Tencent Maps (Tencent Map, 腾讯地图) is Tencent’s map and navigation service, available as an app, a website and a WeChat Mini Program. Its main strength for business is WeChat: location sharing and the maps inside Mini Programs rely on Tencent’s location services, so a brand building in WeChat usually builds on Tencent Map.
What Tencent Maps does for its users
The Tencent Map app covers the same daily needs as the other Chinese map apps:
- Navigation for driving, walking, cycling and public transport, with real-time traffic and lane-level guidance at complex junctions.
- 3D and AR guidance, which overlays arrows and signs on a 3D view or on the camera image.
- Route suggestions adapted to the time of day, such as avoiding road works at rush hour.
- Place discovery: nearby restaurants, cafés and attractions with reviews and offers.
- Offline maps, voice control and group location sharing for outings.
On the web, map.qq.com offers route planning, place search and a satellite view.
Tencent Map inside WeChat and Mini Programs
This is what sets Tencent Map apart. Inside WeChat, users share their location in a chat, send a meeting point or follow a friend’s position in real time without opening another app. A “Tencent Map” Mini Program offers navigation and location sharing directly in WeChat.
For companies, the WeChat Mini Program framework provides a map component and location APIs (show a map, open a location, let the user pick a place) that work with Tencent’s location data. A brand Mini Program can show its stores on a map, guide the user to the nearest one, or track a delivery, all inside WeChat. This is the usual starting point when we handle WeChat Mini Program development for retail and service brands.
The Tencent Location Service open platform
The business side of Tencent Map is the Tencent Location Service (腾讯位置服务) open platform. It provides map APIs for websites, positioning and map SDKs for Android and iOS apps, web service APIs for search, geocoding and routing, and SDKs and plugins for WeChat Mini Programs. Developers register, create a key and add it to their project.
Typical uses include:
- a store locator or a “find the nearest outlet” page in a Mini Program;
- delivery tracking and geofencing for logistics and food delivery;
- heat maps of foot traffic to help retailers choose a site;
- indoor and campus navigation for malls, hospitals or residential communities.
How Tencent Map differs from Amap, Baidu Maps and Tianditu
Amap is the Alibaba group’s navigation app, with a broad open platform for apps and in-car systems. Baidu Maps is linked to Baidu search, which makes it the reference for visibility on Baidu. Tianditu is the state’s official map for public geographic data. Tencent Map’s advantage is WeChat: when your customers meet you in a Mini Program, it is the map they already use. Our guide to the best apps for Shanghai shows how expats combine these maps day to day.
How QPSoftware can help
A map in a Mini Program turns a store list into visits: users see the nearest location, open the route and share it with friends without leaving WeChat. If you plan a Mini Program with a store locator, a delivery tracker or event directions, have your WeChat Mini Program developed by our team in Shanghai.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Tencent Maps and Tencent Map?
None: both names refer to the same service, 腾讯地图 in Chinese. Tencent uses “Tencent Map” for the app and map.qq.com, and many English-language sources say “Tencent Maps”. The open platform for developers has its own name, Tencent Location Service, at lbs.qq.com.
Can I add a map to my WeChat Mini Program?
Yes. The Mini Program framework includes a map component and location APIs, so a Mini Program can show a map with your locations, open a place in the map view or let users choose an address. Advanced features such as search, routing or custom styles use the Tencent Location Service, which needs a developer key.
Should I use Tencent Map or Baidu Maps for my business in China?
It depends on where your customers meet you. In a WeChat Mini Program or an Official Account, Tencent Map is the simplest choice because it is built into the platform. On a website where visibility on Baidu search matters, Baidu Maps is a better fit. For a native app, Amap, Baidu Maps and Tencent Map all offer SDKs.