How to Pay in China - How to Use Alipay and WeChat Pay in China
In China, you can shop normally just by having a mobile phone that can access the internet. But you need to download WeChat and Alipay. These are 2 useful mobile apps. Besides mobile payment, you can also use cash payment, Bank payment, Shanghai Pass, and E-CNY.
What is the Most Common Way to Pay in China
In China, the most popular payment methods are WeChat Pay and Alipay. Even though these quick payment methods are common in China, you can still use cash. However, I don't recommend you bring too much cash because it's easy to lose.
However, physical stores in China don't accept PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. To shop normally, you need to download WeChat or Alipay on your phone, register an account, and add your bank card.
Alipay can be linked with the following types of bank cards: UnionPay, Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diners Club, American Express, and Discover. WeChat Pay can be linked with UnionPay, Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diners Club, American Express, and Discover.
Download Mobile Payment Applications
You need to download Alipay (not AlipayHK), WeChat, or Union Pay from the App Store on your phone. The common functions of Alipay and Union Pay are payment and transfer, while WeChat can not only do payment and transfer but also send messages.
How to Use Alipay
Step 1: Register an Account
1. Open Alipay and click on "Sign up".
2. Select an area code, then enter your phone number.
3. Enter the verification code received on your phone.
4. Set up a login password (8-20 characters with numbers and letters) and a payment password (6 numbers).
5. Complete the registration process.
Step 2: Real-name Verification
1. Switch to the "Me" page, click "Settings" in the upper right corner
2. Click "Account and Security" - "Identity Information" - "Real-name Verification" in sequence.
3. Enter your personal information, select passport as the ID type, and provide your name, gender, passport number, occupation, and address truthfully.
Step 3: Add a Bank Card
1. Click on "Me" at the bottom right, then click on "Bank Cards" on this page.
2. Enter your bank card number. Then click "Add".
3. Enter the payment password you set during registration, not your bank card password.
How to Pay With Alipay
Method 1: On the Home page, click "Scan", scan the merchant's QR code, enter the payment amount, and finally enter the payment password.
Method 2: On the Home page, click "Pay/Collect". You need to enter the payment password if it's your first time using it. Place the payment code in front of the merchant's scanning machine, and Alipay will automatically complete the deduction.
How to Order a Taxi
1. Open DiDi Ride on the Alipay Home page.
2. Log in using your phone number on the "Me" Page. Choose the area code of your country, and enter the phone number.
3. Enter the verification code received on your phone.
4. Complete the login process, and you can use DiDi Ride normally.
5. Grant Didi Ride location permission. It will automatically obtain your pickup location. Manually input your destination.
How to Take a Bus or Subway
1. Open "Transport" on the Alipay Home page.
2. Select the city in the top left corner.
3. Tap on "View".
4. Enter your Alipay password.
5. Open successfully.
How to Top Up Alipay Without a Chinese Bank Card
When topping up on Alipay, you can only use Chinese bank cards. Although Alipay lets you link international debit cards and credit cards, you can't use these bank cards to top up.
How to Use WeChat Pay
Step 1: Registering a WeChat Account
1. Open WeChat, and click on "Sign Up".
2. Select your country/region, enter your phone number, and set a login password.
3. Enter the verification code you received.
4. Complete the registration process.
Step 2: Real-name Verification
1. Switch to the "Me" page.
2. Click on "Pay and Services"- "Wallet" - "ID Info" in order.
3. Enter your personal information, select passport as the ID type, and fill in details such as name, gender, and occupation truthfully.
4. Enter your bank card number and the phone number associated with your bank account.
5. Enter the verification code sent to your phone.
6. Set up a payment password.
7. Complete the real-name verification and bank card addition.
How to Pay With WeChat
Method 1: Switch to the Chats page, click on the top right corner "+", then click on "Scan". Scan the merchant's QR code, and enter the payment amount.
Method 2: Switch to the "Me" page, click on "Pay and Services"- "Money", and enter the payment password for the first time. After completing the above steps, it means that the payment code has been activated. Place your payment code in front of the merchant's scanning machine, and WeChat will automatically deduct the payment.
How to Order a Taxi
1. Click on "Me"- "Pay and Services" - "DiDi Ride" in order.
2. Log in using your phone number, select the area code of your country, and enter your phone number.
3. Enter the verification code received on your phone.
4. Complete the login process to start using DiDi Ride.
5. Grant Didi Ride location permissions to automatically fetch your pickup location. Manually input your destination and translate it into English.
How to Use WeChat Pay Without a Chinese Bank Card
WeChat supports adding international bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover). You can use these bank cards to make payments, but there will be additional fees.
