Queueing Guide for Travelers to China

From restaurants and museums to hospitals and banks, most lines are now digital. Here's how to join, hold, and not miss your turn.

TikTok
YouTube
Reddit
X
Tripadvisor
大众点评
小红书
Real Traveler Data
Up-to-date Sources
AI-Collected & Human-Vetted
No OTA-Oriented

🚀 Quick-Start Guide

1️⃣
Install apps before you land
WeChat and Alipay are the "hosts" for most queues; add Dianping / Meituan for restaurant waitlists and official museum mini-programs for tickets. (Google Play is blocked on mainland IPs—install or use VPN/HK-exit eSIM if already in China.)
2️⃣
Restaurants (Dianping/Meituan)
Search the venue → tap Queue / 取号 → choose party size → you'll see live wait estimates and position. Arrive before your estimate; when your number flashes, check in at the host stand with your screen.
3️⃣
Attractions & museums
Many require real-name reservations for a timed entry. Book inside the official WeChat/Alipay mini-program; bring the same passport to scan on entry.
4️⃣
Government, banks & telecom
At the ticket machine (取号机) choose the service (e.g., "Account opening") → take printed slip (e.g., B057) → watch the hall screens. If you need English, show passport and say "英文服务可以吗?".
5️⃣
Hospitals (门诊挂号)
New visitors first make a patient card (就诊卡) with passport at the lobby counter or kiosk → then register (挂号) for a department/doctor → pay the small fee via blue merchant QR → wait for 叫号 outside the clinic door.

📱 What is "Queueing in China"? — 60-second primer (expanded)

What it covers
排队 (lining up), 取号 (take-a-number) and 叫号 (number-calling) systems used at restaurants, attractions, government counters, banks, hospitals, telecom shops—even some cafés.
Where you'll meet it
1) Restaurants (Dianping/Meituan waitlists) 2) Museums & attractions (timed online reservations) 3) Government & banks (ticket-machine numbers) 4) Hospitals (online/offline registration 挂号) 5) Theme parks (virtual queues).
How it works
Scan the venue QR or use an app/mini-program → pick service & party size → you receive a queue number (e.g., A103) → screens/notifications show now serving → staff call your number.
Language support
WeChat & Alipay mini-program UIs follow your phone language; long-press Chinese text → 🔤 Translate bubble (WeChat ≥9.1 / Alipay ≥10.5.80).
Payment touchpoints
Some queues require a small deposit or pre-pay (e.g., hotpot, hospitals, timed tickets). Use blue merchant QR (商户码) via Alipay/WeChat with your foreign Visa/Mastercard; green personal QR (收款码) won't accept foreign cards. Learn more about payment methods.
Why it matters
Digital queues save hours and are mandatory at many headline sights on weekends/holidays; walk-ups are often refused once quotas fill.
Good to know
If you miss your call (过号), most systems allow one short grace / re-call—go to the host desk and ask for 补号 (re-insert). Policies vary by venue.
TL;DR
Scan the venue's QR (or join in Dianping/Meituan), get a number, watch the "now serving" screen, and pay any deposit with a blue QR. If you miss your turn, ask for 补号 right away.

🏆 Success Recipe

1

Join remotely on the way

Use Dianping/Meituan to take a restaurant number before you arrive; shave 30–60 min off peak waits.

2

Screenshots & alerts

Screenshot your queue number and enable notifications (battery saver off) so you don't miss the call.

3

Ask for "补号" politely

If you're late by a few numbers, go straight to the desk: "不好意思,能补号吗?" — many venues will re-insert you.

4

Use priority lanes where eligible

Signs marked 绿色通道 / 爱心通道 give priority to seniors, pregnant, disabled, or parents with infants.

5

Time your visit

Hit museums right at opening or after 16:00; restaurants 11:00 or 21:00+ to avoid peak lines.

🔄 2024–25 Updates

🏛️

Museums: More top venues expanded real-name timed reservations and on-site QR checks; walk-ins limited on holidays.

🍽️

Restaurants: Dianping/Meituan added remote queue-join in more chains; some require small deposits at peak hours.

🏥

Hospitals: Major city hospitals improved passport recognition at self-service kiosks for 就诊卡 issuance.

🎢

Theme parks: Official apps rolled out virtual queue 2.0 for popular rides on peak days.

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

Can't find the queue QR

Ask staff: "排队二维码在哪儿?" or search the venue name in WeChat/Alipay mini-programs.

App still Chinese

WeChat/Alipay: set phone language to English → UI flips; use long-press 🔤 Translate bubble for Chinese-only pages.

Deposit won't go through

Make sure the code is blue (商户码); green personal codes won't take foreign cards. Try the other app if one fails.

Missed your number

Go to the desk and ask for 补号; if refused, take a new number (重新取号)—you'll keep your place for any deposit already paid.

No SIM or SMS

Most systems work with just Wi-Fi + app notifications; show your on-screen number to staff.

Battery saver killed alerts

Whitelist WeChat/Alipay/Dianping in battery settings; keep the app in foreground near your slot.

🔄 Backup / Alternatives

🌧️

Walk-ins at off-peak

Rainy weekdays often accepted even at popular spots.

👨‍💼

Private guides

Can pre-book museum quotas and handle on-site 取号 for you.

🏨

Hotel concierge

Can join queues on your behalf and call you when near the top.

🛠 Technical Notes

  • Key terms: 排队 (queue), 取号 (take a number), 候号/等候 (waiting), 叫号 (being called), 过号 (missed number), 补号 (re-insert), 预约 (reservation), 实名 (real-name), 定时入场 (timed entry).
  • Queue codes: Windows are grouped (A/B/C…) with running numbers (e.g., A103). Large halls display now serving on LED boards and call by loudspeaker.
  • Payments: Deposits / registration fees / timed tickets usually via blue merchant QR; caps: ¥5 000/txn · ¥10 000/day · ¥50 000/month, FX ≈ 1 %. Learn more about payment methods.
  • Accessibility: 绿色通道 / 爱心通道 priority is widely observed; carry proof if applicable (e.g., pregnancy note, disability card—photo is OK to show context).
  • Data privacy: Real-name reservations tie to your passport number; bring the same document to scan at entry.

Queueing in China · Related Videos

Discover digital queuing systems and restaurant waitlists in China through video guides

🎬 Loading queueing videos...

Searching for the latest digital queue guides