How to Save Money with Dianping Deals and Vouchers
Aside from the essential apps like WeChat and Alipay, one of the other apps that I use most often in Dazhong Dianping. This restaurant review app is a super useful platform for finding up to date information on restaurants, bars, museums and other attraction such as their address, opening hours, contact number etc. But did you know that it’s also a great place to save yourself a bit of cash.
There are tons of deals and discounts available through Dianping for a lot more than just restaurants. There are also deals for hair salons, hot springs, tourist attractions and much more. Even though the app is only available in Chinese, which non speakers may find off putting, getting a hold of these discounts is actually pretty easy and we're going to make it even easier with our step by step guide.
First off let’s have a look at some of the different vouchers and discounts available and how you can use them.
For restaurants there are three different kinds of deals available:
- Pay through the app to get a discount (买单 mǎidān) – either a certain percentage off your total bill or spend a certain amount and receive RMB XX off.
- Cash e-vouchers (代金券 dàijīn quàn) – purchase a voucher for RMB XX at a discounted price e.g. pay RMB 20 and get a voucher worth RMB 50.
- Discounted set meals (到点套餐 dào diǎn tàocān) – purchase a set meal in advance through the app (sometimes you also need to book at the restaurant in advance too).
To see what discounts are available at a restaurant, go to that restaurant’s Dianping page (make sure it’s the correct branch) and scroll down until you see the 优惠 yōuhuì (discount) section. Click on the drop down arrow to see the full list of discounts.
In the screenshot below you can see that this restaurant (can you guess which one it is?) has all three different discounts available.
Discount for paying the bill through the app
This is one of the less common discounts you’ll see but is definitely worth using to save yourself a bit of extra kuai if they do have it.
Step 1 – Click on the orange 买单 mǎidān button.
Step 2 – Enter the amount to pay and the discount button should automatically be selected.
Step 3 – Click the orange 确认买单 quèrèn mǎidān (confirm and pay bill) button.
Step 4 – A notice will pop up asking you to confirm again (this is a good time to double check the correct branch is selected), simply click 确认支付 quèrèn zhīfù (confirm payment).
Step 5 – You’ll be taken to a payment page where you can select your chosen payment method. Then, just press the orange click 确认支付 quèrèn zhīfù button and you’re done!
Cash e-vouchers
These can range in price but most restaurants normally only have one voucher available and they’re normally worth around RMB 100-200 with around a 90 percent discount.
Step 1 – Select the e-voucher that you want to purchase and press the orange 抢购 qiǎnggòu button.
Step 2 – You’ll be taken to a page with the terms and conditions for the voucher, click on the orange 立即抢购 lìjí qiǎnggòu (instantly purchase) button.
Step 3 – Click on the orange 提交订单 tíjiāo dìngdān (submit your order) button at the bottom.
Step 4 – You’ll be taken to a payment page where you can select your chosen payment method, and press the orange click 确认支付 quèrèn zhīfù button and you’re done!
Discounted set meals
There will often be quite a few different set meal discount options at most restaurants. These range from specific set e.g. coffee and a cake to set meals for a certain amount of people.
Sometimes there will be choices between different meals and drinks available within the set meal too.
Step 1 – Select the set meal that you want to purchase and press the orange 抢购 qiǎnggòu button.
Step 2 – You’ll be taken to a page which states what’s included in the set meal along with the terms and conditions, click on the orange 立即抢购 lìjí qiǎnggòu (instantly purchase) button.
Step 3 – Click on the orange 提交订单 tíjiāo dìngdān (submit your order) button at the bottom.
Step 4 – You’ll be taken to a payment page where you can select your chosen payment method, and press the orange click 确认支付 quèrèn zhīfù button and you’re done!
And there you have it, three great ways to save yourself some kuai using Dianping! Why not take a browse of the app right now and see what discounts you can grab at your favorite restaurant.
READ: Sink Your Teeth Into This List of Banh Mi Spots in Beijing
Images: Katie Coy, Irene Li
