Landing in China without cash used to be a headache. Now, WeChat Wallet and Alipay let you pay for noodles, the subway, and even that late‑night convenience store run with your phone, no Chinese bank account required. This crash course shows you exactly what to prepare, how to set up both apps step by step, how to pay like a local, and what to do when something goes sideways. You’ll be up and tapping (well, scanning) in minutes.
What You Need Before You Start
SIM, Passport, And Address Basics
You can register WeChat and Alipay with a foreign mobile number, but a local SIM makes verification codes more reliable and helps when you’re switching devices. You’ll also need your passport for identity checks. An address is sometimes requested during verification, your hotel address is fine if you’re visiting.
If you’re staying longer, a mainland SIM simplifies everything from ride‑hailing verification to customer support callbacks. But for short trips, a roaming number typically works.
Chinese Vs. International Accounts
There are two broad experiences:
- With a Chinese bank account: you unlock full wallet features, holding a CNY balance, peer‑to‑peer transfers, red packets, utility bills, and broader mini‑program access.
- With an international card only: you can still pay most in‑store and in‑app merchants across China. Some features remain limited or unavailable, like receiving red packets or direct P2P transfers. Your card is charged in your home currency (subject to FX and fees), and you may not maintain a separate on‑app CNY balance.
If you’re in China for weeks or months and want everything to “just work,” opening a local bank account linked to your passport and SIM is the most seamless route. For short visits, international card support in WeChat Pay and Alipay is usually enough.
Setting Up WeChat Pay And Alipay Step By Step
Creating And Verifying Your Account
Download WeChat (Weixin) and Alipay from your app store and select English. Register with your mobile number, then verify with an SMS code. In both apps, go to the wallet/pay section to start identity verification. You’ll submit passport details and may be asked for a short face verification. Keep your passport handy and ensure your name exactly matches your passport, spaces, hyphens, and order included.
If the selfie step fails due to lighting or glasses, retry in bright, even light and remove hats or masks. Occasionally, verification is queued for manual review: that can take from a few minutes to a day.
Linking Cards And Bank Accounts
Next, add a payment method. You can link major international cards, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and others are increasingly supported. Enter your card details, billing address, and passport info if prompted. Your bank may send a 3‑D Secure code. If the first card fails, try a different issuer: some banks block China‑based payments by default, so you might need to approve the transaction in your banking app.
If you have a Chinese bank account, add it instead for the full wallet experience. You’ll need the exact name on the bank account to match your WeChat/Alipay profile and the phone number you used when opening the account in China.
Enabling International Cards And Visitor Modes
Both apps have a visitor/international mode that surfaces features you can use without a local account. In WeChat, look for Weixin Pay settings and enable payments with your international card. In Alipay, switch to the international version if it isn’t the default. The app will guide you to complete passport verification and card linking. Once enabled, you can scan merchant QR codes, pay for transit in many cities, and use selected mini programs. Some peer‑to‑peer features may stay grayed out, that’s normal on international profiles.
Adding Money And Managing Balances
Top-Up Options Without A Chinese Bank Account
If you’re using an international card, you usually pay merchants directly from your card rather than topping up a wallet balance. Older “tour” e‑wallet products that required preloading have largely been replaced by direct card charging.
If you want a stored CNY balance, for example, to receive transfers, you’ll need a Chinese bank account. Without one, your best move is to rely on your linked card or ask a friend to pay and reimburse them via your home card or in cash.
Transfers, Red Packets, And Withdrawals
International‑card users typically can’t receive P2P transfers or red packets. That’s a regulatory thing, not a glitch. If you do hold a balance via a local bank account, you can send and receive instantly inside each app and withdraw back to the linked bank account. Withdrawals to foreign cards aren’t supported: use your Chinese bank account or spend down the balance.
Daily Limits, Fees, And FX Rates
Expect per‑transaction and cumulative limits on visitor/international accounts. Single payments are generally capped in the low‑to‑mid thousands of CNY, with rolling monthly or annual caps. The exact limit shows in‑app and can vary by card, issuer, and regulatory updates.
Fees for international cards are usually built into the exchange rate or shown at checkout as a service fee. Your card issuer’s FX rate applies, sometimes with a small markup. For large payments, check the quoted amount before confirming. If you’ll make repeated purchases, you may save on fees by using one card that consistently approves China transactions with favorable FX.
