How to rent a Bike in China: A Practical Guide 🚴🏻

Hey Leosquad! If you’re wondering how to rent a bike in China with WeChat, the good news is that the whole process takes less than a minute once you know the steps — and it’s affordable too.

Shared bikes are parked on almost every corner in big cities across China. I was traveling in Shenzhen when I noticed how many locals were using them for their daily trips. With just a quick tap on their phones, they could unlock a bike and be on their way. Seeing how convenient it was, I wanted to try it myself.

Walking through the streets of China’s big cities, it’s hard to miss the rows of shared bikes parked along sidewalks, outside metro stations, and near shopping streets.

I started to understand why they are so useful when I needed to go somewhere about 1 kilometer away. Driving such a short distance can take too long due to traffic. It can also cost more than other options. Walking would be cheaper, but it would take more time.

So, I decided to use a shared bike instead.

For a short trip like this, a bike can be a much easier option. You can grab a nearby bike, unlock it with your phone, ride to your destination, and drop it off when you’re done. Locals use shared bikes all the time, and as a visitor, I wanted to try it myself.

Here’s the step-by-step process.

Before hopping on a bike, make sure you have two things ready on your phone:

• WeChat installed, since it’s the app that handles both the bike scan and the payment
• WeChat Pay set up and verified, as you may need to complete identity passport verification before using some shared-bike services for the first time.

Once your account is verified, future rentals are much quicker.

Once you spot a shared bike, open WeChat and use the built-in scanner to scan the QR code located on the bike’s frame or lock. This is what tells the system which bike you want to unlock.

If this is your first time renting a shared bike in China, you’ll be prompted to verify your identity using your passport and confirm that WeChat Pay is active on your account. It takes a few minutes, but once it’s done, you won’t need to repeat it.

After scanning, you’ll see a confirmation that the bike has been unlocked, and the physical lock will release automatically.

With the bike unlocked, you’re free to explore. Shenzhen’s streets are fairly bike-friendly, and cruising past the local scenery is honestly one of the best ways to see the city up close.

When you’re finished, park the bike in a designated area and follow the instructions in WeChat to end the ride. Once the ride is successfully ended, the bike will be locked and you’ll receive a confirmation on your phone.

After you finish your ride, you can check the price directly in WeChat.

Shared bikes usually cost around 1.5–2 RMB for 15 minutes, depending on the bike and service.

For my ride, I cycled about 1.2 km in 10 minutes, and it cost me just 1.5 RMB.

That’s one of the reasons I found shared bikes so useful in Shenzhen. For a short trip, you can get where you need to go without waiting for a car or paying for a taxi.

Shenzhen has plenty of bike lanes, especially in areas like Futian and Nanshan.

On the bigger roads, some bike lanes are separated from traffic, so riding feels pretty comfortable.

But sometimes the bike lane suddenly ends, or you have to share the road with electric scooters, delivery bikes, and pedestrians. You might even end up riding on pedestrian streets, which I did a few times.

Just slow down and be a little more careful around people, especially when the area gets crowded.

Overall, I found riding around Shenzhen, and even other big cities in China, pretty easy once I got used to it.

• Set up WeChat Pay first: Make sure your payment account is ready before you start looking for a bike.
• Check the bike before riding: Make sure the brakes, pedals, and tires are working properly.
• Look for a designated parking area: Some bikes need to be returned within a designated area before you can successfully end the ride.
• Keep your phone charged: You’ll need your phone to unlock and end the ride.
• Watch for scooters and pedestrians: Bike lanes can become less clear in busy areas, so stay alert.
• Check the ride fee before confirming: Prices can vary depending on the bike and service.

For short trips, I think shared bikes are a very practical option in China.

If your destination is only around 1 kilometer away, taking a car can feel unnecessary. You might have to wait for the car, deal with traffic, and pay more for a trip that is actually quite short. Walking is an option, but a bike can get you there much faster.

That’s why I found shared bikes so useful in Shenzhen. You can simply find one nearby, scan the QR code, and start riding.

My ride cost just 1.5 RMB, so for a short trip, it was hard to complain about the price. It was quick, cheap, and also gave me a different way to see the city.

If you’re visiting China, I’d definitely recommend trying a shared bike at least once. Just make sure your WeChat Pay is set up before you start.

That’s it for this blog post! If you found this helpful, give it a thumbs up! See you in the next post! Love you all! Thank you!
As Always, Live the Moments, and Follow the Trails.✈️🍜🔥🌏
Bye Bye!

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