China travel apps are taking off

Payments to pathways

As Nihao China addresses payment issues, another app, HiChina, developed by Travelsky Mobile Technology, an internet technology company specializing in informatized infrastructure, tackles other hurdles faced by international visitors to China.

"On the foundation of providing travel convenience for Chinese passengers, we also began considering whether we could create a one-stop travel facilitation tool for foreigners coming to China," says Travelsky's vice-president Liu Feng, explaining the app's origin.

He identifies key points the app aims to address, including language barriers, complex domestic transportation for long-distance and cross-city travel, and limited daily service access.

It offers four primary functions in 10 scenarios, including seamless entry and communication.

"Through HiChina, you can conveniently select different entry cities to complete the corresponding information form. You can also preselect a Chinese mobile network or data plan on the HiChina platform,"Liu says.

The built-in translation tool supports voice and text translation, he points out.

For instance, for daily transportation and navigation, the app integrates ride-hailing with real-time translation to bridge communication gaps between drivers and passengers.

For public transit, the app integrates public transit cards for over 330 cities nationwide, allowing inbound travelers to simulate an NFC transit card with their phones.

"It also provides English maps and a smart AI assistant," Liu says.

The company has also extended its core aviation technology to the HiChina app, bringing the convenience of its star app Umetrip to international travelers.

Chinese travelers have widely used Umetrip to inquire about official flight data and for seamless, paperless travel.

"We have also integrated these capabilities onto the HiChina platform, hoping that when international tourists travel by air in China, they can experience the convenience brought by the modernization and intelligent development of civil aviation," Liu says.

Additionally, HiChina integrates domestic train ticket booking, which Liu says can be a more troublesome feat for international guests.