Hellobike
A Chinese mobility platform best known for its blue shared bikes and e-bikes, which visitors can unlock through the Hellobike app or its Alipay mini program after verifying with a passport, for short trips around the city.
About Hellobike
Hellobike is the brand of Shanghai Hello Inclusive Technology Co., Ltd., founded in September 2016. Besides shared bicycles and shared e-bikes, the company offers car rental, aggregated ride-hailing, carpooling and battery-swapping services. A 2026 guide for foreigners says Hellobike accepts a passport for real-name verification and is easiest to use through its Alipay mini program with a linked Visa or Mastercard. The same guide says most verified users no longer have to pay a deposit.
Key Features
- Shared Bikes: Unlock a bike by scanning its QR code and leave it in a permitted parking area at the end of the ride.
- Shared E-bikes: Pedal-assist e-bikes for longer trips, at a slightly higher price than regular bikes.
- Alipay Mini Program: Use Hellobike inside Alipay without installing a separate app, with Alipay's existing verification.
- Other Services: Car rental, ride-hailing and carpooling in the same app.
How to Get Started
- Open Alipay and search for the Hellobike mini program, or install the Hellobike app.
- Sign in with your phone number using your country code and enter the SMS code.
- Choose Passport as the ID type and upload the photo page, or use the verification already done in Alipay.
- Scan the QR code on a bike to unlock it, and lock it in a permitted parking area when you finish.
The app and mini program are mainly in Chinese, so a translation tool can help. Prices, passes and parking rules vary by city, and leaving a bike outside a permitted zone can lead to an extra charge. International SMS codes can be delayed, and virtual numbers may not be accepted, so use a real mobile number.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hellobike work with a foreign bank card in China? Yes — Hellobike accepts foreign-issued cards in China.
Is Hellobike available in English? Not officially — the interface is mainly in the local language.
Do I need a local phone number to use Hellobike? No, an international phone number generally works for Hellobike.
Do I need local ID or residency for Hellobike? No, Hellobike doesn't require local ID or residency for visitors.