I deleted 12 apps from my phone after discovering WeChat mini-programs.
My friend from Singapore is organized. Before coming to China, she downloaded 15 apps: Didi, Meituan, Trip.com, 12306, Ele.me, Dianping, HelloBike, Baidu Maps, Amap, a translation app, a weather app, a currency converter...Her phone storage: crying.
Then a Chinese friend showed her WeChat mini-programs.
What are WeChat mini-programs?
They're apps... inside WeChat. No download. No installation. No storage used.
You open WeChat. Swipe down. Search. Tap. Use. Close.
There are 4.3 million mini-programs in China. They cover everything.
The mini-programs she now uses daily:
1. Didi (滴滴出行)
Like Uber, but inside WeChat. English interface. Track your driver. Instant translation for messaging the driver.
2. Trip.com / Ctrip (携程)
Book trains, flights, hotels. Connects directly to 12306 for railway tickets. Full English support.
3. Meituan (美团)
Food delivery, restaurant reviews, hotel booking, movie tickets. It's China's everything app.
4. Ele.me (饿了么)
Food delivery competitor to Meituan. Sometimes cheaper. Different restaurant selection.
5. 12306
Official railway booking. No service fees. Passport verification required.
6. Dianping (大众点评)
Restaurant reviews, ratings, photos. China's Yelp. Essential for finding good local food.
7. Forbidden City / Terracotta Army tickets
Major attractions have their own mini-programs. Book tickets, skip lines, get audio guides.
8. Tax Refund (退税)
At the airport, scan your passport and boarding pass. Get 11% VAT refund instantly. No paperwork.
9. Hospital registration
Book doctor appointments. See queue status. Pay bills. At major hospitals like Beijing United Family.
10. HelloBike / Meituan Bike
Unlock shared bikes directly from WeChat. No separate app needed.
How to find them:
1. Open WeChat
2. Swipe down on the main chat screen
3. Tap the search bar
4. Type the name (in English or Chinese)
5. Tap the mini-program
6. Tap the three dots → "Add to My Mini Programs" for quick access
Why they're better than standalone apps:
• No storage used: They don't install on your phone
• No updates: They update automatically
• Fast: Load in seconds, even on weak internet
• Payment integrated: WeChat Pay handles everything
• Translation: Long-press Chinese text to translate instantly
The catch:
• You need WeChat Pay set up
• Some mini-programs are Chinese-only
• You need mobile data to load them (they don't work offline)
• More complex features may require the full app
My Singaporean friend deleted 12 apps. She kept WeChat, Alipay, Google Translate, and a VPN.
Her phone breathed a sigh of relief.
"I came to China with a phone full of apps I didn't understand. Now I have one app that does everything. It's either brilliant or terrifying. I haven't decided yet."
Pro tip: Before your trip, set up WeChat and add the most useful mini-programs to your favorites. When you land, you're ready to go.
Anyone else discovered mini-programs? Which ones do you use most?
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