First-Time in Xi’an: A Foreigner’s Guide to Navigating Payments with Meituan

Landing in Xi’an, I was buzzing with excitement—the Terracotta Warriors, the Muslim Quarter, the ancient city walls… I’d dreamed of this trip for years. But within an hour of arriving, reality hit: I stood at a taxi queue, wallet in hand, only to realize the driver shook his head when I offered a 100 RMB note. “WeChat or Alipay,” he said, pointing at his phone. My heart sank. I’d barely used cash back home, let alone a Chinese super-app. That’s when a fellow traveler tapped my shoulder: “Download Meituan. It’s your lifeline here.”

Why Meituan? More Than Just Food Delivery

Back home, I associate “food delivery apps” with Uber Eats or DoorDash. But in China, Meituan is a swiss army knife for daily life—and for foreigners, it’s a game-changer. Within my first week in Xi’an, I used it to:

• Hail taxis (cheaper than Didi for short trips!)
• Book attraction tickets (skip-the-line deals for the Terracotta Warriors!)
• Find restaurants (with English menus and real reviews!)
• Buy groceries (convenience stores, even fresh fruit!)
• Pay for coffee (yes, Starbucks accepts Meituan!).

If you’re new to China, Meituan will feel overwhelming at first—endless tabs, Chinese characters, payment options. But trust me: once you set it up, you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without it.

First-Time in Xi’an: A Foreigner’s Guide to Navigating Payments with Meituan

Step 1: Download & Register—No Chinese Phone Number? No Problem!

The first hurdle? Meituan requires a Chinese phone number to register. If you’re like me and bought a local SIM card at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (highly recommend—China Mobile has tourist plans with ~30 RMB for 1GB data), you’re set. If not, don’t panic: you can use a friend’s number (just ask them to help you verify the SMS code) or rent a SIM card from your hotel.

Here’s how to register:

1. Download Meituan: Search for “Meituan” in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). The icon is a yellow square with a red “M.”
2. Sign Up: Open the app, tap “注册” (Register), and select “手机号注册” (Phone Number Register). Enter your Chinese number, then grab the SMS verification code.
3. Basic Info: You’ll need to set a password (6-12 characters, no special symbols) and agree to terms (it’s in Chinese, but just tap “同意” to move on).

Pro tip: Once registered, go to “我的” (My) → “设置” (Settings) → “语言” (Language) and switch to “English.” The app won’t be fully translated, but key buttons (like “Pay” or “Order”) will be in English—enough to get started!

Step 2: Link Your Payment Method—Foreign Cards Work, But…

This is the most critical step. Meituan lets you pay via:

• Alipay (linked to your bank account/credit card)
• WeChat Pay (similar to Alipay)
• Meituan Wallet (a balance you top up directly)

For foreigners, Alipay is the easiest to link. Here’s how:

1. In Meituan, tap “我的” (My) → “钱包” (Wallet) → “余额” (Balance) → “充值” (Top Up).
2. Select “支付宝” (Alipay) and tap “添加银行卡” (Add Bank Card).
3. Enter your foreign credit card details (Visa/Mastercard—Amex is less commonly accepted).

Important note: Not all vendors accept foreign cards. I learned this the hard way when buying breakfast at a Muslim Street stall: my Visa was declined. The owner pointed to a sign: “仅支持国内银行卡” (Only domestic cards accepted). Solution? Top up your Meituan Wallet before you need it.

How to Top Up Meituan Wallet Without a Chinese Bank Account

You can’t add foreign cards directly to Meituan Wallet, but you can transfer money from Alipay. Here’s the workaround:

1. Open Alipay: If you don’t have it, download it (same phone number as Meituan).
2. Link Your Card: In Alipay, go “我的” (My) → “银行卡” (Bank Cards) → “添加银行卡” (Add Bank Card). Enter your foreign card details—Alipay is more flexible than Meituan for this.
3. Transfer to Meituan: In Alipay, go “我的” (My) → “余额” (Balance) → “转账” (Transfer). Enter your own phone number (this sends money to your Alipay Wallet), then go back to Meituan, tap “钱包” → “余额” → “充值,” and select “支付宝” to transfer funds from Alipay to Meituan Wallet.

