Comments on: How to Use Bike Sharing in China (Mobike / Ofo) | 2025 Guide

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:19:23 +0000

In reply to Francis. I guess things have changed a bit? I'll have to look at it again.

By: Francis

Francis — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 18:14:50 +0000

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!

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 10:57:58 +0000

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…

By: Ohad

Ohad — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 10:26:21 +0000

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

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 01:53:33 +0000

In reply to Dave. It's possible if you use a VPN in China to access a server outside of the country.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 12:48:49 +0000

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

By: alez

alez — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 02:11:31 +0000

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.

By: neti

neti — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 09:22:30 +0000

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.

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 01:27:46 +0000

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

By: Chad P.

Chad P. — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:51:32 +0000

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.