Category: Cash & Payment
Source: Fact-checked against official Alipay/WeChat Pay documentation + traveler community data
Set up BOTH before you leave. Some merchants only take one or the other.
- A valid passport
- An overseas bank card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover)
- A phone number (your home number works)
- Download Alipay app (search "Alipay" in App Store / Google Play)
- Sign up with your phone number
- Go to "Me" → "Bank Cards" → "Add Card"
- Enter your card details and passport information
- Wait for verification (usually 24-72 hours)
- ~60% of foreign travelers succeed on the first attempt
- ~25% need 2-3 attempts before it works
- ~15% never get regular binding to work (use Tour Pass instead)
Important: Verification can take 1-3 business days. Do this at least 3 days before your flight.
- Transactions under ¥200: 0% service fee
- Transactions over ¥200: 3% service fee
- No annual fee, no monthly fee
- A valid passport
- An overseas bank card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB)
- A WeChat account
- Download WeChat and sign up
- Go to "Me" → "Services" → "Wallet" → "Cards"
- Tap "Add a Card"
- Enter your card and ID information
- Complete verification
Note: WeChat Pay has slightly lower first-try success rate (~50%) than Alipay. If one fails, try the other.
If regular card binding fails, Alipay Tour Pass (also called "TourCard") is your fallback. It's a prepaid digital wallet designed for tourists.
- Prepaid only: You load money onto it using your foreign card
- Limit: ¥10,000 RMB per load
- Reloadable: You can top up as needed
- Where it works: Everywhere regular Alipay works
- Fees: Same 0% under ¥200 / 3% over ¥200 structure
- Open Alipay app
- Search for "Tour Pass" or "TourCard"
- Follow the registration steps
- Load money using your foreign card
Pro tip: Some travelers report Tour Pass works even when regular binding is pending. It's worth setting up both.
- All major restaurants, cafes, and hotel chains
- Taxi-hailing apps (DiDi, Gaode)
- High-speed rail ticket purchases (12306)
- Supermarkets and convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart)
- Tourist attractions and museums
- Public transit (subway, buses — via city-specific mini-programs)
- Small family-run shops in rural areas
- Street food vendors in older neighborhoods
- Some local markets
- Small taxis (not DiDi) in smaller cities
- Temple entrance fees in remote areas
- Top up Chinese e-wallets from foreign bank accounts directly
- Send money to Chinese friends (P2P transfers restricted for foreign users)
- Pay for some government services
Set up before arrival. Don't wait until you're in China — you'll need internet for setup.
Carry a cash backup. Bring ¥1,000-2,000 in cash just in case. Small shops, rural areas, and unexpected situations still prefer cash.
Show the QR code, don't scan. For most in-store payments, you show your payment QR code to the cashier, who scans it. This works even without internet.
Check the amount before paying. Always verify the displayed amount matches what you expect before confirming.
Download bank apps that work in China. Some international banks have partnerships that make payments easier.
Keep your physical card handy. Some hotels still require a physical card for pre-authorization holds.
Last updated: June 21, 2026. Policies and fees may change. Always check official Alipay/WeChat Pay documentation for the latest information.