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How to Use Bike Sharing in China (Mobike / Ofo) | 2023 Traveler’s Guide

February 11, 2023 By Josh Summers 23 Comments

Is it possible for a foreign traveler or expat to use bike sharing in China? This is a question that I get a lot and the unfortunate answer is “maybe”. As with most things in China, it’s not always that easy.

For this reason, I’d like to offer a complete traveler’s guide on how to rent a bike using the China bike share programs like Ofo, Mobike and others.

Rent a bike as a traveler using bike sharing China

Once you start walking around most major Chinese cities, it will be hard to ignore the thousands of colorful bicycles that line the streets on either side. People have thoroughly embraced the idea of bike sharing in China, and despite recent troubles these cheap but convenient bikes are everywhere.

As somebody who has lived many years in China, I can tell you that these bikes can be extremely convenient. A simple bike can turn a long, 30-minute walk from the subway station into a quick five-minute ride (often for only a few pennies!).

Best of all, there’s no need to worry about anybody stealing your bike. You just scan the bike to unlock it and then lock it up whenever you reach your destination.

Travel to China | Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

*Note* This article is one of many taken from the book Travel to China | Everything You Need to Know Before You Go. Be sure to check out this indispensable “how to” guide for China travel before your trip!

Available on Amazon as both a Kindle download and a paperback.

The Problem: Restrictions for China Travelers & Expats

There’s been one (relatively big) problem with foreigners using the bike share in China: they’ve historically been difficult for tourists to use.

Why is that? Well, let’s take a deeper look into what it takes to unlock one of these China bike share bicycles. There has usually been two important requirements:

  • A Mobile Phone: In order to unlock and use the bike share in China, you need a phone that has network access to the internet. This isn’t hard, but it does take a bit of work. You can use your own phone with an international roaming plan, you can purchase a China SIM card for your phone (it must be unlocked for this to work) or you can just rent a phone to use in China.
  • A Method of Payment: This is the one that trips up most tourists and expats. You can use Chinese renminbi (cash) to pay to rent a bike in China. In many cases, a Chinese bank account is required in order to pay for these bike shares. Thankfully, there are alternative methods for international travelers that I’ll detail below.

Sadly, there is no program where you can purchase temporary credits or use cash to buy time on one of these bikes (unless you pay a nearby Chinese person to unlock a bike for you – which they probably wouldn’t/shouldn’t do).

It has to be on a smart phone with network access. And it must be paid online through either a bike share app or WeChat.

End of story. Or is it?

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How to Use China Bike Share: Traveler’s Guide

First things first: in order to rent a bike in China, you need a smart phone with network access. This is a non-starter. If you don’t plan to use your mobile phone while you travel or live in China, you won’t be able to make use of bike share in China.

However, if your only hangup is the method of payment, I’m happy to share with you that there are a couple ways to do this.

1. The China Bank Account/WeChat Method

Obviously, you could try to open a Chinese bank account, but that’s very hard to do on a tourist visa. It’s a hassle and there’s really not much value unless you’re living in China for a longer period of time as an expat.

If you’re a student in China or you’re working in the country for a year or more, I definitely recommend opening a Chinese bank account.

In these cases, just attach the bank’s UnionPay debit card to your WeChat account. This will allow you to pay for almost anything using WeChat, which at this point is more popular than credit cards in China.

Adding a Chinese debit card to WeChat

As you can see in this example above, WeChat users can add the Chinese bank card to their Wallet and use that to pay for pretty much every Chinese bike sharing service.

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2. Foreign Credit Cards on WeChat/Alipay

Starting in late 2019, some huge announcements were made by China’s mobile payment companies that would allow for foreign customers to use WeChat Pay and Alipay without a Chinese bank account.

Both platforms are solving the problem in different ways, with different pros and cons.

  • Alipay: Alipay is giving international users a “prepaid card” that can be topped up with their foreign credit card. There is a minimum (100 RMB) and maximum limit (2,000 RMB), but the prepaid card can be used to pay for anything from a train ticket to a small pack of gum.
  • WeChat Pay: WeChat is partnering with the international payment processors to integrate payment directly through the platform. This means that you just add your foreign credit card information to pay directly through WeChat Pay. There are no set limits, but the problem is that it only works for certain service partners such as DiDi (China’s Uber), Ctrip, 12306 (to buy China train tickets) and JD.com (online shopping).

