Explainer: Your guide to WeChat & Alipay mini-program translation tools

Someone recently asked how to buy tickets for the Katy Perry concert in Shanghai – and we realized just how helpful it would be to have a simple guide for navigating major Chinese lifestyle service platforms in English.

So here it is! We've compiled a quick how-to on using the built-in translation features of WeChat and Alipay to access mini-programs like ticket booking, food delivery, ride-hailing, and more, without the language barrier.

WeChat mini-programs

Since October 2024, WeChat has enabled a built-in translation button for its mini-programs, in addition to chats and official account posts.

How to set it up:

Go to Me > Settings > General > Translation

Choose your preferred translation language

Pro tip:

"Language" changes your overall WeChat system language. If your WeChat system language is set to English, scanning a QR code to order at a restaurant in Shanghai will automatically display the menu in English.

"Translation" lets you enable WeChat's built-in translation function.

It now supports 18 languages, which include English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese (HK/TW), Indonesian, Malay, Spanish, Korean, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, Turkish, German and French.

Example: Buying concert tickets on "猫眼" Maoyan

1. In WeChat, type 猫眼 in the search bar and open the mini program

2. Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner

3. Select "Translation" to switch the page to English

The same method works for other mini programs too, including:

滴滴出行 (DiDi – ride-hailing)

美团外卖 (Meituan – food delivery)

顺丰速运 (SF Express – courier service)

Alipay mini-programs

Alipay also offers a translation tool for mini-programs.

How to Enable:

Go to Me > Settings > General > Translation Tool

Enable the floating translation button for in-app use. Except English, it supports 14 languages, including: French, German, Spanish, Malay, Arabic, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Indonesian, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese.

Example: Ordering food on "美团 Meituan"

1. Search for 美团 within Alipay

2. Use the floating translation button to convert Chinese content to English in real-time

Once you've activated translation on either platform, you can confidently navigate dozens of essential services – even if you're not fluent in Chinese. Whether you're booking concert tickets, ordering dinner, or calling a car, these tools make everyday life in China much more accessible.