How to Order Food Delivery in China

After a long day of walking around tourist spots, rushing between scenic sites and exploring city streets, the last thing many travelers want is to head out again for dinner. If you are staying in a hotel in China and just want to relax, local food delivery can be an easy option: you can try local dishes, skip crowded restaurants and have a quiet night in.

For foreign visitors, the two usual obstacles are account registration and payment. Standalone Chinese delivery apps often ask for a mainland phone number, which can leave travelers with an overseas number stuck at the sign-in screen.

Use delivery mini-programs inside Alipay

You do not necessarily need a separate delivery-app account. Meituan and Ele.me both have official mini-programs inside Alipay. Once your Alipay account is verified and linked to an eligible international card, opening a mini-program may avoid a second sign-up flow.

Before ordering, set up Alipay with your real overseas phone number, complete passport verification if prompted, and link your card. Then use the search bar to look for Meituan Waimai or Ele.me and open the official mini-program result.

Set a delivery address that a rider can find

Use your hotel name, building details and room number where the mini-program allows it. Copying the hotel's Chinese address from your booking confirmation can be helpful. It is also a good idea to leave a note asking the rider to deliver to the hotel front desk.

Hotel policies vary: some properties allow riders to come upstairs, while others ask guests to collect orders from the lobby. Keep an eye on the order status and be ready to go downstairs when it says the rider has arrived.

Choose food and pay

The mini-program normally shows nearby restaurants and open hours. Picture menus, ratings and order counts make browsing easier even when some details remain in Chinese. Alipay's translation tools can help with unfamiliar dish names.

At checkout, payment is handled through Alipay. International-card support can depend on your issuing bank and the merchant, so it is sensible to set up a second payment option before relying on delivery for a late dinner.

Small things that make the first order easier

• Do not wait until you are hungry to set up payment and address details.
• Use food photos and well-reviewed shops when you cannot read the full menu.
• Keep your hotel's Chinese name and address saved on your phone.
• Ask the front desk in advance how delivery collection works at that hotel.

Once the payment and hotel-address details are in place, food delivery is a convenient way to try local meals without losing an evening of your trip.