Quality products from Metro supermarkets (Maidelong/麦德龙)
Metro, called Maidelong in Chinese, is a German owned and operated chain of supermarkets. There are currently four Metro supermarkets in Beijing. Previously there were more, but some of the stores have closed. Metro stocks quality products at prices that are not excessively expensive. Many of the products have been imported from abroad.
I use Metro supermarkets specifically for their coffee and cheese selection. I can order these online from Taobao, but sometimes the quality of cheese is not guaranteed. So, if I want quality at a fair (but not the cheapest) price, then I will go to Metro. There is also a good selection of wines imported from abroad with prices ranging from 40 RMB to 400 RMB. There is something for every price range.
Signing up to the Metro Supermarkets VIP card
In order to shop at Metro supermarkets, customers must sign up as a VIP member. These supermarkets have been designed for customers to buy in bulk, and as some of the products are sold in much larger quantities than usual, I assume restaurants and small businesses will be buying them. When I signed up earlier in 2024, membership cost 200 RMB. Most of this can be refunded through monthly discounts up to the value of 180 RMB. So, as long as you shop from here regularly, then it won’t be an issue paying the 200 RMB to sign up.
Signing up to the VIP membership card can be difficult if you do not speak Chinese. Nevertheless, I did find the shop assistants were very helpful and willing to help. So, they took me through the sign-up process step by step. You will need to make sure you have your passport number, a Chinese telephone number, and Alipay or Wechat pay.
The Metro APP needs to be downloaded on to your phone before registering. Once registered there are monthly discounts that can be viewed on the APP, and also free parking for up to three hours once items have been purchased at the checkout. Once payment has been made, car details can be entered using registration process on Wechat. Once again, the sales assistant helped me through that process.
Downloads for the Metro APP
The Metro Supermarket VIP APP can be downloaded onto multiple devices. Click on the website links below to download to your device.
How is Metro written in Chinese?
Chinese name: Maidelong / 麦德龙
Opening hours
Opening hours: 8:30-21:30 for all supermarkets.
Getting there
Metro supermarket 1: METRO Club (Beijing Sijiqing), No. 1 Xingshikou Road, 麦德龙会员店(北京四季青店), 杏石口路1号
Metro supermarket 2: METRO Club (Lishuiqiao Store), 101, 1st Floor, Building 1, No. 3 Anli Road, part of the basement floor, 麦德龙会员店(立水桥店), 安立路3号1幢1层101及地下一层局部
Metro supermarket 3: METRO Club (Shilihe), No. 35 Dayangfang Road, 麦德龙会员店(十里河店), 大羊坊路35号
Metro suprmarket 4: METRO PLUS Club (Shangpin Discount Caoqiao Store), No. 1 Caoqiao East Road, 麦德龙PLUS会员店(上品折扣草桥店), 草桥东路1号
