It is important to note that none of these websites currently have an English-language version, so you will need at least a basic knowledge of Chinese, or a lot of patience, in order to navigate them.
1. Baidu Map | 百度地图
Their maps might not be the most visually appealing, but from our experience Baidu Map simply has the most accurate data, the widest range of features and the best search results.
We find that Baidu Map is particularly useful for transportation and traffic data, as well as offering handy 3D maps of most Chinese cities.
Baidu Map also has the most comprehensive coverage of Street View images in China, which can be invaluable when researching specific addresses.
Map Features:
– Satellite View: Yes
– Street View: Yes (covers most cities and streets)
– Directions: Yes
– Traffic Layer: Yes
2. Gaode Map | 高德地图
(Also known as Autonavi and AMAP)
Gaode may not have quite as many features as Baidu Maps but it has an easy to use interface and very clean and clear maps.
If you can’t read Chinese but want to give a Chinese-language map website a try, this is probably the best place to start.
If you are visiting China and worried about the air pollution the air pollution layer is easy to understand even without any Chinese language skills. This can be viewed by simply clicking this link: gaode.com/smog
Map Features:
– Satellite View: No
– Street View: No
– Directions: Yes
– Traffic Layer: Yes
How China Checkup Uses China Map Websites
Here at China Checkup, we use China map websites as part of our Chinese company verification services, to identify locations and provide street view images for our clients. We call this feature “Site Identification”
This can be an invaluable method for helping clients to better understand their Chinese counterparts and on many occasions has been used to expose fake addresses or greatly exaggerated claims.
For example, sometimes we find that the company name displayed at a factory’s main entrance does not match that from an image on their website. On other occasions we have determined that companies are using an address that appears to be real, but actually no longer exists.