Payment

China is highly mobile-payment oriented. Many restaurants, convenience stores, taxis, attractions, shopping malls, local shops, and mini-programs use QR-code payment. Foreign visitors should understand all available methods, as no single method works perfectly in every situation.

1. Payment methods in China

1.1 Alipay

Alipay is usually the best first choice for short-term foreign visitors. Overseas users can download the official Alipay app, choose the International Version after signing up if prompted, and link an eligible international bank card. Once the card is linked, visitors can usually pay by scanning a merchant QR code or showing their own payment code.

Best for: Restaurants, shops, convenience stores, attractions, taxis, public transport services, hotel payments, and some travel bookings.

1.2 WeChat Pay / Weixin Pay

WeChat Pay is inside the WeChat app. It is very useful in daily local situations, especially restaurants, mini-programs, local services, stores, and some transport or ticketing flows. Even if Alipay is the main tool, WeChat Pay should be prepared as a backup.

Best for: Restaurant QR ordering, mini-programs, convenience stores, malls, local services, and daily purchases.

1.3 International bank cards

Physical international bank cards are useful at large hotels, airports, major malls, international chains, high-end restaurants, and some attraction counters. However, small local merchants may not have POS terminals or may not accept foreign cards.

1.4 RMB cash

Cash is not the most convenient daily method, but it is an essential emergency backup. It is useful when your phone has no battery, the network fails, a payment app is under risk control, or a small merchant cannot accept foreign-card-linked mobile payments.

1.5 Other options

Some Alipay+ partner e-wallets, UnionPay-related services, Tour Card, and e-CNY may work in selected situations. They can be useful supplements, but most short-term visitors should first prepare Alipay, WeChat Pay, at least one international bank card, and a small amount of cash.

Simple comparison

2. Recommended setup for different travelers

Choose a setup based on where you travel and how much risk you want to reduce.

3. Before departure preparation

Most payment problems can be prevented before departure. Complete the following steps before you fly, especially if it is your first trip to China.

3.1 Prepare phone number and internet access

• Keep your original phone number active if your bank or payment app sends SMS verification codes to that number.
• Enable international roaming or confirm that you can receive SMS while abroad.
• Consider buying a China-compatible travel SIM or eSIM for mobile data. A data-only eSIM is useful for internet access, but it may not receive SMS codes.
• A Chinese mainland +86 number is not strictly required for Alipay setup, but it can help with ride-hailing, food delivery, local mini-programs, and hotel communication.
• If you want a Chinese SIM card, buy it from an airport counter, official mobile-carrier store, or verified provider (passport required).
• Download the payment apps before arriving in China. Do not rely on airport Wi-Fi or post-arrival app downloads.

3.2 Download the right apps

• Alipay: Download the official app. After sign-up, choose International Version if the app offers it.
• WeChat: Download the official app. WeChat Pay is inside WeChat; there is no separate WeChat Pay app for ordinary visitors.
• Your bank app: Use it to approve security checks, adjust limits, and check blocked transactions.
• Trip.com: Or another reliable international booking app, useful when local mini-programs or payment flows are difficult.
• Map and translation apps: Save hotel addresses, station names, and payment phrases in Chinese.

3.3 Prepare identity information

When filling in app information, use your passport spelling. Avoid nicknames, abbreviations, Chinese names, or different name orders unless the app specifically asks for them.

• Valid passport and a clear photo of the passport information page.
• Visa page or entry record if applicable.
• Hotel booking and itinerary screenshots.
• Cardholder name that matches your passport as closely as possible.
• Emergency contact and hotel front desk contact.

3.4 Prepare cards and cash

• Bring at least one physical international bank card. Two cards from different banks are better.
• Ask your bank to enable overseas and online transactions in China.
• Check single-transaction and daily limits, and confirm that you can receive bank SMS or app approvals while traveling.
• Prepare RMB 500–1,000 cash for a short city trip, or RMB 1,000–2,000 for multi-city or rural travel. Carry small notes such as RMB 10, 20, 50, and 100.

4. Alipay setup and use

4.1 Download and register

1. Open the App Store or Google Play before departure.
2. Search for "Alipay" and download the official app.
3. Open Alipay and choose your country or region code.
4. Enter your mobile number and complete SMS verification.
5. After signing up, choose "International Version" if prompted.

4.2 Add an international bank card

1. Open Alipay and go to Me / Account / Bank Cards.
2. Tap Add Card or Add Now.
3. Enter your card number, expiry date, security code, and billing information if requested.
4. Complete bank verification (SMS, app approval, or 3D Secure).
5. Wait for confirmation that the card has been added.

