How to use Alipay and WeChat Pay in China as a foreigner

Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay?

Yes. Both 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo, Alipay) and 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù, WeChat Pay) let visitors sign up with a foreign phone number and link an international card. China's official guide for foreigners lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover as cards you can bind, though each card still has to be approved by the bank that issued it. You do not need a Chinese bank account.

Mobile payment is the default almost everywhere, from convenience stores and noodle shops to taxis and museum tickets. That is why it is worth setting up before you leave, along with a backup plan.

There are now a few other ways to pay by QR code:

• Your home e-wallet. Some foreign wallets can pay at Chinese QR codes directly, including Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Toss Pay, TrueMoney, GCash, Touch 'n Go, Changi Pay, AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK. In May 2026 Tencent also opened Weixin Pay merchants to PayPal users, starting with US accounts.
• TenPayGo. A standalone payment app for overseas visitors that Tencent launched on September 24, 2026. It accepts cards from major international networks and Apple Pay.
• Nihao China. UnionPay's visitor app, launched in December 2025, which you top up with Visa or Mastercard and use to scan UnionPay QR codes and ride the metro in many cities.

Alipay or WeChat Pay: which should you set up?

Set up both if you can. Most merchants accept both, and when one app or card fails at the till, the other usually works.

How do I add a foreign card to Alipay?

Menu names change between app versions, but the order of steps stays the same:

1. Install and sign upDownload Alipay from your usual app store, switch the language to English, and register with your mobile number. The code arrives by SMS, so keep your home SIM active.
2. Add your cardOpen the bank cards section and add a card: number, expiry date, security code and your name exactly as on the card. Your bank may ask you to approve the link in its own app or with a one-time code.
3. Verify your identityUpload the photo page of your passport when asked and follow the prompts. You need this for city transit codes and some other services.
4. Set up transitUnder Transport, choose City to get the metro and bus QR code for the city you are in. The metro guide explains how to use it at the gates.
5. Find your payment codeOpen Pay to see your barcode and QR code. This is what a cashier scans.

How do I set up WeChat Pay with a foreign card?

1. Create a WeChat accountDownload WeChat (微信, Wēixìn) and register with your phone number. If the app asks for a friend to verify you, an existing user scans a QR code on your screen; the WeChat Help Center explains this step.
2. Open the walletGo to Me, then Services, then Wallet (labels vary slightly by version) and add a card.
3. Link and verifyEnter your card details, approve any request from your bank, and complete the real-name check with your passport.
4. Find your payment codeUnder Services, open Money to show the code a cashier scans. To pay a merchant's code, use Scan from the + menu.

Learn the words you will need in the Mobile Payment Setup lesson. These phrases help if you ask a hotel or shop for help:

What fees and limits apply to foreign cards?

According to China Services Info, the foreigner-services portal run by China Daily, both apps work like this for international cards. Check the confirmation screen for the final amount before you pay.

The higher limits date from a March 2024 decision by the People's Bank of China. In May 2026, Tencent announced a 90-day fee waiver on up to ¥1,000 a day for people linking an international card to WeChat for the first time; check in the app whether it applies to you. A card with no foreign transaction fee helps on top of all this.

Scan or show: how do I pay with a QR code?

There are two ways to pay, and the cashier decides which one. Either you scan the shop's code, 收款码 (shōukuǎn mǎ), or the cashier scans your payment code, 付款码 (fùkuǎn mǎ). If you are not sure, hold up your phone and ask.

Always check the amount and the merchant name before you confirm. The QR code payment lesson walks through both versions with audio.

What if a payment fails?

When a payment fails, the cause is usually simple. Work through these in order:

1. Check your connection. Both apps need data. Switch to Wi-Fi or check your eSIM or SIM.
2. Read the error. It may mention a limit, the fee, or a verification step you skipped.
3. Approve it with your bank. Some banks block the first payment from a new country. Approve it in your banking app or call the number on the card.
4. Switch method. Try the other app, another linked card, or cash.
5. If it says "processing", wait a moment before paying again, and show the payment record so you are not charged twice.

For duplicate charges and refunds, the Payment Problems and Refunds lesson has the full conversation.

Do you still need cash or a bank card in China?

Yes, as a backup. Cash is still legal tender, and the official payment guide says authorities are working to expand cash acceptance in transport, shops and restaurants. Small shops may not have change for a ¥100 note, though.

• Bringing cash: each traveler can carry up to ¥20,000 in Chinese currency each time they enter or leave the country.
• Getting cash: exchange at banks, airport counters and marked exchange machines, or withdraw yuan at ATMs that show your card network's logo.
• Small notes: bank counters can change large notes into small ones, and some offer a ready-made "change purse" with mixed notes.
• Cards: under a 2024 government circular, hotels rated three stars and up and top-rated (4A and 5A) tourist attractions should accept foreign bank cards. In Beijing you can tap an overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB or American Express card at every metro gate.

Practice asking for card or cash payment in the Bank Cards and Cash lesson, and use the Chinese numbers and prices page to train your ear for amounts.