I ordered McDonald's delivery at 2 AM and it arrived in 18 minutes. China doesn't sleep.

ChinaTravelMemo

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?