travelinchina
Meituan

Meituan

Category: utilitiesDifficulty: intermediateLast updated: 2026-04-28

Why You Need It

Meituan dominates Chinese food delivery and local-services bookings, with food typically arriving in 30 to 45 minutes. It's also the go-to app for restaurant group-buy discounts (团购), movie tickets, hotel deals, spas, and shared bikes. For tourists who want to eat in their hotel room or grab a cheap dining deal, it's worth the setup effort.

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Meituan doesn't have a full English interface. Pair it with Google Translate's screen translation, or use it through the Alipay/WeChat mini-program for a slightly better foreign-user experience.

Installation

  1. 1. Download Meituan

    Search '美团' or 'Meituan' in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). The standalone app is Chinese-only; the Alipay mini-program is easier.

  2. 2. Register with your phone number

    Open the app and sign up with your international mobile number. You'll receive an SMS verification code.

  3. 3. Set your delivery address

    Enter your hotel name and room number in Chinese (ask the front desk to write it for you). The address must be exact for delivery.

  4. 4. Link Alipay or WeChat Pay

    In Me → Wallet, link Alipay or WeChat Pay. Pure international cards rarely work — go through one of these two.

Ordering Food

  1. 1. Open the food delivery section

    From the home screen, tap 外卖 (Waimai / Food Delivery).

  2. 2. Browse nearby restaurants

    Scroll through restaurants ranked by distance, rating, or delivery time. Photos help when you can't read names.

  3. 3. Add items and special notes

    Add dishes to the cart. Note dietary restrictions in Chinese (use Translate) — e.g. 不要辣 (no spicy), 不要香菜 (no cilantro).

  4. 4. Confirm address and pay

    Verify the delivery address, choose Alipay or WeChat Pay, and place the order. Track the rider on the live map.

Usage Tips

  • Group-buy deals (团购): The Group Buy section lists discounted restaurant vouchers. Buy in-app, then show the voucher code to staff at the table for the discount.
  • Photo menus: Restaurants on Meituan show dish photos — useful when you can't read Chinese names.
  • Bike share & taxis: Meituan also covers shared bicycles and ride-hailing through the same wallet.
  • Big cities only: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other tier-one cities have full coverage. Smaller towns are limited or unsupported.
  • Tip the rider: Optional, but appreciated for difficult deliveries (high floors, bad weather).

Troubleshooting

Can't read the interface? Use the screen translation feature in Google Translate (Android) or the iPhone's built-in screen translation. Both work over Meituan's UI.

Address not recognized? Have hotel staff input the Chinese characters for you. English address transliterations often fail.

Payment failing? Switch from a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay — they reroute the payment more reliably for Meituan.