A Complete Guide to Mobile Payments in China for Foreign Travelers

Living in China today is incredibly convenient. With just one smartphone, you can handle nearly everything—from transportation to dining to shopping. Mobile payments dominate daily life, and while Chinese law requires merchants to accept cash, many small vendors don’t keep much change on hand. After all, why carry a wallet full of bills or a foreign Visa card when one QR code scan does the job?

When it comes to mobile payments in China, two platforms reign supreme: WeChat Pay and Alipay. In recent years, both have made it much easier for foreigners to use mobile payments in China. Whether you’re a tourist, business traveler, or long-term expat, here’s a complete guide to how you can pay like a local.

1. Linking an International Bank Card

Alipay and WeChat Pay now support Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and five other major card networks.

Spending limits: up to USD \$5,000 per transaction and \$50,000 annually. New users enjoy a fee waiver for daily transactions up to RMB 1,000 within the first 60 days.

• Alipay (International Version):

1. Keep in mind, choose the correct version. Download the Alipay app and register with your overseas phone number.

2. In the app, go to “Me” → “Alipay International Version” and enter your passport details.

3. Bind your international bank card (card number, expiration date, CVV) and set a payment password.

4. You can now use Alipay for offline QR scans, online ticket purchases, and more.

• WeChat Pay

1. Register a WeChat account.

2. Go to “Me” → “Services & Payments” → “Wallet” → “Cards”.

3. Add a new card, enter your bank card details and passport number. No extra verification is required.

4. You can pay by scanning merchant QR codes or showing your own payment code. The system automatically converts the exchange rate and deducts from your card.

Tips:

Some banks require you to activate international usage before traveling, so check in advance.

After payment, you’ll see the real-time exchange rate and any fees.

2. Using Foreign E-Wallets to Scan Directly

This means there is no need to download a new app. However, if you plan to stay in China for a month or longer, I suggest downloading the apps. This will save you energy and help you make social connections with other Chinese people.

Here is the supported wallets:

Alipay+: Works with 31 overseas wallets, including Indonesia’s DANA, Thailand’s TrueMoney, and Uzbekistan’s HUMO Pay. You can use your home wallet to scan Chinese QR codes without downloading a new app.

WeChat Pay (cross-border wallets): Supports PayPal, Venmo, and Malaysia’s Boost among others. For example, you can use PayPal to scan a WeChat QR code in China.

UnionPay QR Interoperability: UnionPay has linked its QR network with 19 countries. Users of Indonesia’s GoPay or Thailand’s K PLUS can scan and pay directly in China.

For example, a Thai traveler using K PLUS: Open K PLUS, scan a Chinese merchant’s QR code, confirm the amount, and pay in Thai Baht.

A Singaporean using DBS PayLah!: Select Cross-Border Payment, scan a UnionPay QR, and pay in SGD with automatic currency conversion.

3. Other Convenient Options

Prepaid Travel Cards:

There's another app, UnionPay “Cloud QuickPass” app, foreigners can apply for a *Travel Card*, load funds via international cards, and use it at all UnionPay merchants in China.

Valid for 90 days, refundable, and requires minimal personal information—ideal for short trips.

Cash and Currency Exchange:

Major banks like Bank of Communications and China CITIC have ATMs that accept foreign cards and offer multilingual interfaces. However, they may charge high fees.

Foreign exchange counters are available at airports and large hotels.

Digital RMB (e-CNY): Piloted in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, foreigners can open a digital RMB wallet at certain banks or airport service desks for easy mobile payments. If you want to travel to small cities, this is not recommended. After all, Alipay and WeChat are the most popular.

4. Usage Scenarios and Practical Tips

In China, you can use digital payments for everything. From food to daily necessities to transportation. For example, Alipay and WeChat Pay cover metro and bus systems in most cities, and it's hard to find a city that doesn't support digital payments. Hong Kong users can pay for the Beijing subway directly using the HKD WeChat wallet.

Almost all stores in cities, big or small, accept mobile payments, from supermarkets to street markets. Some attractions, such as the Forbidden City, only accept QR codes.

Conversely, only major stores, international hotels, and large universities accept foreign credit cards for appointments, tuition, and fees.

That said, there are some pitfalls that should be avoided. For example, some underground areas, such as big supermarkets, may have weak mobile coverage even though the internet has improved significantly. Therefore, download offline payment codes in advance.

Refunds are usually returned to the original card within 7–15 business days. Keep your receipts.

Avoid using public Wi-Fi to pay. It's not a security matter. It's just that public Wi-Fi is not good.

It is said that the People’s Bank of China is working with Visa and Mastercard to reduce cross-border transaction fees, which are expected to be implemented by the end of 2025.

Even without that happening, with these options, foreign visitors to China can truly experience “one phone for everything.” Whether you’re here for a few days or a long stay, mobile payments make life easier and faster, and you will find yourself relying on digital payments much faster than you thought.