Meituan (įžåĸ) is China's largest local services platform. If Alipay and WeChat are your "wallet" and "communication tools" in China, Meituan is your "life manager." This guide covers food delivery, hotels, attraction tickets, and more.
Why Meituan?
| Feature | Purpose | Foreigner-Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| đ Food delivery | Order meals to your hotel | âââ High (photos) |
| đ¨ Hotels | Often cheaper than Trip.com | ââ Medium (Chinese UI) |
| đĢ Attraction tickets | Skip the line at attractions | âââ High |
| đŊī¸ Restaurants | Find restaurants, queue online | ââ Medium |
| đŦ Movies | Cinema ticketing | âââ High |
| đ´ Shared bikes | Scan to ride Meituan bikes | âââ High |
| đ Ride-hailing | Meituan ride service | âââ High |
Network Environment
Meituan works normally in mainland China without VPN.
| Service | Status |
|---|---|
| Meituan (įžåĸ) | â Available |
| Ele.me (éĨŋäēäš) | â Available |
| Dianping (大äŧįšč¯) | â Available (Meituan-owned) |
Step 1: Download & Register
Before Arrival
| Platform | Method | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone / iPad | App Store search "įžåĸ" | â ī¸ May not be available in some regions |
| Android | Google Play search "Meituan" | â ī¸ May not be available |
| Chinese app stores | Huawei / Xiaomi / vivo stores | â Available after arrival |
Important
Important: Meituan may not be available in some regional app stores. If you can't download it before arrival, don't worry â you can get it from your phone's built-in app store or the official website after landing.
Important
Registration tip: Some international phone numbers may not receive Meituan SMS verification codes. We strongly recommend using "WeChat Login" or "Alipay Login" for one-tap authorization without separate registration.
Registration Methods
| Method | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | Medium | International numbers supported |
| WeChat login | Easy | One-tap, recommended |
| Alipay login | Easy | One-tap |
Step 2: Food Delivery
Pro Tip
This is the #1 feature foreign visitors use on Meituan!
1
Go to Food Delivery
Open Meituan â tap "Food Delivery" (å¤å) on home
2
Set Delivery Address
Enter your hotel address (in Chinese). Ask hotel staff to input the exact address, including hotel name and room number.
3
Browse Restaurants
Browse by category: Chinese, Western, Japanese, Korean, Desserts, etc. Every dish has photos!
4
Order & Pay
Select dishes â add to cart â confirm order â choose payment (Alipay/WeChat) â wait for delivery
Food Delivery Tips
| Tip | Explanation |
|---|---|
| đŧī¸ Order by photos | Every dish has photos â order even if you can't read Chinese |
| â Check ratings | 4.5+ stars is usually good |
| đ Watch delivery time | Peak hours (11:30-13:00, 17:30-19:00) may take 40-60 min |
| đ Add notes | Write "ä¸čĻčžŖ" for no spicy â English may not be understood |
| đĒ Hotel delivery | Most hotels accept delivery at front desk |
| đ Rider calls | If language is a barrier, tell hotel front desk in advance to expect a delivery and help answer the rider's call |
Important
Address must be in Chinese: Meituan does not support English addresses. Ask hotel staff to write your address in Chinese on a card.
Pro Tip
Save money: Look for "æģĄå" (spend X save Y) discounts before ordering.
Step 3: Hotel Booking
Hotels on Meituan are usually cheaper than Trip.com / Booking.com (same hotel, same room type), but the interface is in Chinese. Compare prices on both platforms before booking.
Advantages
- đ° Lower prices
- đ¨ Covers all Chinese cities
- â Real user reviews
- đĢ Often includes breakfast or attraction packages
Disadvantages
- đ No English interface
- đ Cancellation policies may be strict
- đŦ Customer service mainly in Chinese
Pro Tip
If Chinese is limited, use Trip.com for hotels and compare prices on Meituan. If Meituan is significantly cheaper, ask a local friend to book for you.
Step 4: Attraction Tickets
Meituan is one of the best places to buy attraction tickets in China, usually cheaper than on-site.
- Search attraction name on home (e.g., "æ åŽĢ", "å ĩéŠŦäŋ")
- Select ticket type (adult, student, etc.)
- Select date and time slot (some require reservation)
- Pay online to get electronic QR code
- Show QR code at entrance
Important
Attraction booking requirements vary (as of May 2026):
- Forbidden City: Book 1-7 days ahead, same-day tickets usually unavailable
- Terracotta Warriors: Book 1-3 days ahead in peak season; same-day usually OK in off-season
- Most regular attractions: Same-day purchase available
Step 5: Restaurants & Group Deals
Find Restaurants
- Tap "Food" on home
- Filter by distance, rating, price
- View menus and user reviews (with photos)
Group Buy Deals
- Restaurants offer "group buy" sets 20-50% cheaper than à la carte
- Show QR code at the restaurant to redeem
- Note: Group deals often have time restrictions (e.g., weekday lunch only)
Queue Management
- Popular restaurants support online queue
- No need to wait on-site â you'll be notified when your table is ready
Step 6: Other Features
| Feature | Description | Foreigner-Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| đ´ Meituan Bikes | Scan to unlock shared bikes | âââ High |
| đ Meituan Ride | Ride-hailing platform | âââ High |
| đŦ Movies | Cinema seat selection and ticketing | âââ High |
| đĨ Medical | Online appointment booking | â Low (Chinese required) |
| 𧚠Home services | Cleaning, repairs | â Low (Chinese required) |
FAQ & Troubleshooting
Can I Use Meituan Without Knowing Chinese?
- Food delivery: Basically usable. Photos + hotel-written address = works.
- Hotels/Tickets: Difficult. Use Trip.com as backup.
- Group deals/Restaurants: Very difficult without Chinese.
Pro Tip
Strategy for non-Chinese speakers: Use only "Food Delivery" and "Attraction Tickets". Use Trip.com or ask friends for everything else.
Meituan vs Ele.me
| Meituan | Ele.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant count | More | Fewer |
| Delivery speed | Fast | Fast |
| Discounts | Large (many coupons) | Large |
Pro Tip
They're very similar. Use whichever has better deals. Most restaurants are on both.
Is Food Delivery Safe?
- Meituan verifies restaurant licenses
- Choose high-rated (4.5+), high-sales restaurants
- Check food photos in user reviews
- Apply for refund if issues arise
How to Request a Refund?
- Open order details â tap "Request Refund"
- Select refund reason
- Wait for merchant/platform processing (minutes to hours)
Important
Some group deals and tickets are marked "non-refundable". Read cancellation rules before purchase.
Does Meituan Require Real-Name Verification?
- Basic features (delivery, group deals) usually don't require it
- Hotel booking may require ID info (Chinese hotel regulation)
- WeChat/Alipay login shares verification info
Reference Resources
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Meituan Official | https://www.meituan.com |
| Dianping (Meituan-owned) | https://www.dianping.com |
Last updated: May 2026. App interface and features may change. Always refer to the latest in-app guidance.