Google Maps is useless in Shenzhen and horrid in Hong Kong (satellite view and street view don't line up at all). I didn't have an iPhone, so I resorted baidu maps in China and memorizing the Chinese characters for the subway stations. I wasn't there for long, but it was very accurate. I guess I'll bring an iPhone next time.

There is a legitimate reason for the difference: https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/141542/what-causes-t...

Geographic data is mostly off limits in China; state owned enterprises / native Chinese apps likely get a pass on this though.

Perhaps has to do with Google not really being a thing in China coz ethics.

China forbids crowdsourced or foreign-corporate mapping. It is considered a national security risk. There are local approved sources of cartographic data. Apple presumably could buy them, but Google either could not or chose not to.

for my benefit I'm Glad apple maps worked!