Meituan

Meituan

4.0

Meituan is a Chinese technology-retail company whose super app connects consumers with food delivery, local services, and retail, powered by logistics and AI-driven dispatch.

Tags
ai-workflowai-lifelocal-servicesfood-deliveryArtificial Intelligence
Last Updated Nov 10, 2026
Meituan screenshot

About

Meituan is a Chinese technology-retail company that operates one of the country's largest local-life platforms, best known for food delivery alongside hotel booking, travel, entertainment, and on-demand retail services. It addresses a practical problem: connecting consumers with nearby restaurants, stores, and service providers while managing the complex logistics of fulfilling those orders in real time.

Founded in March 2010, Meituan describes its strategy as "retail plus technology" and its mission as helping people "eat better, live better." The company drives digital upgrades on both the demand and supply sides of service and goods retail, working with merchant partners to deliver quality services to consumers. Meituan has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since September 20, 2018, and continues to invest in new technologies, including drone delivery networks and algorithm-driven dispatch. Its main consumer apps include Meituan, Meituan Waimai (food delivery), and Dianping, the review and local-services platform.

Key Features

Food delivery (Meituan Waimai): The core service pairs consumers with restaurants through a rider network, with recent additions such as upfront display of merchant locations and photos of the actual storefront environment.
Local-life and retail services: The Meituan app aggregates dining, hotels, travel, entertainment, medical aesthetics, and everyday retail, making it a single destination for local consumption.
Consumer reviews via Dianping: The Dianping app provides user-generated reviews and rankings, such as the annual "North Star" medical-aesthetics list that helps consumers choose providers.
Drone delivery network: Meituan operates a low-altitude aerial delivery network, including a route network launched in Shanghai's West Bund area, described by the company as a "second capacity network" for urban logistics.
Algorithm transparency and rider programs: The company publishes algorithm-related disclosures, holds annual labor-rules consultation meetings with riders, and runs rider recognition programs.
Merchant support initiatives: Programs for small merchants, business-growth support, and a dedicated plan for China's time-honored brands (Zhonghua Laozihao) help traditional businesses operate online.
Food safety actions: Meituan runs food-safety programs such as the "trusted delivery" seven-point initiative introduced during National Food Safety Week.

Pricing & Fees

  • Pricing: Not publicly listed on the pages we reviewed; check the official site for current plans. As a consumer marketplace, most services are priced per order rather than by subscription.
  • Platform availability: Available through the Meituan app, Meituan Waimai app, and Dianping app, with the corporate site offered in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English.
  • Corporate responsibility: The company runs public-welfare programs including rural children's playgrounds, the Meituan Charity Foundation, and the Green Mountain Technology Fund, plus initiatives on green consumption and rural revitalization.
  • Listed company: Meituan trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (listed September 20, 2018) and publishes investor-relations materials on its corporate site.

Who It's For

Meituan serves primarily consumers in China who want food, groceries, and local services delivered or booked quickly through one app. Restaurant and retail merchants use it to reach nearby customers and manage online operations, while delivery riders use its platform for flexible work. Travelers use Meituan and Dianping for hotel bookings, attraction tickets, and trusted reviews. The corporate site also serves journalists, investors, job seekers, and researchers looking for official news, disclosures, and social-responsibility information.

FAQ

What is Meituan?Meituan is a Chinese technology-retail company founded in March 2010 that runs a local-life super app covering food delivery, retail, hotels, travel, and other services, and it has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2018.

Is Meituan free to use?Consumers generally pay per order rather than a subscription fee; specific pricing is not publicly listed on the pages reviewed, so check the official app or site for current details.

Which apps and platforms does Meituan offer?The company operates the Meituan app, the Meituan Waimai food-delivery app, and the Dianping review app, with its corporate website available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English.

Does Meituan use AI or automation?Yes. Meituan invests in technology including algorithmic order dispatch, algorithm-disclosure pages on its site, and drone delivery networks such as the low-altitude route network operating in Shanghai's West Bund area.

How does Meituan handle rider welfare and food safety?The company publishes rider-protection and algorithm-transparency information, holds annual labor-rules consultation meetings, rewards riders for good deeds, and runs food-safety programs such as its "trusted delivery" seven-point initiative.