China is a cashless society – almost all shops, restaurants, taxis, and even street vendors accept mobile payment. As a foreigner, you can easily use Alipay and WeChat Pay with these steps (no Chinese bank card required for short-term visits):
1. Alipay (International Version):
– Download Alipay (search “Alipay International” on App Store/Google Play).
– Register with your foreign phone number and email.
– Link your foreign credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay are accepted).
– Complete real-name verification (scan your passport and take a facial recognition photo).
– You can now use Alipay to pay by scanning QR codes (show your Alipay QR code to the merchant, or scan their QR code).
2. WeChat Pay (For Foreigners):
– Open WeChat, go to “Me” → “Service” → “Wallet”.
– Tap “Add a Card” and select “Foreign Card”.
– Enter your foreign credit/debit card information and verify with the OTP sent to your phone.
– For short-term tourists: Use the “WeChat Pay Tourist Version” (no real-name verification required for small transactions, up to 500 RMB per day).
3. Important Tips:
– Check your bank’s foreign transaction fees (some banks charge 1-3% per transaction).
– For long-term residents (6 months+), open a Chinese bank card (requires passport and residence permit) to avoid foreign transaction fees.
– Both Alipay and WeChat Pay can be used for online shopping (Taobao, JD.com) and bill payments (phone bills, utilities).