing
• reviews mentioning foreigners/English (sometimes visible)
• location in a modern business district or international hotel zone

Practical approach:

1. Search the category (coffee / bar / restaurant).
2. Filter by rating and distance.
3. Tap into a few listings and look at photos—menus and interior photos tell you more than text.

Scenario 5: “My dot is wrong” in dense downtown areas

If you’re in a dense cluster of tall buildings, GPS can drift.

Fix sequence:

1. Stop walking for 10 seconds (let GPS settle).
2. Turn your phone slowly (compass calibration).
3. Walk to a more open area (near a main road) and re-check.

In practice, GPS drift is temporary. Don’t panic-route across highways because your dot jumped.

Pro Tips: Favorites, Sharing, and “Chinese Name Copy-Paste”

Tip 1: Copy-paste Chinese place names (the “I don’t read Chinese” superpower)

When English search fails:

1. Copy the Chinese name from your booking confirmation
2. Paste it into Baidu search
3. Confirm using photos and address
4. Save it as a favorite

This works because Chinese map databases are optimized for Chinese text.

Tip 2: Save these places on day 1

Save:

• your hotel
• nearest metro exit
• nearest convenience store
• the place you’ll return to at night (a mall, a landmark, a station)

Future-you will thank past-you.

Tip 3: Screenshot routes before going underground

If you’re taking the subway, screenshot:

• the full route
• the transfer station name
• the exit number at your destination

Tip 4: Share a pin, not a paragraph

Sending “I’m near the mall” is how plans collapse.

Instead, send:

• a shared pin link
• or a screenshot with the crosshair + Chinese name

Common Problems and Fast Fixes

Problem: The app switches back to Chinese

Fix:

• language settings sometimes reset after updates—switch it back in Settings.

Problem: You can’t find your destination

Fix:

• search the Chinese name
• try a nearby landmark
• drop a pin manually on the map

Problem: Your location dot is drifting

Fix:

• step outside for a clearer GPS lock
• toggle Airplane Mode on/off
• confirm “Precise Location” is enabled (iOS)

Problem: The route makes no sense

Fix:

• switch between Baidu and Amap; sometimes one handles the route better
• choose “fewest transfers” for sanity

FAQ

Does Baidu Maps work without a VPN?

Yes. Baidu Maps is a China-local app and works normally in mainland China.

Is there a full Baidu Maps English version?

Not fully. Interface English helps, but Chinese names and content remain common. Use copy-paste and screenshots.

Can I use Baidu Maps to call a taxi?

Baidu offers integrations in some contexts, but many travelers rely on dedicated ride-hailing apps. Your best move is to share pins and use pickup points correctly.

Why are place names still Chinese in English mode?

Because Baidu’s database is China-first. The interface can be translated, but POI names, reviews, and many details remain in Chinese. Copy-paste turns this into an advantage.

Should I also install Amap (Gaode)?

Yes. Two map apps is not overkill in China; it’s redundancy. When one app can’t find a place or gives a confusing route, the other often works.

What’s the best “search” workflow for foreigners?

Try English first for major landmarks. If results look wrong, switch to copy-pasted Chinese names from bookings, then verify with photos and address.

Do I need to create an account?

Not required for basic navigation. Accounts mainly help with syncing favorites and some extra features. If you don’t want to share personal info, you can still use Baidu Maps effectively without logging in.

Final Checklist (Before You Go Outside)

If you’re about to start exploring, run this quick checklist:

• Baidu Maps installed and location permissions enabled
• Language set to English (optional, but helpful)
• Offline maps downloaded for your current city
• Hotel saved as a favorite (with the Chinese name/address visible)
• One backup map app installed (Amap/Gaode is ideal)
• Translation app ready (for menus, signs, and emergency phrases)
• Habit locked in: screenshot routes before the subway

This sounds basic, but it prevents the most common tourist failure mode: “My phone has apps, but none of them are set up.”

CTA: Build Your Navigation Stack

Map apps are only part of “not getting lost.” The full stack includes:

• a map app (Baidu + Amap)
• a translation app
• ride-hailing
• offline backups

Start here: /guide/03-daily-survival/navigation.

If you’re building your China app stack, these guides pair well with Baidu Maps:

• Amap setup: How to use Amap (Gaode) in English (2026)
• Didi pickup pain points: DiDi airport/train pickup guide (2026)
• Translation apps: Best translation apps for China (2026)

One last practical move: copy your hotel name and address in Chinese into your Notes app and favorite it. When your phone is offline, tired, and angry, Notes still opens. That’s the kind of reliability you want on travel day. Do the same for one emergency destination (nearest hospital) and you’ll feel 10x calmer walking around at night, especially in unfamiliar neighborhoods. It’s a tiny habit that prevents big panic, and it costs nothing. Do it now, not later—your future self will be too tired to remember, and you’ll thank yourself tomorrow morning. Also screenshot the nearest metro station exit number.