How to use shared bikes in China

Shared bikes stand on sidewalks in almost every Chinese city and are a cheap way to cover the gap between a metro exit and your hotel. You don’t need a separate app: scan the bike’s QR code with Alipay or WeChat and ride. The two things that catch visitors out are identity checks before the first ride and parking outside the marked zone.

Which shared bikes you’ll see in China

The main shared bike brands in Chinese cities include Meituan, Hello (Hellobike) and QingJu (Didi’s bike service). Each brand has its own color and its own QR code on the bike.

• Alipay and WeChat each connect to some brands through mini programs. If one wallet doesn’t recognize a bike, try the other.
• Each brand also has its own app, mostly in Chinese.

Step by step: unlocking a shared bike with Alipay

1. Set up Alipay first, with a linked card and passport verification. See Paying in China or the payment setup tool.
2. Check the bike. Look at the tires, brakes, chain and seat before you scan.
3. Open Alipay and tap Scan. Point it at the QR code on the bike, usually on the handlebars or the rear lock.
4. Complete any first-time steps. The first ride with a brand may ask you to accept terms, confirm your identity, or pay a deposit or buy a pass. Whether you can ride deposit-free depends on the service and your account.
5. Wait for the lock to open. It clicks open within a few seconds.
6. Ride. The app shows the ride time and the charge is calculated as you go.

WeChat works the same way: open WeChat, tap Scan, and scan the bike’s code.

Check before you go: Shared bike prices, passes, deposits and the identity checks for foreign accounts vary by brand and city and change often. Check the terms on the unlock screen before your first ride.

Parking and ending a shared bike ride in China

Most Chinese cities require shared bikes to be parked in marked zones, shown as painted areas on the sidewalk and in the app map.

1. Ride to a marked parking zone. The app map shows where they are.
2. Close the lock on the bike by hand.
3. Check that the app shows the ride as ended.

If you lock the bike outside a zone, the app may refuse to end the ride or add an extra charge.

Riding a shared bike safely in China

• Ride in the bike lane, with the traffic. Electric scooters share it and are fast and quiet.
• Watch for cars turning right, which may not stop for bikes or pedestrians.
• Shared bikes rarely come with a helmet. Ride carefully, especially at night.
• Avoid riding with heavy bags or after drinking.

See Health and safety for traffic tips.

Shared e-bikes in China

Some Chinese cities also have shared electric bikes, while others, including the central areas of some big cities, limit or ban them. Local rules for e-bikes may include helmets and stricter parking. Read the instructions in the app before you ride one.

If a shared bike goes wrong

• The scan doesn’t open anything: try the other wallet, or choose another bike.
• The lock won’t open: wait a minute, then report the bike in the app and try another.
• The ride won’t end: move the bike into a marked zone, close the lock firmly and refresh the app.
• You were charged too much: open the ride history in the app and contact support.
• The bike breaks while riding: stop safely, lock it in a zone and report the fault.