Quick Answer

Ask reception where food deliveries may be left before placing the order. Use the hotel’s Chinese name and address, your reachable contact number, and a lobby pickup note. Couriers may not be permitted to take food to your room.

If this happens, do this

If the table extends beyond the screen, scroll sideways to read more.
Situation What to do next
The hotel has a delivery shelf Ask reception how to identify it and collect promptly.
The app requires a local number Ask whether staff can assist with an order using their normal service; obtain permission before entering their number.
The rider asks you to come downstairs Use the lobby or another agreed public pickup spot.
You will leave the hotel before it arrives Choose another meal option; do not place an order you cannot receive.

Make a Chinese address card.

Before You Order

Ask the hotel:

  1. Can food be delivered to the room?
  2. Should riders leave food at the front desk?
  3. Is there a delivery shelf or pickup cabinet?
  4. What Chinese address should I use?
  5. Should I include my room number?

Ask reception where riders must leave orders before you enter the delivery flow.

Meituan home screen: 外卖 means food delivery; 扫码 means scan a code.

Meituan home screen: 外卖 means food delivery; 扫码 means scan a code.

Image source: Shanghai International Services. Screenshot rights remain with the publisher. Reference example; screens can vary by device, account and app version. Dates and prices shown are not live.

Address fields to confirm

Example only — replace every placeholder. Use your own reachable phone number; use the hotel number only with staff permission. Confirm the actual pickup point before copying a delivery note.

Hotel Chinese name: 上海某某酒店
Address: 上海市某区某路123号
Phone: 021-xxxx-xxxx
Note: 请送到酒店前台。
Room: only if the hotel allows it.

Step-by-Step Hotel Delivery

  1. Save your hotel address in Chinese.
  2. Open Meituan, Taobao Instant Commerce (淘宝闪购, formerly Ele.me) or a restaurant mini program.
  3. Set the delivery address to the hotel.
  4. Add front-desk delivery note.
  5. Choose food with clear photos and ratings.
  6. Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay if supported.
  7. Watch rider tracking.
  8. Check lobby/front desk when the app says delivered.

Useful Chinese Delivery Notes

请送到酒店前台，谢谢。
Please deliver to the hotel front desk. Thank you.

我不会说中文，请发短信。
I do not speak Chinese. Please send a text message.

如果不能上楼，请放在大厅外卖架。
If you cannot go upstairs, please leave it on the lobby delivery shelf.

Common Problems

Rider calls you in Chinese

Send the prepared message. If still confused, ask hotel staff to speak with the rider.

Hotel refuses room delivery

Pick up from the lobby or shelf. This is common.

Food is marked delivered but you cannot find it

Check the front desk, delivery shelf, building entrance and app photo/message.

The app location points to the wrong entrance

Add a landmark note or call the hotel front desk.

Payment and Refunds

Payments usually happen before delivery. If the order fails or the rider cannot deliver, refund handling depends on the app and restaurant. Keep screenshots of order number, rider messages and delivery photo.

Disclaimer

App interfaces, payment rules, station practices, hotel policies and local procedures may change. Treat this guide as a source-checked practical guide, then verify important details with the official service, your hotel, transport staff or your card issuer before relying on it in an urgent situation.

Sources and review

Sources reviewed on 2026-09-10. These sources support the service or policy facts; the practical fallback steps are editorial guidance. This is not a recorded field test.