How to Use Union Pay
Step 1: Registering for UnionPay
1. Open the UnionPay app and click on "Register".
2. Select the region of your phone number, and enter your phone number.
3. Enter the verification code received on your phone.
4. Set up a login password.
5. Complete the registration.
Step 2: Real-name Authentication
1. Click on "Card", then click on the "+" icon in the top right corner.
2. Enter your bank card number. Then click "Next".
3. Fill in personal information, select passport as the ID type, and provide accurate details for name, phone number, and other information.
4. Enter the verification code received on your phone.
5. Set up a payment password.
6. Complete the real-name authentication and bank card addition.
How to Pay with Union Pay
Method 1: On the Home page, click "Scan", scan the merchant's QR code, enter the payment amount, and finally enter the payment password.
Method 2: On the home page, click "pay/collect". Place the payment code in front of the merchant's scanning machine, and Union Pay will automatically complete the deduction.
Note:
- The mobile phone number you use to register the account must be the same as the one reserved for your bank card.
- WeChat and Alipay allow the binding of overseas bank cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Discover, and JCB. However, UnionPay can bind UnionPay cards only.
- If you fail to receive the verification code on your mobile phone, it may be because your mobile operator has blocked SMS messages. In this case, you can call your operator's customer service for consultation or check if your phone card has sufficient balance.
Transaction Fee for Mobile Payment Applications
No matter which payment application you use, a 3% service fee is required for any consumption exceeding CNY 200, and there is also a certain limit on the daily consumption amount, but it can also meet your daily needs.
| Payment Applications | Alipay | WeChat Pay | Union Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction Limit | |||
| Per Transaction | CNY3000 USD418 |
CNY6500 USD906 |
CNY5,000-50000 USD696-6969 |
| Monthly | / | CNY50000 USD6969 |
CNY5000-100000 USD696-139380 |
| Annually | CNY70000 USD9756 |
CNY65000 USD9060 |
/ |
| Transaction Fee | |||
| Below CNY200/USD28 | No Charge | No Charge | / |
| Above CNY200/USD28 | a service fee of 3% | a service fee of 3% | / |
Note:
- The above data is for reference only
- Because the bank of deposit limit for bank cards is different, the transaction limit after adding a bank card to UnionPay will also vary.
- "/" means no data provided by the corresponding payment application.
Cash Payment
In most shops in China, you can still use cash to pay, especially in rural areas. I suggest you prepare CNY300 in your wallet, which should be enough for your daily purchases.
If you have paper money from the US, Europe, or other countries, you need to exchange it for Chinese yuan before you can use it. You can go to the Bank of China or the Bank of Communications to exchange your foreign currency.
Bank Card Payment
If you see the logos of the following card issuing institutions at the cash register: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover, you can use the bank cards (debit or credit cards) issued by them to make payments by swiping.
If you're coming to China for a short visit, I don't recommend you go and get a Chinese bank card. Because foreigners need to provide a lot of documents to apply for a bank card here. If you don't have all these documents, you can't get one.
However, when you have a Chinese bank card, you can use it to make payments by swiping in most stores, but you need to ensure that your bank card has the UnionPay logo on it.
Shanghai Pass
The Shanghai Pass can be topped up with a maximum of CNY1,000 (about USD138). In Shanghai, this card can be used on buses, subways, taxis, and ferries. It can also be used at tourist attractions, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
Moreover, it works for public transportation in over 330 cities in China, basically covering major tourist cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Qingdao, Chengdu, Sanya, and Xiamen.
Where to buy the Shanghai Pass:
At the international arrivals exit of Pudong Airport's Terminal 2
At Service Counter 102 of the international arrivals exit of Hongqiao Airport's Terminal 1
Subway Line 1: Xinzhuang Station, People's Square Station, Xujiahui Station, Shanghai Railway Station
Subway Line 2: Zhongshan Park Station, Longyang Road Station, Guanglan Road Station, Century Park Station, Songhong Road Station, Loushanguan Road Station, Lujiazui Station, Caoyang Road Station, Yishan Road Station, and Dalian Road Station
Subway Line 3: Caoyang Road Station, Yishan Road Station
Subway Line 4: Dalian Road Station
Subway Line 10: Shaanxi South Road Station
Subway Line 11: Oriental Sports Center Station
E-CNY Payment
E-CNY is an electronic paper money. You can use it without the internet, and there is no fee when exchanging it for paper money. On the other hand, WeChat Pay and Alipay are electronic wallets. You need to add a bank card to pay, and you must have the internet to use it. When you withdraw money, there will be a fee.
E-CNY can be used in some provinces, cities, or regions: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Dalian, Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang (Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing, Jinhua), Fujian (Fuzhou, Xiamen), Shandong (Jinan, Qingdao), Changsha, Guangdong Province, Guangxi (Nanning, Fangchenggang), Hainan Province, Chongqing, Sichuan Province, Yunnan (Kunming, Xishuangbanna), Xi'an, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiongan New Area, Chengdu.
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