The differences here are important to note. At this moment, Alipay is the best option for foreign travelers because WeChat Pay hasn’t yet partnered with a company that does bike sharing in China.

Before you jump on a plane to China, download the Alipay app, create an account (make sure to choose that you want the international version) and then top up your prepaid card.

How to Pay using Alipay on your phone

When you download and open apps from Chinese bike share companies like Mobike or Ofo, you’ll be able to add Alipay as a payment method.

How to Unlock and Use a China Bike Sharing Bike

One quick lesson for those who have never used China’s bike sharing apps like Mobike or Ofo before.

Unlocking and using a shared bike is crazy easy. The app can help you find a bike if you don’t see one immediately, but chances are you’ll see one of the bikes you’re looking to rent without any help.

Once you’ve found a bike that fits you well and isn’t broken (look carefully, these bikes get beat up easily!), open the app on your phone and scan the QR code on the bike.

Scan the QR code on a China bike share bicycle to unlock

On some bikes, such as the Ofo you see above, you will be given a code that you can use to unlock the device. On other (better) bikes, the Bluetooth on your phone will automatically unlock the bike. That’s the way it is with Mobike in China.

During your ride, keep the app running on your phone – at least in the background. It will track your distance and time.

When you’re finished, park the bike near other bikes and click the lock on the back. It will take a couple seconds for the lock to register with your phone, but once you hear the “beep” you know you’re set. Leave the bike and go about your business.

Connect to the internet in China using NordVPN

Final Thoughts | China Bike Share

Now that you know how easy it is to set up and use bike sharing in China, there’s no reason not to jump in and enjoy it! Download the Mobike app on your Apple phone or Android device and then make sure that you have network access when you get to China (I also recommend a VPN – here’s a list of the best VPNs for China).

Using the bicycles is extremely cheap and although the bikes aren’t always that comfortable, they do make the long walk to your hotel a lot faster.

Have you used the bike sharing in China? What was your impression about the process?

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How to use bike sharing in China

Further Reading & Resources

  • Tips for tipping in China
    Tipping in China in 2022 | How Much and When?
  • How to Rent a Phone in China
    How to Rent a Phone in China | Traveler's Guide
  • How to take a taxi in China
    How to Take a Taxi in China in 2023 (including ride sharing apps)

Traveling or Moving to China Soon?

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Avatar for Josh Summers

About Josh Summers

Josh is the founder of TravelChinaCheaper.com who has been living in China with his family since 2006. Over that period of time he has traveled by plane, train, car, motorcycle and even camel to explore almost every corner of the country.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatar for Josh SummersMark Elton says

    September 4, 2018 at 9:27 am

    Awesome thanks, I was trying to find a solution to this issue!!!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      September 4, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      My pleasure, Mark! Glad you found it useful 😉

  2. Avatar for Josh SummersRachel says

    September 4, 2018 at 7:37 pm

    I have been unable to attach my Chinese Bank card to my Wechat. You have to have a Chinese id too. My residence permit and passport number don’t work for that.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      September 4, 2018 at 9:18 pm

      Yea, that’s the same problem me and a bunch of other people have had to. It sucks.

  3. Avatar for Josh Summersmovlud says

    September 30, 2018 at 7:33 am

    Dear josh,

    How application calculate the fee? if you do not have enough money in your wallet, what happens ?

    thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      October 1, 2018 at 2:24 pm

      You have to prepay a certain amount in order to use the app. Fee is calculated based on distance ridden usually.

  4. Avatar for Josh SummersAustin Mak says

    January 29, 2019 at 12:12 am

    WOw this is good to know. I thought i would need alipay/wechat to use moBike. Question: if i set up mobike in us with my us creDit card, when i use the app in china, will it charge me chinese or us rates (seems cheaper in china)

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      January 29, 2019 at 7:54 am

      This is according to the Mobike USA customer support: “You may still use [Mobike] in China and the charges of the fare will be made in the currency of the country where the account is registered. Mobike converts the payment automatically.”

      A bit vague, so I’m not 100% sure which rate you’re charged.

  5. Avatar for Josh SummersJoseph says

    February 12, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    Is it possible to hire more than one bike with the same app? trying to avoid all seven of us needing to buy a sim card, download the app and register.

    cheers

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      February 12, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      That’s a good question. Unfortunately, it’s just one bike rental per phone.

