Well, GPS use is actually fairly widespread now.

And no, I don't think Chinese are any worse in reading maps than others but there is a certain unwillingness to do preparations for any tasks.

Even a Chinese company driver will not check maps or routes beforehand and will rather risk having his/her boss do the navigating. It's a sort of cultural phenomenon, I guess. Might be that Chinese view proper preparations for a job too boring and a waste of time.