How foreigners use Meituan (美团)
A step-by-step guide for foreign travelers ordering food/services on Meituan in China.
1. Registration & real-name verification
What to do
- Download the Meituan app
- Register using a foreign mobile number (e.g. +60 Malaysia, +65 Singapore)
- Log in via SMS verification code
- Go to Wallet → verification prompt
- Upload a photo of your passport to complete real-name verification
Reality check
- Foreign numbers usually work, but SMS delivery can be inconsistent
- Passport verification is increasingly accepted, but approval may take time
2. Delivery address setup (very important)
Because couriers usually cannot call foreign numbers reliably, the workaround is:
Recommended format
- Address:
Hotel name + room number - Phone number:
Use the hotel front desk number
(often must start with a valid China format like+86-131…) - Remarks / notes:
Add something like: “请交给前台转交”
(“Please hand over to the front desk for forwarding”)
This avoids missed calls and failed deliveries.
3. Payment methods
The post lists three options:
A. Foreign credit cards
- Some foreign cards (Wise, BigPay, etc.) may work
- Success rate is hit-or-miss
B. Alipay / WeChat Pay (recommended)
- Bind an overseas bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay
- Then pay via those wallets inside Meituan
Why Alipay is preferred
- Easier setup for foreigners
- Better coupon support
- Fewer random payment failures
Key takeaways (TL;DR)
- ✅ Foreigners can use Meituan
- 📱 Foreign phone numbers are accepted, but not always reliable
- 🏨 Use hotel front desk details for delivery
- 💳 Alipay with overseas card is the smoothest payment route
- 🎟 Alipay also lets you stack Meituan coupons more easily
Practical advice (from real usage)
If you want the highest success rate:
- Set up Alipay first
- Verify with passport
- Deliver to hotel front desk
- Don’t rely on riders calling your foreign number