Google Maps Doesn't Work in China — 4 Alternatives That Do (2026)
Google Maps loads in China, but it’s wrong. Streets are offset by 500 meters. Public transit directions don’t work. Walking routes send you through walls. Here’s what to use instead. Why Google Maps Fails in China China uses a different coordinate system (GCJ-02) than the global standard (WGS-84). Google Maps uses WGS-84. Chinese maps use GCJ-02. The result: everything is shifted. Your hotel appears in the middle of a river. Your walking route goes through a construction site. ...