Payments, Cash, Credit Cards, Alipay and Wechat

All the Info You’ll Need About Paying for Things in China

China is a futuristic almost cashless society! You will be paying for most things with your phone.

Almost all payments are done on your phone using Wechat or Alipay.
Google Pay will not work in China.
Foreign credit or debit cards can be used to withdraw cash at ATMs, but not accepted for payment except perhaps at high end hotels.
While cash can be used, it is rare and an inconvenience to the vendor and they may not have change for larger bills.
Best way to get cash is to withdraw from an ATM. It is not advisable to use a hotel lobby ATM as this is the most likely place to get counterfeit bills. Make sure you use an ATM with the Interac or Visa network sign.

In 2023, China issued new guidelines to ensure the ease of payments for foreigners. Previous transaction limits were increased and improvements were made to the availability of payments for foreigners. Link to the new guidelines is at the bottom of this page.

As of July 2023, Wechat now allows you to add foreign credit cards to Alipay and Wechat. In the spring of 2024 the Chinese government issued new guidelines and regulations to make it easier for foreigners to pay for goods in China.
Do bring some cash for situations where your Wechat or Alipay does not work. Get some smaller bills. Some hotels still require a 200-400 cash deposit, refunded to you when you check out.
As a foreigner, you can not ‘top up’ your account. This is only allowed for Chinese citizens with a Chinese bank account.
In Alipay you can get a “Tour Card” that links to your credit card. It allows you to transfer funds to your Alipay account, but charges a 5% fee.

Payment Apps for China

While cash is accepted, it is troublesome for vendors and the vendor may not have change readily available. While you should bring some cash, China is mostly a cash society, so you need Alipay (or wechat or both) to ensure easy payment for things. Credit cards, unless used through Alipay or Wechat, are not normally accepted or used in China. Same for debit cards.

Alipay and Wechat are the two main apps used in China.

A QR code with a green border will indicate a Wechat payment, while a QR code with a blue border will use an Alipay payment. Once you register in Alipay or wechat you can add your foreign credit card. Note that Alipay and Wechat payment services for tourists will not work outside of mainland China. Although Wechat and Alipay offer such payment services outside of China, these services outside of China are only available to Chinese citizens.

Alipay has multiple features in addition to payment features:

Transport function to get a QR code for paying for subways and buses.
Book a Didi ride (Chinese equivalent of Uber or Grab)
Tour information and tickets
A “tour card” to facilitate payment.
Rent bicycles.
and much more!

WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR ALIPAY YOU WILL BE PROMPTED FOR A PIN CODE. REMEMBER THIS CODE AS YOU WILL BE ASKED FOR IT TO PROCESS ALL TRANSACTIONS!

Reduce Problems by Using a Wise or Revolut Card

Adding a card in Alipay or Wechat is easy, but each time you make a purchase in China, Alipay or Wechat has to send the transaction to the credit card processor. Sometimes your credit card provider will intermittently decline payments or require that you confirm the transaction with a One Time Purchase code (OTP). This is problematic because

the SMS wont arrive in China
You don’t have access to your home phone number

Verification SMS’s for verification of transactions rarely reach China. For this reason, many people sign up for a Wise or Revolut card and link that card to Alipay or Wechat. The Wise and Revolut cards are designed for travel and will less likely need a verification SMS response.

Signing up for a digital or physical WISE Card or Revolut card solves this problem. Both Wise and Revolut have an online platform where you can

link your Wise or Revolut card to your bank account or credit card
Top up your Wise balance from your bank account or credit card
Access and convert from and to multiple currencies
Pay for purchases with your Wise card instead of your credit card
Furthermore, Wise and allows you to verify through a Whatsapp sms, making it more convenient to verify a transaction.

Using a Wise card was efficient and trouble free for me and can be used in multiple countries and with multiple currencies.

Apply for a Wise card at Wise.com

Apply for a Revolut Card at Revolut.com

Registering for Alipay or Wechat Requires a Couple of Steps

First, download the app, then begin the registration process by settng up a pin code. Remember this pin code as it will be used to verify transactions.
If not prompted, you will need to go to “Account” and enter your passport information. Make sure this information is entered accurately.
The next step is to link your credit card to the App.

You don’t need a Chinese number to register. Just your local home number will do. If you are being asked to enter a Chinese ID, go into settings and make sure the edition is set to “International”.

If you try to test the app to pay for something outside of China, it will not work. It will only work in China.

Here is a guide prepared by the Shanghai Finland Chamber of Commerce (2023) https://www.finnchamsh.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/Alipay%20and%20Wechat%20Pay%20instructions.pdf

WeChat and Alipay Are Not Just Payment Apps!

Within these apps you can

Access Didi to book taxis rides (Didi is the equivalent of Uber),
check your hotel bookings,
rent bicycles,
pay for subway or bus transportation,
book attraction tickets,

and a host of other services, and of course pay for things.

To pay a bill at a restaurant or other vendor, the vendor will present a QR code, You scan the QR code, enter the password you set up when registering

Other Considerations:

Alipay works even if you have it with overseas phone number (yes, it matters). you can find instructions for example here ->
https://www.finnchamsh.org/…/Alipay%20and%20Wechat….
When signing up for Alipay, you create a 6 digit pin. Remember this! You will need it to make payments.
Look out for Notifications on Alipay App. Sometimes a further verification was required.

Alipay in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has it’s own Alipay app. If travelling to Hong Kong, also download the Alipay HK app. The Alipay app will not work in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong app will not work in China.

Helpful Hints:

Remember to Change your location in Alipay when you arrive in China or change cities!
If you set up your app outside of China it should start working when you arrive in China. You might have to reverify your credit card.
If Alipay asks you for a Chinese ID, go to settings and make sure your Alipay edition is set to International.
It is best to turn off your VPN when making payments. The VPN will confuse your bank as to your location and may trigger a verification SMS. Also, the VPN drastically slows down the transaction approval process.
Green border codes are for WeChat payments. Blue border QR codes are for Alipay. They are not interchangeable.

Read the webpage below for further information

China Highlights Payment Methods (2024) Guide!

Watch this video on “How to setup AliPay”

Here is the guide to Payment Services Issued by the Chinese Government