Baidu Map MCP Server for VS Code: Setup & Config

What you can do with Baidu Map in VS Code

A single Baidu Maps bridge for routes, places, weather, traffic, and address conversion.

• Build sightseeing suggestions using place search, routes, and weather.
• Add current traffic conditions to navigation recommendations.

Before you start: Baidu Map in VS Code

• Node.js and npx for this launch option
• A Baidu Maps server-side API key
• An MCP-compatible client

This is the README's Node.js configuration. Its Python alternative uses python -m mcp_server_baidu_maps and BAIDU_MAPS_API_KEY instead. SSE is recommended in the README, but no direct SSE server URL is provided in the supplied text. Advanced POI extraction requires extra permission.

Baidu Map VS Code configuration

1. Choose VS Code configuration scope

   For Baidu Map MCP Server, open Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json. Merge into servers; preserve existing inputs.

2. Add Baidu Map MCP Server to VS Code

   Use the mcp-baidu-maps entry below in servers. Keep Baidu Map MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other VS Code entries.

3. Check Baidu Map MCP Server in VS Code

   Baidu Map MCP Server: Start in VS Code’s MCP controls; inspect output and trust prompts.

{
  "servers": {
    "mcp-baidu-maps": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@baidumap/mcp-server-baidu-map"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BAIDU_MAP_API_KEY": "<Baidu Maps server-side API key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Baidu Map tools available to VS Code

Baidu Map's stored tool list documents 11 tools; compare it with VS Code's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

map_geocode

Look for map_geocode among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

map_reverse_geocode

Look for map_reverse_geocode among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Look up address and place context for geographic coordinates.

map_search_places

Look for map_search_places among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Find places through city, radius, or polygon-based searches.

map_place_details

Look for map_place_details among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Retrieve detailed information for a selected place.

map_distance_matrix

Look for map_distance_matrix among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

map_directions

Look for map_directions among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

map_weather

Look for map_weather among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Get current weather and a five-day forecast using a region code or coordinates.

map_ip_location

Look for map_ip_location among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Look up geographic location from an IP address.

map_road_traffic

Look for map_road_traffic among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Inspect current road congestion, affected segments, distances, and trends.

map_poi_extract

Look for map_poi_extract among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

map_directions_matrix

Look for map_directions_matrix among VS Code's agent-mode tools after starting Baidu Map through the MCP controls.

Baidu Map: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Baidu Map in VS Code

• Make npx @baidumap/mcp-server-baidu-map (Node.js/npm) available in the workspace, container, or remote environment hosting Baidu Map MCP Server. Start through VS Code's MCP controls; inspect output and trust prompts.
• For Baidu Map MCP Server, keep BAIDU_MAP_API_KEY out of version control; VS Code documents input variables and secret handling.
• Baidu Map MCP Server uses stdio here: VS Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Requires a Baidu Maps server-side API key.
• Known limitation: Text-to-place extraction needs advanced permission.
• Known limitation: The input sources use different names for the route-matrix tool.
• General VS Code troubleshooting lives in the /clients/vscode guide.

Frequently asked questions