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How Foreigners Can Use WeChat Pay and Alipay in China

10 12 月, 2025 zhengweihua 0 Comments

The Easiest Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Travelers (2025)

If you’re planning a trip to China, this is probably one of your biggest questions:

“How do I actually pay for things when I get there?”

In today’s China, people pay for almost everything with their phones:

  • Subway, buses, taxis
  • Street food and night markets
  • Cafés and restaurants
  • Supermarkets and convenience stores
  • Tourist attractions and tickets

Cash is still legal, but in many places it’s rarely used anymore. Most shops just scan a QR code on your phone.

The good news:
As a foreign visitor, you can now use your own Visa / Mastercard / other international cards inside WeChat Pay and Alipay and pay just like a local.

This guide will walk you through:

  • What to prepare before you fly
  • How to set up WeChat Pay
  • How to set up Alipay (including the Tour Card / Tour Pass–style prepaid options)
  • How to actually use QR codes in real situations
  • What to do if card linking or payments fail

1. How People Pay in China Now

Let’s start with a quick overview.

OIP C 10

1.1 Main ways to pay in China

Most locals use:

  1. WeChat Pay
  2. Alipay
  3. UnionPay bank cards (often inside those apps)
  4. A small amount of cash (RMB banknotes and coins)

For short-term foreign visitors, the best combo is:

  • WeChat Pay + Alipay + a bit of cash as backup

1.2 Can foreigners really use WeChat Pay and Alipay now?

Yes. Things have changed a lot in the last few years.

According to official Chinese guidance and updated travel/payment guides, overseas visitors can:

  • Download WeChat and Alipay with a foreign phone number
  • Verify their identity with a passport
  • Link international credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, some AmEx, etc.)
  • Pay at most merchants that support QR code payments

In Alipay, there is also a Tour Card / Tour Pass–type prepaid virtual card supported by Chinese banks (like Bank of Shanghai), created specifically for short-term visitors.

In simple terms:

If you have a smartphone, a working SIM/eSIM, a passport, and a Visa/Mastercard that works abroad, you can usually use mobile payments in China.

2. What to Prepare Before You Fly

Before you start setting up apps, make sure you and your phone are ready.

2.1 Basics you should have

  • A relatively recent smartphone (iOS or Android)
  • A way to get mobile internet in China:
    • Local SIM card, or
    • International eSIM, or
    • Roaming with your home provider
  • A phone number that can receive SMS (usually your home country number is fine)
  • A credit or debit card that works for international/online payments
  • Your passport

It’s best to download WeChat and Alipay before your trip and update them to the latest version.

3. How to Set Up WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay) as a Foreigner

This is a simple, practical walkthrough. Exact screens may vary slightly, but the logic is similar.

3.1 Step 1 – Download and register WeChat

  1. Go to the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Search for “WeChat” (by Tencent).
  3. Install the app.
  4. Register with your mobile number (your foreign number is usually OK as long as it can receive SMS).

Set your nickname and profile picture as usual.

3.2 Step 2 – Find your Wallet / Pay section

  1. Open WeChat → tap “Me” at the bottom.
  2. Look for “Services” or directly “Pay / Wallet” (wording depends on your version and region).
  3. Tap it to enter the payment center.

You should see options like Money, Cards, Pay, Receive once it’s activated.

3.3 Step 3 – Verify your identity (with your passport)

Before linking an international card, you usually need to do real-name verification:

  1. In the Wallet/Pay section, look for something like “Verify Identity / Real-Name Verification”.
  2. Choose Passport as the ID type.
  3. Fill in your passport details and follow the instructions.
  4. Some users may be asked to do face verification (short selfie video / live photo).

Try to do this in a bright, quiet place with good internet.

3.4 Step 4 – Link your international bank card

Once your identity is verified:

  1. Go to Me → Services/Pay → Wallet / Cards.
  2. Tap “Add a Card”.
  3. Enter your card number, name, expiry date, CVV, billing address, etc.
  4. Confirm any SMS or 3D-Secure verification from your bank.

WeChat Pay now officially supports many foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard, some AmEx and others) for in-store and in-app payments, especially in major cities.

Tip: If one card fails, try another card or contact your bank to enable online & overseas transactions.

3.5 Step 5 – Test with a small purchase

After everything is set up, don’t wait for your “big” purchase.

At the airport or a convenience store:

  • Buy a bottle of water or a snack
  • Use WeChat Pay
  • Make sure the transaction goes through

If it works once, it usually works smoothly afterward.

4. How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner

Alipay has gone out of its way to welcome international visitors, including a multi-language interface and dedicated Tour Card / Tour Pass features.

4.1 Step 1 – Download and switch to English

  1. Go to the App Store / Google Play.
  2. Search “Alipay” (by Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd.).
  3. Download the official blue app.
  4. Open the app and go to Settings → Language → English (and choose another language if you prefer).

4.2 Step 2 – Create your Alipay account

  1. Tap Sign Up.
  2. Register with your mobile number.
  3. Enter the verification code you receive.
  4. Set a login password.

That’s your basic account.

4.3 Step 3 – Real-name verification with your passport

To use Alipay for payments, you need to complete identity verification:

  1. In “Me / My”, find “Account / Real-Name Verification”.
  2. Select Passport as your ID type.
  3. Follow the steps to scan or enter your passport details.
  4. On some devices, Alipay can even read your passport’s NFC chip and confirm with face recognition.

