Quick Answer

Meituan is one of China’s most powerful local-service apps. For travelers, its most useful function is food delivery, but it can also include restaurants, deals, hotel-area services, attractions and other local tools. Shanghai’s official English guidance describes Meituan and Ele.me food delivery workflows covering setup, restaurant browsing, ordering, payment and delivery tracking.

Meituan is useful, but it is harder than Alipay, DiDi or Trip.com because the interface and merchant content are heavily Chinese. A foreign visitor should treat it as a practical tool, not a beginner-friendly app. Use translation, save your hotel address in Chinese, and make sure Alipay or WeChat Pay works before ordering.

Important: App screens, payment rules, card support and verification requirements can change by country, card issuer, device, account history and local policy. This guide is source-checked, but you should still test the app before relying on it for an airport transfer, hotel check-in or same-day train trip.

When Meituan Is Worth Using

Use Meituan when:

  • You want food delivered to your hotel.
  • You want local restaurant options beyond tourist areas.
  • You are staying in one place for several days.
  • You can use translation screenshots.
  • Your payment method already works.

If you are only in China for one night, eating near your hotel may be easier. If you are staying a week, Meituan becomes much more valuable.

What You Need

Prepare:

  1. A working phone number.
  2. Your hotel name and address in Chinese.
  3. A payment method linked through Alipay or WeChat Pay if required.
  4. A translation app that can translate screenshots.
  5. A way to receive calls or messages from the rider.

Ask your hotel front desk for the exact Chinese address and whether food deliveries go to the lobby, room door, front desk, delivery shelf, or outside pickup point.

Basic Food Delivery Workflow

1. Set location accurately

Set your city and delivery address. For hotels, include hotel name, branch, road, district and room number if appropriate. In China, many buildings have multiple entrances. A vague English hotel name can cause failed delivery.

2. Browse restaurants

Use ratings, photos, delivery time and distance. Translate menu screenshots if needed. Be careful with spicy indicators, portion sizes, and set meals that require choices.

3. Add delivery notes

Useful Chinese notes include:

  • “Please leave at front desk.” — 请放前台
  • “Please call me when arrived.” — 到了请打电话
  • “I do not speak Chinese. Please message me.” — 我不会说中文，请发消息

Do not write long English instructions and expect the rider to understand them.

4. Pay

Meituan payments usually depend on local payment systems such as Alipay or WeChat Pay. Direct international card support can vary by account, card and flow. If checkout fails, fix your payment app first rather than repeatedly submitting the order.

5. Track delivery

Watch the rider location and messages. If the rider calls, use simple phrases, translation, or hotel staff help. Many hotels can help tell the rider where to leave the order.

Hotel Delivery Tips

The safest hotel workflow is:

  1. Ask the front desk where deliveries are placed.
  2. Copy the hotel’s Chinese address.
  3. Add your room number only if the hotel allows room delivery.
  4. Put “front desk” or “delivery shelf” in Chinese notes.
  5. Stay near your phone after ordering.

Some hotels do not allow riders upstairs. Do not assume delivery will come to your room.

Common Problems

You cannot register

Try a different phone number, verify SMS reception, or use another food option. Some flows are easier with a Chinese number.

Payment fails

Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay first. If both fail, Meituan will be difficult to use.

Rider calls in Chinese

Send a short message: “请放前台，谢谢” or ask hotel staff to answer.

Order delivered but you cannot find it

Check front desk, delivery shelf, security desk, lobby entrance and outside pickup area. Show the order screen to hotel staff.

What to Order First

For your first order, choose a simple restaurant with many reviews, close distance, short delivery time and clear photos. Avoid complicated hotpot, build-your-own dishes, or restaurants with too many required options until you understand the app.

FAQ

Can foreigners use Meituan in English?

Meituan is mostly Chinese. Some guides and device translation tools can help, but it is not as foreigner-friendly as Trip.com or Alipay.

Can Meituan deliver to hotels?

Usually yes, but delivery may go to the lobby, front desk, shelf or outside pickup point depending on hotel rules.

Does Meituan accept foreign cards?

Direct support varies. In practice, travelers often need Alipay or WeChat Pay working first.

Sources Checked

Last source check: 2026-05-27