  6. Avatar for Josh SummersPEnny says

    April 4, 2019 at 3:54 am

    Not sure if someone can help troubleshoot this issue I have with the mobike app.

    I used it yesterday on 3 separate rides with no issue. But today, the unlock button on the app stopped working. When I click it, nothing happens. Every other button and function works perfectly. I can even scan the barcode of a bike to report a repair issue.

    IT’S been very frustrating not knowing what’s wrong. There’s more than enough credit, and there’s nothing to indicate any problem with my account. I am accessing the internet on data roaming from my home country. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersBenny Coumans says

      April 5, 2019 at 11:24 pm

      I have the same problem, but my camera doesnt even open when i click unlock…
      Just got verified yesterday, but I cant use the unlock button (app is allowed to use my camera, I can even reserve a bike)

      I am using a VPN to connect to internet (if i dont use vpn, i dont have any internet at all)

      I sent a mail and if they find a solution i will post here.

  7. Avatar for Josh SummersChris says

    May 2, 2019 at 3:26 am

    This worked fine for me just now in beijing using a singapore mobile number; downloaded the app from the UK app store and connected it to my Singapore bank account in a few seconds.

    Reply
  8. Avatar for Josh SummersChad P. says

    September 15, 2019 at 7:51 pm

    It seems NeIther ofo or mobike work in china now. Ive tried to set Up both apps, but Ofo DOESN’T send a txt code to set up an account and Mobike Just tElls me “payment failed” when i try to top up my accoUnt. Sad because my locatIon for hotel to work would be perfect for a nice bike ride. Im hoping ofo will work again soon. I think mobike REQUIRES a chinese bank card now.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      September 15, 2019 at 8:27 pm

      Did you download the app in China or in your home country? Believe it or not, that makes a big difference.

  9. Avatar for Josh Summersneti says

    September 19, 2019 at 4:22 am

    oH NO, I do hope the mobike issue is settled before my trip to Xian early November 2019. I’m trying to download wechat but been having problems with it! I have yet to download express vpn and mobike. Maybe later.

    Reply
  10. Avatar for Josh Summersalez says

    September 21, 2019 at 9:11 pm

    none of those apps work any more in China. Look at their 1.5 stars rating in play store. Mobike will add your card and show no bikes in thr area. Ofo doesn’t do a damn thing. The only option is to use the bike Sharing through wechat, but as a foreigner tourist you cant top your weechst pay wallet, so you all are screwed as much as I am.

    Reply
  11. Avatar for Josh SummersDave says

    October 6, 2019 at 7:48 am

    You shoild really write about how one does this when ALREADY in China. can’t download any of the apps once in China. Ugh.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      October 7, 2019 at 8:53 pm

      It’s possible if you use a VPN in China to access a server outside of the country.

  12. Avatar for Josh SummersOhad says

    October 10, 2019 at 5:26 am

    My experience today tells that Mobike is currently not allowing the use of foreign mobile numbers.
    Thdy disabled your account once there.

    Reply
  13. Avatar for Josh SummersTom says

    October 18, 2019 at 5:57 am

    i downloaded the mobike app outside of china back in september 2019 and it worked well for a few weeks. last week (around october 15, 2019), as my credits ran out, i tried to top up. it didn’t allow me to do so. i wrote to mobike and here is their answer:

    “Thank you for contacting Mobike.
    We understand that you keep receiving the same error message and we are here to assist you.
    We also received the screenshot you have sent us. You will need to purchase a local Chinese number and create a We Chat account. Please also reinstall your mobike app once you have the local number and we chat account.”

    I’m afraid mobike does no longer allow foreigners to use their service in china…

    Reply
  14. Avatar for Josh SummersFrancis says

    November 12, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    iN MY CASE both Apps (OFO AND MOBIKE) ask fOR A REAL-NAME AUThENtIFICATION when I scan the bikes barcodes. And there is only the possibility to fill in the number of a chinese id card. I can´t change to Passport or any other option. When I fill in my passportnumber, the process fails. it´s also not possible to do any payment before this verification is done. I have a chinese mobile number, a chinese bank account and use Alipay and also WechatPay every day. Sorry, but it´s not as easy to rent a bike in China without a chinese ID Card!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Josh SummersJosh Summers says

      November 17, 2020 at 9:19 pm

      I guess things have changed a bit? I’ll have to look at it again.

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