This is required by Chinese regulations, not just Alipay’s choice.

4.4 Option A – Link your international card directly (recommended)

Once verified, you can try linking a foreign card:

  1. In “Cards / Bank Cards / Add Card”, choose Add International Card.
  2. Enter your Visa / Mastercard / JCB / AmEx card details.
  3. Complete any security verification from your bank.

If successful, you can:

  • Pay merchants that accept Alipay by scanning their QR codes
  • Buy metro/bus tickets where Alipay is accepted
  • Pay in many shops, cafés, and attractions without ever touching cash

4.5 Option B – Use Alipay Tour Card / Tour Pass (prepaid)

If your card doesn’t work well, or you prefer to control your budget, you can use Alipay Tour Card / Tour Pass–style services:

  • These are prepaid virtual cards inside Alipay, often supported by banks like Bank of Shanghai.
  • You top up a certain amount in RMB using your international card.
  • Then you spend from this prepaid balance by scanning QR codes, just like locals.

This is useful if:

  • Your bank is very strict about foreign transactions
  • You’re worried about fraud and want to keep a limited amount of money exposed
  • You just like a fixed travel budget

4.6 Step 5 – Do a small test payment

Again, test first:

  • Use Alipay to buy a metro ticket, a coffee, or a snack
  • Check that your card or Tour Card balance is used correctly

If it works once, you’re mostly good for the rest of your trip.

5. What Paying with QR Codes Actually Looks Like

Once WeChat Pay and/or Alipay are set up, daily payments are easy.

5.1 At convenience stores & supermarkets

There are two common ways:

1. The shop scans you

  • Open WeChat Pay or Alipay
  • Tap “Pay” to show your personal QR / barcode
  • The cashier scans your code
  • Money is deducted from your card or balance automatically

2. You scan the shop

  • You see a printed QR code on the counter
  • Open the app and tap “Scan”
  • Scan the merchant’s QR code
  • Enter the amount (e.g. ¥20)
  • Tap Confirm

Both methods are normal in China.

5.2 On metro / buses

In many cities, you can:

  1. Search for “Transport Card / Metro / Bus Code” in WeChat or Alipay
  2. Activate the city transport QR code
  3. At the gate, simply show the QR code and let the scanner read it

The fare is automatically deducted from your linked payment method.

5.3 Taxis & ride-hailing

You can:

  • Use Didi, Amap (Gaode), or ride-hailing services inside Alipay
  • Set WeChat Pay or Alipay as your default payment
  • At the end of your trip, the fare is auto-deducted—no need for cash.

5.4 Street food, markets, small stalls

Most small stalls will have one printed sheet with:

  • A green QR (WeChat)
  • A blue QR (Alipay)

Just:

  1. Open either app
  2. Tap Scan
  3. Scan their code
  4. Enter the amount and confirm

That’s all.

6. Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

Even with good systems, problems happen. Here are the most typical ones and simple fixes.

6.1 “Card linking failed”

Possible reasons:

  • Your bank blocks online/overseas payments by default
  • The card network or issuing country isn’t supported for that product
  • You entered billing address or name incorrectly

What you can do:

  • Try a different card (Visa vs Mastercard, etc.)
  • Contact your bank and say: “I’m traveling to China and need to enable online and overseas transactions.”
  • In Alipay, try using a Tour Card / Tour Pass–type prepaid option instead of direct card linking.

6.2 “Payment failed” or “Transaction declined”

Possible reasons:

  • Weak or no internet
  • Bank thinks the payment is suspicious
  • Merchant only accepts one app or one type of card
  • Amount is too large for your daily limit

What you can try:

  • Check your mobile data / Wi-Fi
  • Test with a small amount (e.g. ¥10)
  • Try the other app (switch from WeChat to Alipay, or vice versa)
  • Use backup: cash or a physical card where accepted

6.3 The shop only accepts one app

Sometimes:

  • A shop only accepts WeChat Pay, or
  • Only accepts Alipay

This is why it’s smart to:

  • Set up both apps before or early in your trip
  • Keep some cash for emergencies

7. Safety Tips: Don’t Put All Your Money in One Basket

Mobile payments are convenient, but treat them with the same care as your wallet.

7.1 Use strong security

  • Set a separate payment PIN in both WeChat Pay and Alipay
  • Turn on fingerprint or face recognition for payments
  • Don’t share screenshots of your payment QR code with strangers

7.2 Always have a backup plan

A simple, safe setup:

  • Main methods:
    • WeChat Pay linked to international card
    • Alipay linked to international card or Tour Card balance
  • Backups:
    • Some cash (e.g. ¥300–¥500)
    • One physical Visa/Mastercard that you keep separate from your phone

7.3 If your phone is lost or stolen

Act quickly:

  1. Ask your hotel or a trusted local to help if language is a problem.
  2. Call your bank(s) to freeze or block your cards.
  3. Use web or hotline support from WeChat and Alipay to freeze your accounts or wallet.

8. Final Thoughts: You Can Pay Like a Local

For many years, China’s mobile payment system was difficult for short-term visitors. That’s no longer true.

If you download WeChat and Alipay, verify with your passport, and link at least one international card, you can usually:

  • Scan to pay in shops,
  • Ride the metro and buses,
  • Take taxis and Didi,
  • Eat at street stalls,
    just like a local.

Bring a little cash as backup, set up both apps, and test a small purchase on your first day.
Once that’s done, the “how do I pay?” problem is solved—and you can focus on enjoying China.

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