In the past year, the iPhone craze has really hit Beijing. Whether you are riding the bus or subway, it’s hard not to notice young and trendy Beijingers using gaming apps on their iPhone as they wait for their final destination. Sitting in a coffee shop you can see the same trendsetters gaming, checking emails, or downloading new apps as they wait for their friends to show up.  In fact, many 20-something Beijingers have saved a month or two of their salary for their new toy, and continue to spend money downloading new apps, so who can blame them for wanting to flaunt it.

For Laowai, getting an iPhone in China is no easy task. The iPhone is three times more expensive when purchased without a contract and if imported from overseas often needs to be unlocked for use in China, which requires 100-200 RMB in service fees at the Zhongguancun electronics market. Regardless, many foreigners make the choice to use an iPhone in China. In one handy and dandy piece of equipment, you have a phone, MP3 player, email and Internet access, and thousands of useful applications. There are many applications that have extra benefit here in China. The following applications are among the most useful for life in Beijing.

1) Metro-Beijing
This application is a comprehensive subway guide to Beijing. It contains a complete subway map, as well as individual line information. You can plug in your route to get exact travel times (including transfers) that are fairly accurate except during rush hour when transfer points like Guomao are extremely crowded and transferring lines is like being in a heard of cattle heading back from grazing. There is also a function that allows search by tourist landmarks which is great for travelers who are looking for the quickest way to get from the Forbidden City to Summer Palace.

Price: free

2) Beijing Air
Even for those who are just visiting Beijing for a week, it’s hard not to notice how poor the air quality can be. This application is a direct feed from the US Embassy air quality index, which is measured on an hourly basis. The rating is a measure of PM 2.5 particles, air particulates of less than 2.5 microns in size, deemed the most dangerous air pollutants to human health. Ratings below 100 are good for Beijing, but the rating is often 100 or above which is cause for concern. This app is for people who need help determining whether or not to wear a face mask on the commute to work, or people with extremely morbid curiosity wanting to see how much damage is being done to their body on a daily basis.

Price: free

3) Beijing Taxi Guide
If you don’t like to take the subway or buses with millions of other Beijingers or don’t have a driver to chauffer you around, taxis are plentiful and cheap in Beijing. But can you get to your destination without a hitch? If your Mandarin is mediocre at best, sometimes explaining your destination to your driver can be difficult. With this app these awkward situations will disappear. The app comes with over 3,000 addresses for popular destinations in BJ. The address cards are in large bold Chinese characters so your taxi driver does not need to whip out his magnifying glass, it is updated on a regular basis with local users suggestions, and it allows the ability to share address cards. Additionally, the app is integrated with a zoom-able and scrollable map ensuring you don’t get the “laowai” roundabout from your driver, so you can show him where Sanlitun is, in the event he claims he doesn’t know where it is!

Price: 9.99 USD

4) mPassport Beijing
Have an emergency medical situation and don’t know where to go or don’t want to go to a Chinese hospital? Don’t worry, mPassport Beijing provides a medical concierge of international qualified English speaking medical professionals for any situation, including hospitals, doctors, dentists and pharmacies. The application allows you to search by location, and book an appointment through your phone. It even has a translation tool to better understand medications, dosages and key medical terms. This application is sure to get you out of a jam next time you encounter medical problems.

Price: 0.99 USD

5) Beijing Buzz
The Beijing Buzz is an application that is essentially a real-time Twitter-esque feed for all goings on in Beijing. It streams thousands of posts a week from over 300 Beijing English speaking experts, and ranges from government activity to restaurant/club openings. It is a great way to keep up on things like the latest music and sports events as well as commentary on trends in Beijing. The app also streams photos, and allows you to read expert profiles, if you want to follow up further on posts. This application will keep anyone up-to-date on the latest trends in Beijing.

Price: 1.99 USD

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