Pro tip: Keep at least 200-300 RMB in your Meituan Wallet at all times. For small purchases (street food, taxis), it’s faster than fumbling with cards.

Step 3: Start Using Meituan—Your First “Test Run”

Once your payment is set up, it’s time to explore. Here are my “must-try” Meituan features for Xi’an:

Hail Taxis

Forget negotiating with drivers—Meituan’s “出租车” (Taxi) tab lets you book a ride with fixed prices. I used this to get from the airport to my hotel (30 RMB, vs. 50 RMB for a random taxi). Just enter your location, choose “出租车,” and a driver will accept within minutes.

Book Attraction Tickets

The Terracotta Warriors can have 2-hour queues. Meituan lets you buy tickets in advance with “skip-the-line” access. Search “兵马俑” (Terracotta Warriors), select “门票” (Tickets), and choose the “快速通道” (Fast Track) option. I paid 150 RMB (vs. 120 RMB at the gate) but saved 90 minutes—worth it!

Eat Like a Local

Xi’an’s food scene is incredible, but many small restaurants don’t have English menus. Meituan’s “美食” (Food) tab has filters for “English Menu” and “Foreign-Friendly.” My favorite? A Muslim Street lamb burger place: I searched “穆斯林街 汉堡” (Muslim Street Burger), found a 4.8-star spot with English reviews, and ordered a “羊肉汉堡” (lamb burger) for 25 RMB. Delicious and no pointing!

Pro tip: Look for “团购” (Group Buy) deals—they’re like Groupons. I got a 50% discount at a noodle shop near the Bell Tower: 30 RMB for a bowl of yangrou paomo (lamb stew bread) + a drink.

Oops, I Ran Into Problems—Here’s How I Fixed Them

No travel guide is complete without “what went wrong.” Here are my Meituan mishaps and how to solve them:

Problem 1: “Payment Failed” Error

I tried to buy a bus ticket and got a red “支付失败” (Payment Failed) message. Why? My Meituan Wallet was empty, and Alipay was linked but hadn’t “verified” my card yet.
Fix: In Alipay, go “我的” (My) → “银行卡” → select your card → “认证” (Verify). Follow the steps to confirm your identity (you’ll need your passport). Once verified, try paying again.

Problem 2: Can’t Find a Restaurant

I searched “hot pot” but got results in Beijing (Meituan sometimes defaults to your last location).
Fix: Tap the location icon (bottom left) and select “当前定位” (Current Location). Then search again—voila, Xi’an hot pops up!

Problem 3: Vendor Says “Meituan Doesn’t Work Here”

At a night market stall, the owner shook his head when I tried to pay with Meituan. I pointed to his QR code—he laughed and said, “That’s for WeChat! Use this one.” He had two QR codes: one for WeChat (green) and one for Alipay (blue).
Fix: Always carry both WeChat and Alipay QR codes (you can save them to your phone’s home screen). Most vendors accept at least one, and some accept both.

Final Tips: Meituan + Common Sense = Smooth Trip

By day three, Meituan felt like second nature. Here’s what I wish I’d known before landing:

• Download VPN First: If you’re from a country with restricted internet (like the US/UK), get a VPN before you arrive. Meituan and Alipay may not load otherwise.
• Keep Cash Backup: Even with Meituan, carry 200-300 RMB in cash. Some tiny village stalls or rural areas don’t accept digital payments.
• Ask for Help: Chinese people are incredibly friendly. If you’re stuck, show a shopkeeper your phone—they’ll often help you navigate Meituan (I had a grandma at a tea shop help me order bubble tea!).

Wrapping Up: Meituan Made Xi’an Easy

By the end of my trip, I’d used Meituan to pay for everything from a 5 RMB bubble tea to a 300 RMT guided tour. It turned a potential nightmare (cashless confusion) into a breeze. If you’re heading to Xi’an (or any Chinese city), download Meituan before you go, set up Alipay, and embrace the chaos. You’ll spend less time stressing about payments and more time eating lamb skewers, marveling at the Terracotta Warriors, and getting lost in the ancient city’s magic.

Xi’an isn’t just a trip—it’s a journey through time. And with Meituan in your pocket, that journey is smoother (and tastier) than you ever imagined.