Alibaba’s Amap App Hits Record Daily Users on First Day of China Holiday

Alibaba’s mapping app, Amap, set a new record on the first day of China’s National Day holiday, attracting over 360 million daily active users. The platform said this is the highest number of users it has ever recorded in a single day.

The National Day holiday this year has been extended to eight days, coinciding with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. This longer holiday period has led to a surge in travel and local tourism across China.

Amap Expands Beyond Navigation

Amap, traditionally known as a navigation app, has recently expanded its services to compete with Meituan, a rival local-lifestyle platform. The app now includes rankings for restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions, helping users plan trips and discover new destinations.

In September, Alibaba launched a new feature called “Street Stars”, which uses artificial intelligence to rank destinations based on popularity and user activity. The app also offered 1 billion yuan ($140 million) in subsidies, including coupons for ride-hailing and in-store services, to encourage users to try its new services.

This expansion shows Alibaba’s focus on turning Amap from a simple navigation tool into a full lifestyle app that can rival Meituan.

Travel Surge Fuels App Growth

The first day of the holiday saw record travel numbers. China’s national railway reported 23.13 million trips, almost 8% higher than the same day last year. This increase in travel contributed to higher app usage, as more people relied on digital services for planning and navigation.

Alibaba benefited from this trend, with its shares rising 4% in Hong Kong after JPMorgan raised its target price for the company from HK$165 to HK$240 ($30.85).

Competition With Meituan

Meituan, which provides services like restaurant recommendations, hotel bookings, and local lifestyle deals, has long dominated this market. Amap’s expansion into Meituan’s territory shows Alibaba’s ambition to capture more users and diversify its offerings beyond maps and directions.

By integrating navigation, lifestyle rankings, and user-friendly promotions, Amap aims to become a one-stop platform for travelers and consumers. Analysts believe this strategy could help Alibaba gain market share in China’s competitive app industry.

Technology and Innovation

Amap’s use of artificial intelligence to rank destinations demonstrates how technology is shaping consumer experiences in China. Apps are no longer just tools for basic services—they are becoming personalized guides that help people make decisions about travel, food, and entertainment.

The combination of AI-driven features, large-scale promotions, and the national holiday has helped Amap reach record user numbers, reflecting a growing trend of digital reliance in daily life.

The Bigger Picture

Alibaba’s success with Amap shows how major tech companies in China are expanding their services to meet diverse consumer needs. The record number of users during the National Day holiday highlights how technology, travel, and consumer spending are interconnected.

This milestone also points to a larger trend: digital platforms are becoming essential tools for everyday life, especially during peak travel periods and holidays. As Alibaba and Meituan compete for users, innovation and convenience will likely continue to drive growth in China’s tech industry.