4.3 Complete identity verification

For a smoother experience, complete identity verification when the app asks for it. Use your passport and make sure the photo is clear. The name, document number, and birth date should match your passport. Repeatedly changing identity information may increase the chance of risk control.

4.4 Pay with Alipay

Method A — scan the merchant’s QR code: Open Alipay → Tap Scan → Scan the merchant QR code → Enter the amount if needed → Choose the linked international card as the funding source → Check the merchant name and amount → Confirm payment.

Method B — show your payment code: Open Alipay → Tap Pay / Collect or Pay Code → Show your QR code to the cashier → Wait while the cashier scans it → Leave only after the payment-success screen appears.

4.5 If Alipay cannot top up balance

5. WeChat Pay setup and use

5.1 Download WeChat and find Wallet

• Download or update the official WeChat app before departure.
• Register or sign in with your mobile number.
• Open WeChat and go to Me.
• Tap Services, then Wallet. (If Wallet is not visible, try Me → Settings → General → Tools → Weixin Pay, then enable it.)

5.2 Add a card and identity information

• Open Wallet and tap Add a Card.
• Read and accept the service agreement and privacy notice.
• Enter card information.
• Fill in identity information, using your passport, and upload a passport copy if requested.
• Complete bank verification and wait for confirmation.

5.3 Pay with WeChat Pay

For in-store payment, either show your payment code in WeChat or use Scan to scan the merchant QR code. For restaurants and local services, you may be asked to pay inside a WeChat mini-program. If the mini-program is Chinese-only, requires a Chinese phone number, or does not accept your linked card, ask staff for help or switch to Alipay, a counter payment, a travel booking app, a physical card, or cash.

5.4 Limitations to expect

• International cards are mainly for everyday merchant purchases in the Chinese mainland.
• Transfers, red packets, receiving money, balance top-ups, and withdrawals may be restricted or unavailable.
• Fees and limits may apply. The final app payment page and your bank statement are the best places to confirm the actual charge.
• A mini-program may fail even if ordinary QR payment works. Try another payment route before assuming your whole account is unusable.

6. Bank cards, cash and other payment options

Physical bank cards work best in more international settings, such as hotels, airports, major malls, and international chain stores. They are less reliable in taxis, night markets, small local restaurants, rural areas, and small shops. Always ask before paying with a card.

Cash should be treated as an emergency backup. Use it when the phone has no battery, the network fails, payment apps are under review, or a small merchant cannot accept foreign-card-linked QR payments. Get cash from official exchange counters, banks, or ATMs that display your card network logo.

Alipay+ partner wallets, UnionPay, Tour Card, and e-CNY can be useful in selected cases, but setup and coverage vary. For most short-term visitors, they should be treated as optional extras rather than the main payment plan.

7. How to pay in common travel scenarios

Restaurants and cafes

Use Alipay or WeChat Pay first. Many restaurants use QR ordering, often through WeChat or Alipay mini-programs. If the menu is Chinese-only or payment fails inside a mini-program, ask a staff member to help with manual ordering or counter payment. Keep cash as a backup for small restaurants or night markets.

Convenience stores and supermarkets

Show your Alipay or WeChat payment code. These places are good for your first small test payment after arrival. If mobile payment fails, try another app, another card inside the app, a physical card, or cash.

Taxis and ride-hailing

For taxis, Alipay and WeChat Pay are common, but cash is a very useful backup. For ride-hailing, payment is usually handled inside the app. Make sure you have internet access, a reachable phone number if needed, and the destination saved in Chinese.

Metro and buses

Many cities support transport codes in Alipay or WeChat, but the setup may be city-specific. Do not assume one city’s transport code works everywhere. If transport code setup is difficult, use a ticket machine, service counter, or single-journey ticket where available.

High-speed rail and long-distance transport

Book through 12306, Trip.com, or another reliable platform that supports passport-based booking. Payment options depend on the platform. Always carry the passport used for booking, and check the exact station name, date, and passenger information.

Hotels

Prepay through reliable booking platforms when possible. At check-in, hotels may ask for a deposit, so keep a physical international card and some cash available. For small hotels or guesthouses, confirm in advance whether they accept foreign guests and which payment methods they accept.

Attractions, museums and scenic areas

Popular attractions may require online reservations with passport information. Use official websites, Trip.com, Alipay, WeChat, or on-site counters depending on the attraction. If a mini-program does not accept your payment, look for a staffed ticket counter or use a travel platform.

Night markets, local shops and rural areas

Use Alipay or WeChat Pay first, but keep cash ready. These are the situations where small notes matter most. Physical international cards may not be accepted.

