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Meituan

Meituan

美团

Google PlayApp Store

Meituan (美团) is China's everything‑app for food delivery, hotel booking, movie tickets, and local services. Foreign cards work through Alipay or WeChat Pay; browse restaurant photos to order what looks good.

Before you install — what you need

Meituan is China's all-in-one app for food, hotels and local life. A quick setup covers most of your daily needs.

A

Sign in with a phone number

  • Register with any mobile number. A China number helps but isn't required.
  • You can browse and search before you register — sign-in kicks in when you order.
B

Link Alipay or WeChat Pay

  • Foreign cards work through those wallets. Link one before you try to order or book.
C

Expect a Chinese interface

  • Browse by photo and search by Chinese characters. Pleco helps you type dish or hotel names.

Step-by-step setup

1Install the official Meituan

- Search 美团 in the App Store or Google Play (free). The developer is Beijing Sankuai Technology Co., Ltd. Avoid Meituan Waimai (delivery-only spinoff) and installer files offered outside the official stores.

2Link a payment method

- In Meituan, connect Alipay or WeChat Pay. The same linked card then pays for food, hotels and tickets.

3Find what you need

- Tap food delivery, hotels or local deals. Search by photo or by Chinese name, then pay in-app.

Daily use — real scenarios

What you can do with itOrder food deliveryBook last-minute hotelsBuy local deals and ticketsCall a ride

Ordering dinner

  • Browse restaurant photos, pick dishes, and pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay. Foreign cards work via those wallets.

Booking a hotel

  • Meituan often has same-day hotel deals international sites miss. Pay with the same linked card.

Local deals

  • Movie tickets, massages and attractions can be cheaper here than at the door. Search the neighbourhood in Chinese.

Troubleshooting — common problems and what to do

Common problems foreign visitors may run into

"Payment failed"
— Your card may need activation with the issuer, or the merchant only takes a Chinese bank card. Try the other wallet or a different card.
"I installed the wrong app"
— You want the full 美团, not Meituan Waimai (delivery only).
"It's all in Chinese"
— Search by photo and use Pleco to read listings. Dianping is a good backup with similar data.

Need to talk to a real person?

  • Meituan has in-app customer service (bottom-right, Chinese only). For order problems, open the order and tap help, then use a translator on screenshots.

Your backup plan

Dianping shares restaurant data; Trip.com handles hotels in English. Use those if Meituan's sign-up or language slows you down.

Frequently asked questions about Meituan

Can I register without a Chinese mobile number?
Several 2026 guides say an overseas line with a country code works; one traveler blog insists a Chinese line is required. Treat it as unresolved and keep a local SIM as plan B.
Do I need real-name verification?
Not for browsing or everyday ordering — the privacy policy states verification is optional until a service requires it.
When will my passport be requested?
For flight, rail and coach tickets, attraction tickets and similar real-name orders, and at hotel check-in.
Can I attach my own bank card?
One guide describes adding a Visa or Mastercard in the wallet screen; other guides state plainly that only Chinese wallets settle. Route through WeChat Pay or Alipay to stay safe.
Is the app available in English?
The store listing declares English, yet guides agree the live interface stays mostly Chinese; the reliable workaround is page translation in the WeChat Mini Program.
Can I order delivery to a hotel?
Yes — set the hotel as your address point and add a note asking the rider to leave the bag at reception.
How do vouchers work at the counter?
You buy the deal in the app, then show the code or QR to staff, who redeem it against the bill.
Is Meituan cheaper than international booking sites?
Travelers report clearly lower local prices on the same rooms and meals, but the gap varies by property and date and no official figure exists.
What happens to my data?
The policy describes collection of your mobile number, order records, precise location and, for bikes and rides, the route you travelled.

Sources

  • Official Publisher identity and official site · SRC-MT-001 Apple App Store / SRC-MT-003 corporate site
  • Official iOS listing identity, free, iOS 13.0+ · SRC-MT-001
  • Official Android package on Google Play · SRC-MT-002
  • OFFICIAL_PRODUCT_FACT / NEEDS_DEVICE_TEST Declared languages vs Chinese-first interface · SRC-MT-001 / SRC-MT-007
  • Official Service scope: delivery, deals, hotels, cinema, bikes, rides · SRC-MT-001
  • Official policy Mobile number required to open an account · SRC-MT-004 privacy policy
  • Official policy Browsing and search without registering · SRC-MT-004
  • Official policy Real-name verification is optional until required · SRC-MT-004
  • Official policy Identity documents for tickets and travel orders · SRC-MT-004
  • OFFICIAL_POLICY / TRAVELER_REPORTED Hotel orders, guest details and passport at check-in · SRC-MT-004 / SRC-MT-010
  • TRAVELER_REPORTED / NEEDS_DEVICE_TEST Settlement through Chinese wallets, card conflict · SRC-MT-008 / SRC-MT-007 / SRC-MT-011
  • TRAVELER_REPORTED / NEEDS_DEVICE_TEST Overseas registration reported both ways · SRC-MT-011 / SRC-MT-009
  • Traveler report WeChat Mini Program translation workaround · SRC-MT-007 / SRC-MT-008
  • Official policy Location, trip route and order data collection · SRC-MT-004
  • OFFICIAL_PRODUCT_FACT / NEEDS_DEVICE_TEST Official service routes and hotline page · SRC-MT-006
  • Official Separate delivery-only app and repack warning · SRC-MT-001
  • Traveler report Group-buy voucher redemption at the counter · SRC-MT-011 / SRC-MT-007
  • Traveler report Local prices reported below international platforms · SRC-MT-011

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