Paying Like A Local: QR Codes, NFC, And Mini Programs
Scan To Pay Vs. Show To Pay
Most payments are QR based. With Scan to Pay, you open your app’s scanner and point it at the merchant’s static code, enter the amount if needed, confirm, done. With Show to Pay, you present your personal payment code and the cashier scans it. International users can usually do both: if Show to Pay doesn’t work at a tiny stall, switch to scanning their code.
NFC tap‑to‑pay works in some places, but QR dominates. If a terminal looks confused by contactless cards, don’t fight it, use the QR.
Transit, Taxis, And Shared Bikes
For metro and buses, add a city transit card via the app’s transport section or a mini program, then hold your phone to the gate. Some cities require a quick download the first time: after that, it’s one‑tap. Taxis generally accept WeChat Pay and Alipay, either scan the driver’s QR or pay within the ride‑hailing app (Didi, Meituan, etc.).
Shared bikes unlock right from within a mini program or dedicated app. Scan the bike’s QR and the payment runs through your linked wallet. A small refundable deposit may be required: if you’re on an international card profile, deposits and refunds still process, though they can take a few days to post back to your card.
Online Shopping, Food Delivery, And Bills
Taobao and Tmall use Alipay by default, and WeChat integrates with countless mini programs for food delivery, tickets, and hotels. International users can usually order from Ele.me or Meituan and pay with linked cards through Alipay or WeChat. Utility bills and mobile top‑ups are supported, but some bill payments require a local ID or bank account: if a mini program rejects your passport, try the provider’s official app or pay at a service counter.
Solving Common Problems
Verification Hurdles And Name Matching
If the app keeps rejecting your info, double‑check that your name exactly matches your passport and (if applicable) your bank account, no nicknames, and mind the order of given and family names. Use the address format suggested in the app and upload crisp, glare‑free photos. If your bank is declining transactions, open your banking app and approve or temporarily lift international restrictions, then retry the link.
Frozen Accounts And Appeal Paths
Risk controls can freeze payments after unusual activity, multiple failed passwords, rapid device changes, or high‑value transactions. Don’t panic. Follow the in‑app appeal path, submit your passport again, and provide any requested proof such as entry stamps, boarding passes, or the front of your bank card with numbers masked. Keep responses short and factual. Reviews can take a few hours to a couple of days. If you’re stuck, contact support via in‑app chat and ask for a manual review, providing your China mobile number if you have one.
Lost Phone, New SIM, Or Number Change
If your phone’s lost, immediately log into WeChat or Alipay on another device to freeze payments, or use their web portals/support lines to lock the account. Then change your password and re‑verify when you get a new device. If you change numbers, update the bound phone in settings before the old SIM stops working: otherwise you’ll go through recovery. Having an email bound to your account makes recovery easier.
Safety, Privacy, And Etiquette
Preventing Scams And Payment Reversals
Only scan QR codes from trusted merchants. Fraudsters sometimes place fake stickers over real ones. If a payment looks off, cancel before confirming. Don’t accept “refunds” outside the app: real refunds post back to your card or wallet automatically. Enable fingerprint/Face ID and a payment PIN, and turn on transaction notifications so you’ll spot any unauthorized charge instantly.
Reversals are rare once approved, but merchants can issue refunds in‑app. Keep the transaction page or screenshot until you see the refund hit your card.
Receipts, Splitting Bills, And Tipping Norms
If you need an official receipt (fapiao) for work, ask the merchant before paying: many can issue a digital fapiao via mini program. For splitting bills, locals either pass the phone to one payer and settle with transfers or use an AA split feature in group chats. If you’re on an international profile without transfers, agree on one payer and reimburse with your home card or cash.
Tipping isn’t customary in mainland China, and service charges are typically built in. Round up on small fares if you like, but no one expects a tip.
Backup Options When Digital Fails
Carry a small amount of cash for edge cases, rural stalls, dead batteries, or temporary network issues. A power bank saves the day more often than cash. Some POS terminals accept international contactless cards or Apple/Google Pay with a foreign card, but acceptance isn’t universal. ATMs in major banks usually accept foreign cards for cash withdrawals if you need a quick backup.
Conclusion
Once you’ve verified your passport and linked a card, WeChat Wallet and Alipay cover almost everything, meals, rides, attractions, and daily essentials. If you’re staying long‑term, a Chinese bank account unlocks the full social‑payments experience. If you’re visiting, the international modes are more than enough to make your trip smooth. Keep your details tidy, your payment PIN on, and your QR scanner ready. You’ll blend right in by the second day, minus the ability to resist another bubble tea.
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