Meituan
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.
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
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
Register with your phone number
Open the app and sign up with your international mobile number. You'll receive an SMS verification code.
- 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
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
Open the food delivery section
From the home screen, tap 外卖 (Waimai / Food Delivery).
- 2
Browse nearby restaurants
Scroll through restaurants ranked by distance, rating, or delivery time. Photos help when you can't read names.
- 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
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.