Gaode Maps, also known as Amap, is a leading Chinese web mapping, navigation, and location-based services provider. Developed by AutoNavi, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, it offers comprehensive mapping services, including real-time traffic updates, route planning, and detailed navigation for driving, walking, biking, and public transportation.
Active Users:
As of 2024, Gaode Maps boasts over 700 million users, covering 90% of car owners across China.
Target Demographic:
Gaode Maps caters to a diverse user base, with the highest proportion of users aged 25 to 34, followed by those aged 35 to 44. Approximately 91.28% of its users hold a university degree or higher.
Suitable For:
The platform is suitable for: drivers (offers real-time traffic information and route planning), Public Transit Users (provides comprehensive bus and metro information), Cyclists and Pedestrians (features dedicated biking and walking routes), Foreign Visitors (launched an English version to enhance accessibility for international users.)
Available Language(s):
The official documentation is Chinese-only.
Gaode Maps offers a suite of APIs (maps, geocoding, place search, directions etc.) that lets developers embed interactive maps into websites. It’s a feature-rich way to display locations, routes, or points of interest directly on your pages.
Here are the basic steps to integrate Gaode Maps (AMap) into a website using its API.
Step 1: Register for a AutoNavi Open Platform developer account
To use Gaode Maps API, a verifiable Chinese phone number is required.
You can create a developer account via this link. The site is in Chinese, but non-speakers can use browser translation tools like Google Translate in browser to navigate. Note that Google Translate may not work if you are attempting to access this via a native Chinese browser from China, but there are alternative tools.
Step 2: Create an API key
Once registered, you can create your API key. This requires basic info about your website, intended use, similar to Google’s Developer console if you’re familiar with that. The official documentation is Chinese-only but you can use translation browser plug-ins to some extent as mentioned above.
Remember: your API key should be kept private and secure—do not add it directly on your website.
Step 3: Add the API calls to your web server
Depending on your use case (e.g., static map, geocoding, path planning, search, IP location etc.), you’ll need to add the corresponding API calls on your web server with the API key you created, then process the API response (they will be in either JSON or XML format).
Please find more information about this in Gaode’s official documentation.
To use Gaode Maps API, a verifiable Chinese phone number is required.
