Quick Facts
Delivery Apps in China
Meituan / 美团
Dominant PlatformMeituan is China's dominant super-app for food delivery, handling over 60% of the market. The platform is extraordinary — millions of restaurants, incredibly fast delivery (often 20-30 minutes), and incredibly cheap. However, it is almost entirely inaccessible to tourists: the interface is Chinese-only, registration requires a Chinese phone number, and payment requires WeChat Pay or Alipay. There is no English version or foreign card support.
Ele.me / 饿了么
Alibaba-OwnedEle.me (meaning "Hungry?") is Alibaba's food delivery platform and Meituan's main competitor. It handles roughly 30-35% of China's food delivery market. Like Meituan, the interface is entirely in Chinese with no English option. Payment requires Alipay (which is convenient since Ele.me is Alibaba-owned). Slightly higher Payability score than Meituan because Alipay's Tour Pass integration may be smoother for foreigners.
JD Daojia / 京东到家
Grocery DeliveryJD Daojia is JD.com's on-demand delivery platform focusing on groceries and daily necessities. It partners with local supermarkets like Walmart China and local chains. Like all Chinese delivery apps, it is entirely in Chinese and requires Chinese payment methods. Not practical for most tourists, but included for completeness.
Grocery Delivery in China
China's grocery delivery ecosystem is the most advanced in the world. Multiple platforms offer 30-minute delivery from warehouse-style stores. All require Chinese payment methods and have Chinese-only interfaces.
Meituan Maicai
Meituan's grocery arm. Fresh produce, meat, seafood, and daily necessities delivered rapidly. Enormous selection. Next-day and same-day delivery options. Chinese only.
Hema (Freshippo)
Alibaba's premium fresh grocery concept. Both physical stores and rapid delivery. Known for high quality seafood and produce. 30-minute delivery within 3km of stores. Chinese only.
JD Daojia
JD.com's on-demand grocery delivery. Partners with Walmart China and local supermarkets. Scheduled and rapid delivery options. Requires JD payment or WeChat Pay.
Dingdong Maicai
Popular fresh grocery delivery platform focused on quality produce. 29-minute delivery promise. Strong in Shanghai and other eastern cities. Chinese interface only.
Tourist Reality Check
China Is the HARDEST Country for Tourist Food Delivery
Let's be straightforward: China is the most difficult country in the world for tourists trying to use food delivery apps. Both major platforms (Meituan and Ele.me) require Chinese mobile payment (WeChat Pay or Alipay), a Chinese phone number for registration, and the entire interface is in Chinese with no English option. There are no international alternatives — Western apps like Uber Eats, Foodpanda, and Deliveroo do not operate in mainland China.
Alipay Tour Pass & WeChat Pay Foreign Cards
There is hope. Alipay now offers a "Tour Pass" feature that allows foreigners to link international Visa and Mastercard credit cards for payments within China. You'll need your passport for verification. WeChat Pay has also added support for foreign cards. Once set up, you can use these payment methods on Meituan (via WeChat mini-program) and Ele.me (via Alipay). The setup process requires patience, but it works. Do this at your hotel with Wi-Fi before trying to order food.
Ask Your Hotel Concierge
The most reliable strategy for tourists is to ask your hotel to order food for you. International hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have English-speaking staff who can place orders on Meituan or Ele.me on your behalf. Some hotels have dedicated ordering services. This eliminates the language and payment barriers entirely. Don't be afraid to ask — it's a common request.
The Ecosystem Is Incredible Once You're In
If you do manage to set up payment and navigate the Chinese interface (or have help), China's delivery ecosystem is extraordinary. Food delivery is incredibly cheap (full meals for $2-4 USD), blazingly fast (20-30 minutes average), and the selection is mind-boggling. Meituan alone has millions of restaurant partners. Delivery operates from early morning to late at night. It's a glimpse into the future of food delivery.
