Ask Leo, an AI guide that knows China
Directions, food, what to say, or whether a price is fair. When Leo tells you how to get somewhere, a navigation button appears right under the answer.
Nǐ hǎo, traveller
Where to next in China?
LeoKnows is your English guide for China. Ask Leo anything, get directions on a map that works there, read any menu with your camera, book tickets inside your plan, and reach a real person any time.
Coming soon on theApp Store
Coming soon onGoogle Play
Maps that work in China · built on China's own map data
Navigation is free · no pass needed
Real people · human help, day and night
Two ways to use LeoKnows
Useful from the day you start planning
Plan at home, arrive ready.
Tell Leo your dates, cities, interests and budget. You get a day-by-day plan with real places, travel times and the tickets you'll need.
Custom trip plans
One city or several, from hutongs to mountain hikes, at your own pace.
Taste trips
Pick a cuisine, spicy or mild, and we'll pick the city.
Shows and events
Peking opera and acrobatics explained in English, with tickets.
Ready for China?
A six-step checklist so nothing catches you out on arrival.
On the ground, Leo is with you.
Find what's near you, get there in English, and understand everything you see along the way.
Nearby food and fun
See what's around you on the map and add it to today's plan.
Everyday essentials
The nearest pharmacy, toilet, ATM, convenience store or hospital.
City alerts
Heavy rain, heat and other city-wide warnings on your home screen.
Is this price fair?
Check a taxi fare or a market price before you pay.
What's inside
Everything a good local guide does for you
Google Maps doesn't work well in China, and most local apps are in Chinese. LeoKnows brings China's own maps and services into one app, in English.
English maps that work in China
Walking, metro, bus, cycling and driving directions on China's own map data, with place names in English and a reminder before your metro stop. Free for everyone.
Trip planner
Day-by-day plans with travel times between stops. Edit them yourself or ask Leo to change them.
Photo translate
Menus, signs, tickets and medicine boxes. English appears right on the photo.
Tickets in your plan
Stops that charge entry get a Buy tickets button. One price in US dollars.
Talk to a human
Stuck at a gate or a hotel desk? Chat with a real person who speaks English and Chinese.
Metro, taxi and trains
How to ride and pay, taxi fare estimates, a card to show the driver, and a guide to booking trains on 12306.
eSIM, payments and currency
Data plans we've tested with the app, Alipay setup before you fly, and yuan to your money in one tap.
Before you fly
Plan the trip from home
LeoKnows is useful long before you land. Build your route, save the places you like and sort out the essentials first.
- Day-by-day plans for one city or several
- Ideas by food, landscape and experience
- Saved places stay with your account on every phone
Once you're there
Order, ride and find your way like a local
Read a menu in seconds and show the waiter your order in Chinese. Ride the metro, check a taxi fare and get directions that match the signs.
- English dish names on the menu photo, with spice level and allergens
- Order cards and phrases to show staff
- Nearby food, sights and everyday essentials
Before you fly
Ready for China?
The app walks you through six things to sort out before your trip and ticks them off as you go.
VisaCheck the entry rules for your passport.
AlipayLink a card so you can pay almost anywhere.
eSIMMobile data that works from the airport.
HotelSave the address in Chinese for taxis.
MetroKnow how to ride and pay in your first city.
InsuranceTravel cover for health and lost items.
Attraction tickets
Book tickets without leaving your plan
Many Chinese attractions sell tickets through Chinese-only apps and ask for your passport number. LeoKnows handles it for you in English.
You need a LeoKnows account to buy tickets. Tickets are booked with your passport details and can't be refunded or changed once booked. See Refunds & cancellations.
- Plan your day
Ask Leo or add a place yourself. Stops that charge entry show a Buy tickets button.
- Pick a date and add travellers
Choose your visit date and enter each traveller's passport details.
- Pay one price in US dollars
No extras at checkout. You pay before we book.
- Find it in My tickets
We confirm the booking there. Each order has its own chat with our team.
Talk to a human
Real people, day and night
Some things an app can't fix. When you're stuck at a hotel desk, a station gate or a hospital, chat with our team. They speak English and Chinese and can call local businesses for you.
- Send photos, files and your location
- We call restaurants, hotels and ticket offices for you
- Chinese replies you can show to locals in large text
LeoKnows teamUsually replies in a few minutesThe hotel can't find my booking and it's 11pm. Can you help?
Of course. Send me a photo of your booking confirmation and I'll call the front desk now.
booking-confirmation.jpg
Done! It was saved under your passport name. Show them this screen and they'll check you in.
Thank you, I'm in my room 🙌
FAQ
Questions travellers ask us
Can't find an answer? Visit Support or write to support@leoknows.net.
Does LeoKnows work inside mainland China?
Yes, that's what it's built for. It uses China's own map data, so maps and directions keep working on local mobile networks and hotel Wi-Fi.
Can I download it before I arrive?
Yes. Download it from the App Store or Google Play at home, plan your trip there, and keep using the same account in China.
Do I need a Chinese phone number?
No. You sign up with your email. A travel eSIM or roaming data is enough to use the app.
Why not just use Google Maps?
Google services are blocked in mainland China and their map data there is often out of date. LeoKnows uses China's own map data and shows it in English.
How do attraction tickets work?
Pick a date, enter each traveller's passport details and pay one total in US dollars. Our team books the tickets and confirms them in My tickets. Tickets can't be refunded once booked.
What happens to my passport details?
We use them only to book the tickets you ordered, because Chinese attractions require real-name tickets. Our Privacy Policy explains how we store and protect your data.
Is the app only in English?
The app is in English. Leo can also show Chinese text for you to point at, with pinyin when you need to say something out loud.
How do I delete my account?
In the app, open your profile and tap Delete my account. You can also email us. Full steps
Free beta
Travelling to China soon? Test LeoKnows free.
We're inviting travellers to try the app before launch. Beta testers get a free Trip Pass for their whole trip. All we ask for is honest feedback.
Email us your travel dates and the cities you plan to visit, and we'll send you an invite.
hello@leoknows.net
Get in touch
We read every email
Questions about the app, a booking or working with us? Write to the right inbox and a person will get back to you.
SupportHelp with the app, your account, a purchase or a ticket order
support@leoknows.netPartnerseSIM, attractions, hotels, tourism boards
partners@leoknows.net