8. Common problems and practical solutions

8.1 Identity verification fails

• Likely reasons: The name order does not match the passport, the passport photo is unclear, the cardholder name differs from the passport name, or the app needs manual review.
• What to do: Enter the name exactly as shown in your passport, upload a clearer passport photo, use your own card, avoid repeated edits, and contact in-app support if the review does not pass.

8.2 Bank card cannot be linked

• Likely reasons: The card issuer blocks overseas or online transactions, the card type is not supported, SMS verification fails, or the card details are entered incorrectly.
• What to do: Try another card, contact the card issuer, enable overseas and online payments, check SMS access, and keep cash or a physical card ready while solving the issue.

8.3 Wallet balance cannot be topped up

• Likely reasons: Foreign cards may not support balance top-ups even if they can be linked for merchant payments.
• What to do: Stop trying to top up. Test direct merchant QR payments with the linked card. If it fails, switch apps, switch cards, use a physical card, or use cash.

8.4 QR payment fails

• Likely reasons: The network is weak, the merchant QR code is not compatible with foreign-card payments, the bank blocks the transaction, the amount is high, or the app triggers risk control.
• What to do: Check the internet connection, confirm the selected funding card, try a small payment, switch between scanning and payment-code methods, use the other app, try another card, or use cash.

8.5 Mini-program payment fails

• Likely reasons: Some mini-programs are Chinese-only, require a Chinese phone number, require higher verification, or do not support international-card payments.
• What to do: Ask staff for manual help, use a counter service, switch to Alipay or ordinary WeChat QR payments, or use a travel booking platform.

8.6 Transfers, red packets or receiving money do not work

• Likely reasons: International-card accounts are mainly designed for merchant purchases, not full local-wallet functions.
• What to do: Do not rely on person-to-person transfers or red packets. Split costs using cash, card reimbursement, or an international transfer method that both travelers can use.

8.7 SMS verification code cannot be received

• Likely reasons: Roaming is not active, the SIM is data-only, the signal is weak, or the bank blocks overseas SMS.
• What to do: Keep the original SIM active, enable roaming, request the code again, contact the bank or payment app, and consider a local SIM for local service access.

8.8 Account is frozen or under risk control

• Likely reasons: There are repeated failed payments, frequent card changes, unusual login activity, large first transactions, or incomplete identity information.
• What to do: Stop repeated attempts, prepare passport and travel proof, contact in-app support, and use another app, a physical card, or cash while waiting.

8.9 Refund does not appear

• Likely reasons: The refund may return to the original card rather than the app balance, the bank may take several business days, or the merchant has not completed the refund.
• What to do: Save the order number, payment screenshot, and refund proof. Check the original card statement and contact the merchant, payment app, or bank if it does not arrive after the expected processing time.

9. Backup sequence when payment fails

If your payment fails on the ground, follow this troubleshooting flow:

1. Check internet connection, amount, merchant name, and selected payment method.
2. Try the other QR method (if scanning fails, show your code; and vice versa).
3. Switch app (Alipay to WeChat Pay, or WeChat Pay to Alipay).
4. Switch to another card inside the app.
5. For large payments, ask if a lower amount or another official route is possible.
6. Use a physical international card if the merchant has a POS terminal.
7. Use RMB cash (especially for taxis, small shops, night markets, and rural areas).
8. Ask hotel staff, a mall service desk, or the merchant for manual help.
9. Contact Alipay, WeChat Pay, or your card issuer if the account / card is blocked.

10. Useful Chinese phrases for payment problems

Save this section as screenshots and show it directly to staff when needed.

11. Final checklist

• [ ] Download the official Alipay app.
• [ ] Register Alipay and choose International Version if prompted.
• [ ] Download or update WeChat.
• [ ] Find WeChat Pay / Wallet inside WeChat.
• [ ] Link at least one international card to Alipay.
• [ ] Link at least one international card to WeChat Pay if possible.
• [ ] Prepare a second card from another bank.
• [ ] Ask your bank to enable overseas and online transactions in China.
• [ ] Confirm that you can receive SMS codes on the phone number used by your bank and payment apps.
• [ ] Prepare a travel SIM / eSIM or roaming plan for mobile data.
• [ ] Prepare RMB 500–1,000 cash for a city trip, or RMB 1,000–2,000 for rural or multi-city travel.
• [ ] Carry small RMB notes.
• [ ] Save passport, hotel booking, and itinerary screenshots.
• [ ] Save Chinese hotel address and emergency contact information.
• [ ] Save payment phrases from this guide as screenshots.
• [ ] Bring a power bank.