You Need a Chinese Phone Number
A Chinese phone number is required to register on both Meituan and Ele.me, and to verify your WeChat and Alipay accounts. Tourist SIM cards are available at airports and China Mobile/China Unicom stores. You'll need your passport. Activation is usually same-day. Without a Chinese number, you cannot use any delivery apps in China.
VPN Considerations
Google services (including Google Translate and Google Maps) are blocked in China without a VPN. If you plan to use Google Translate to navigate Chinese apps, make sure to download a VPN before arriving in China, or download Google Translate's offline Chinese language pack. Apple Maps works in China. Baidu Maps is the local alternative.
Tipping in China
Absolutely no tipping. Tipping is not part of Chinese culture and is not expected in any context, including food delivery. Delivery drivers are paid by the platform per delivery. There is no tipping option in Meituan or Ele.me. Do not attempt to tip in cash — it may cause confusion. Simply accept your delivery and say thank you (谢谢, "xie xie").
Hotel Delivery Tips
Hotels can order for you. This is the recommended approach for tourists. International hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental) in major Chinese cities have English-speaking staff who can help you order food delivery. Delivery is typically to the hotel lobby. Some hotels may charge a small service fee for ordering assistance. For independent ordering, delivery drivers will call your Chinese phone number when they arrive. Be prepared to go to the lobby to collect your food — drivers rarely enter hotels.
China Download Pack
Get Ready Before You Land
China requires more preparation than any other country. Download and set up these apps before you arrive, since Google Play is blocked in China.
- WeChat — Essential for payments and Meituan mini-program
- Alipay — Set up Tour Pass with your international card
- Meituan — China's dominant delivery app
- Google Translate — Download Chinese offline pack
- VPN app — For accessing Western services in China
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is very difficult. China's food delivery apps (Meituan and Ele.me) require Chinese mobile payment (WeChat Pay or Alipay) and a Chinese phone number. The interfaces are entirely in Chinese with no English option. However, Alipay now offers a "Tour Pass" that lets foreigners link international credit cards, and WeChat Pay has added foreign card support. The most practical approach for many tourists is to ask their hotel concierge to order on their behalf.
No. Meituan does not have an English version. The entire app — registration, browsing, ordering, payment, and customer service — is in Chinese. There is no language toggle. Your best options are: use Google Translate's camera mode to translate the screen in real-time, ask a Chinese-speaking person to help you set up the app and save some favorite restaurants, or ask your hotel staff to place orders for you. Some expats in China recommend saving screenshots of the ordering process to follow as a guide.
Not directly on the delivery apps themselves. Meituan and Ele.me require WeChat Pay or Alipay. However, both WeChat Pay and Alipay now allow foreigners to link international Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and JCB cards. Alipay's Tour Pass is specifically designed for tourists visiting China. Once your international card is linked to WeChat Pay or Alipay, you can use those payment methods on delivery apps. Setup requires your passport and patience.
Download WeChat before arriving in China (it's available on global app stores). Create an account with your international phone number. Once in China, go to "Me" then "Services" then "Wallet" and add your international credit card. Follow the verification steps (may require passport). Once set up, you can access Meituan's mini-program directly within WeChat to order food delivery. Note: transaction limits may apply for foreign-linked cards, and the mini-program interface is still in Chinese.
Shanghai uses the same apps as the rest of China: Meituan and Ele.me. Neither has English. For tourists in Shanghai, the best approach is to set up Alipay Tour Pass or WeChat Pay with your foreign card, then use Meituan or Ele.me. International hotels like the Bund-area properties, Pudong hotels, and French Concession boutique hotels can often help order for you. Some expat-oriented restaurants in Shanghai may also have their own English ordering systems.
Several strategies work: (1) Ask your hotel to order for you — the most reliable method. (2) Use Google Translate's camera mode to translate the Meituan or Ele.me interface in real-time (requires VPN or offline Chinese pack). (3) Have a Chinese-speaking person help you set up the app and bookmark favorite restaurants. (4) Use the photo-heavy interface to order by pictures. (5) Learn a few key Chinese characters for ordering: confirm order, address, payment. (6) Some tourist WeChat groups share step-by-step guides with screenshots.