Tencent Maps
Tencent Maps is a mapping service provided by the Chinese technology company Tencent. Tencent Maps provides maps, satellite imagery, and street view.
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Tencent Maps is a mapping service provided by the Chinese technology company Tencent. Tencent Maps provides maps, satellite imagery, and street view.
Last updated
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Main site, API documentation,
Tencent Maps provides detailed maps, satellite imagery, street view, directions for driving, public transport and walking, and real-time traffic conditions. In Q1 2025, a Deepseek AI assistant was launched in the mobile app for users to ask for recommendations and real-time information.
In Tencent Maps, user-generated reviews and photos are integrated with , the Chinese equivalent of Yelp.
Search for the location and select the layer (e.g., satellite imagery) or function (e.g., ruler).
Steps:
Move the map to where you want to see the street view. Please note: To see the street view of another location, move the map, not the pin.
A location description is shown. Click the rectangle to enter street view.
Two limitations to be aware of:
Be aware that street views may be outdated, restricted or unavailable. In such cases, there may be glitches.
Metadata such as the date of image capture or the approval reference are not available.
Web: web browser.
Mobile: iOS, Android (or HarmonyOS). For researchers outside China, the mobile app is not available in the app store. Instead, install by apk.
API: Email address and a method of payment, e.g., credit card.
Data availability: Highly-detailed maps are only available for China. Other countries appear blank.
Limited functionalities on web browser: The app's more extensive features, including street view, are only available on the mobile app.
Language: The mapping application, documentation and support are available in Chinese only.
Access speed: International users will experience slower access speeds or need a Chinese IP address to access certain APIs. Researchers using an overseas VPN to visit Chinese websites may also find their access blocked.
Official Wiki
Bellingcat Volunteer Team
Tencent Maps has API documentation available for and for .
Search on this page in the web browser:
For background: China uses a coordinate system called (colloquially known as Mars coordinates), whereas the rest of the world uses (Earth coordinates). GCJ-02 uses an encryption algorithm to apply random offsets to the latitude and longitude of locations. Obfuscating the geographic data is for .
Select Layers > Street View (see ). The blue lines along the roads indicate that street view is available.
Geographical Restrictions: Some data and features are due to legal or licensing issues. Users outside of China may find it cumbersome to use Tencent Maps. For example, to set up a QQ account for map users, a Chinese phone number is required. Additionally, some foreign VPN services are blocked from accessing the web version.
API Rate Limits: API calls are capped at a concurrency limit: 5 times/second/interface/Key Daily and calls: 10,000 times/interface/Key. For researchers requiring high-frequency data access, this might pose a limitation (see ).
Privacy Concerns: Like many mapping services, Tencent Maps gathers user data, which raises questions about data privacy and protection. (An named all leading Chinese mapping tools among 33 apps which extensively collect user data, going beyond what is relevant to their service provision.)
Censorship and Content Control: Under the government censorship laws, Tencent Maps' content and functions will be omitted or geofenced for users outside of China. For a general discussion on content control, please see the page.
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Tencent Holdings Ltd. - China
