Drone food delivery

Question

Hello,

I'm taking my sons to China. We won't have a guide. My oldest wants to get food delivered by drone. I see a Chinese phone number is required. I will be using my T-Mobile international pass, so I won't use a Chinese esim.

Has anyone obtained/successfully used a virtual number like one from JustCall in China?

Any other work arounds to order just once from meituan?

Answer

Ordering food delivery via apps like Meituan or Ele.me in Beijing typically requires a Chinese phone number for registration, as the system uses SMS verification for account creation and order confirmation. Since you are using an international T-Mobile SIM or roaming service without a Chinese eSIM, this presents a challenge.

Here are some possible approaches:

Virtual Chinese number: Some travelers have successfully used virtual Chinese numbers from services like JustCall, Twilio, or Skype to receive SMS verification. However, not all virtual numbers are accepted by Meituan or Ele.me, and the verification may fail. You would need to confirm with the provider that the number is a local Chinese mobile number capable of receiving SMS from Chinese services.
Temporary Chinese SIM: Purchasing a prepaid Chinese SIM card at the airport or a local convenience store is the most reliable option. Even a short-term SIM can be activated quickly and allows you to receive SMS for verification. You can use it for a single order without needing a long-term contract.
Ask a local contact: If you have a friend, hotel concierge, or local contact, you can temporarily use their number for registration and then delete it after placing your order.

Additional tips:

Payment usually requires a Chinese bank card or a mobile payment method like WeChat Pay or Alipay. Some apps allow linking an international credit card, but it may be limited.
If your goal is a one-off drone delivery experience, contacting a hotel concierge or using a local tour service might be the simplest workaround. They can place the order on your behalf without requiring your own Chinese number.
Plan ahead and check app compatibility and payment options before your trip, as these platforms are primarily designed for Chinese residents.

In summary, using a virtual number may work but is not guaranteed. The most reliable solution is a short-term Chinese SIM or leveraging a local contact or hotel service to place the order for you.