Planning without map apps- what’s your workflow?

I am well travelled and never had issues anywhere: I always manage to plan my logistics and activities, enjoy the sights / restaurant I visit etc.

With China it’s just impossible. Every time I come across something that looks good, a recommendation or something I’d live to save for later, it becomes useless because there is no way to find it, pin it on a map etc. even my hotels location is wrong on map apps (and amap won’t work outside China).

I am going in a few weeks and still can’t make sense of geography, see where most stuff are clustered or even find key shops and restaurants I want to visit.

I’ve been before and once you’re there it’s sort of easier because amap search is working; but how do you manage this?