I ordered McDonald's delivery at 2 AM and it arrived in 18 minutes. China doesn't sleep.
My friend from Egypt was jet-lagged. Wide awake at 2 AM in Shanghai. Hungry.In Cairo, nothing is open at 2 AM except maybe a street cart with falafel.
In Shanghai? He opened Meituan.
What he found at 2 AM:
• McDonald's — delivery ¥9, estimated 20 minutes
• A local noodle shop — delivery ¥3, estimated 25 minutes
• A 24-hour convenience store (便利店) — ¥15 minimum order
• Fresh fruit delivery — yes, at 2 AM
• Pharmacy delivery — yes, also at 2 AM
He ordered McDonald's. It arrived in 18 minutes. The delivery guy was on an electric scooter, weaving through empty streets.
How food delivery works in China:
The apps:
• Meituan (美团) — the biggest. Everything.
• Ele.me (饿了么) — Alibaba's app. Slightly different restaurant selection.
• Both work with foreign cards linked to Alipay/WeChat.
The process:
1. Open Meituan
2. Browse restaurants (photos of every dish)
3. Add to cart
4. Pay via Alipay/WeChat
5. Wait
6. Food arrives
Delivery times:
• Average: 20-35 minutes
• During rain: 40-50 minutes
• At 2 AM: 20-30 minutes (fewer orders, roads are empty)
Delivery fees:
• Most restaurants: ¥0-5
• Some offer free delivery over ¥20-30
• McDonald's/KFC: usually ¥9
The delivery person:
They're usually on electric scooters. They don't speak English. They call when they arrive.
If you don't speak Chinese, use the in-app chat. Type in English. The app translates. Or simply go downstairs when you get the notification.
Some just leave it at the building reception. Or on a shelf outside your apartment door.
What you can get delivered:
Food:
• Every cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Western, Indian, Thai
• Street food: Jianbing, baozi, skewers
• Bubble tea, coffee, desserts
• Groceries, fresh vegetables, meat
Non-food:
• Medicine (prescription and OTC)
• Phone chargers, cables
• Toiletries, cosmetics
• Flowers, gifts
• Pet food
• Alcohol
Services:
• House cleaning
• Laundry pickup
• Massage (yes, at home)
• Manicure (they come to your apartment)
• Haircut (mobile barber)
Tips for foreigners:
• Always check the restaurant rating (4.5+ stars recommended)
• Read recent reviews (look for photos)
• Don't order from restaurants with no reviews
• If you have allergies, use the "notes" field and write in simple English
• Tip is not expected but appreciated (¥2-5 via the app)
• Save your address in Chinese. Copy it from your hotel/apartment lease.
The 24-hour convenience store:
FamilyMart, Lawson, and 7-Eleven are everywhere. Many deliver via Meituan.
At 3 AM you can order:
• Instant noodles
• Snacks
• Beer
• Phone charger
• Toothbrush
• Condoms
• And they'll deliver in 20 minutes
My Egyptian friend's reaction: \"I ordered McDonald's at 2:17 AM. It arrived at 2:35 AM. The delivery guy smiled and said something in Chinese. I smiled back. Then I realized: in China, the city never sleeps. And I never have to sleep hungry again.\"
Anyone else amazed by China's delivery culture? What's the weirdest thing you've had delivered?
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