Everything foreign tourists need to know about Alipay, WeChat Pay, and getting around in China.
Here's something nobody tells you before you land in China: cash is weird here.
Not useless — just weird. Walk into a 7-Eleven in Shanghai and try to pay with a hundred-yuan note, and the cashier will stare at it like you just pulled out a gold doubloon. They probably can't break it. Street food vendors, taxi drivers, museum gift shops — they all expect you to wave your phone at a little QR code sticker.
China runs on two apps: Alipay (blue icon, looks like a shield) and WeChat Pay (green icon, lives inside the WeChat messaging app). Together they cover about 95% of every transaction you'll make — from grabbing a coffee to checking into a hotel to riding the subway.
The good news? Since 2024, things got dramatically easier for tourists. You no longer need a Chinese bank account, a Chinese phone number, or any of the headaches that used to come with this process. If you have a passport, a phone that can receive SMS, and a Visa or Mastercard, you're golden.
Alipay is the easier of the two for foreigners. Better English support, more straightforward verification, and it accepts debit cards (WeChat Pay doesn't).
Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Search for "Alipay." Look for the one published by "Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd." with the blue icon that has a white "支" symbol.
Open the app and tap "Sign Up" — the app should default to English. If it doesn't, you can switch languages later in Settings. Select your country code (not China's +86 — use your home country) and enter your mobile number. You'll get an SMS with a verification code. Enter it.
You'll create two things:
Enable Face ID or fingerprint unlock if your phone supports it. You'll be glad you did — you'll be opening this app constantly.
This is the most important step. Without it, you can't link an international card and you're capped at very low spending limits.
Go to: Me (bottom right) → Settings (the gear icon) → Account Security → Identity Verification
Select "International Passport" as your ID type. Take a clear, well-lit photo of your passport's main page — the one with your photo and your details. Lay it flat on a dark surface, no glare, make sure the machine-readable strip at the bottom is crisp and readable.
Then take a selfie. Straight on, no hat, no sunglasses, neutral expression. Your selfie gets matched against your passport photo, so don't smile — the facial recognition software doesn't like it when your face shape changes.
Most of the time, verification is instant. Sometimes it takes up to 24 hours. You'll get a notification in the app when it goes through.
Go to: Me → Bank Cards → Add Card
Enter your card number, expiry date, and CVV. Select your country. If your bank asks you to complete 3D Secure verification (a one-time code sent via SMS or your banking app), do it — this is normal.
The following cards work with Alipay:
Amex does NOT work. If your only card is Amex, you'll need to use WeChat Pay instead (which does accept it).
Find the nearest convenience store — 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson are everywhere in Chinese cities. Grab a bottle of water or a snack. Open Alipay, tap "Scan," and scan the QR code at the register. Enter your PIN. Done.
You've just made your first mobile payment in China. Welcome to the future.
WeChat Pay is different from Alipay because it lives inside WeChat, which is basically China's everything app — messaging, social media, payments, taxi hailing, food delivery, you name it. Setting up payments is a bit more involved, but it's worth it because many restaurants use WeChat for their QR-code menu ordering systems.
Same deal as Alipay — App Store or Google Play. Search for "WeChat." Green icon, two white chat bubbles. Published by Tencent.
Open the app and tap "Sign Up." Enter your name, your home country phone number (with country code), and create a password.
Here's the part that trips people up: WeChat will ask you to have an existing WeChat user scan a QR code to verify you're a real person. This is their anti-spam measure. Any friend anywhere in the world who uses WeChat can do this — just send them the QR code. If you don't know anyone, ask your hotel staff when you arrive, or post in a travelers' Facebook group. Someone will help.
Once that's done, your messaging account is live. But you can't pay yet.
Go to: Me (bottom right) → Services
If you see "WeChat Pay" or "Wallet," you're in. If not, tap the three dots in the top corner and find "Wallet" to activate it.
In Wallet, tap "Bank Cards" → "Add a Card." Enter your card details. WeChat supports Visa, Mastercard, and American Express credit cards. It does NOT support debit cards for international users, only credit cards.
You might get a small verification charge (usually $1 or so) that gets refunded. Or your bank might send you a 3D Secure challenge via SMS. Either way, it takes about a minute.
This is the slowest part. In your Wallet, find "Identity Verification" (实名认证). Select "Foreign Passport." Take a clear photo of your passport info page, then a selfie.
Approval time: anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 business days. Most people get it within 24 hours. You'll get a WeChat notification when it's approved.
Common reasons for rejection:
Once verified, paying is the same as Alipay — either scan the merchant's QR code or show them your payment code. Each transaction under ¥200 has zero fee. Above ¥200, there's a 3% service charge.
This is where most of the confusion lives, so let's spell it out.
Alipay accepts: Visa (credit and debit), Mastercard (credit and debit), JCB, Discover, Diners Club, UnionPay international — but NOT American Express.
WeChat Pay accepts: Visa (credit only), Mastercard (credit only), American Express (credit only) — but NOT debit cards.
So if you have a Visa debit card, use Alipay. If you have an Amex credit card, use WeChat Pay. If you have both, set up both apps and you're fully covered.
A few things international cards CANNOT do in either app:
International cards are for spending at merchants only. If someone sends you money in the app, that balance sits there. You can spend it, but you can't pull it out to your foreign bank card. Plan accordingly.
There are two ways to pay in China, and you'll use both:
This is for smaller shops, street vendors, taxis. There's a QR code printed on a piece of paper or a plastic stand on the counter. You open Alipay or WeChat, tap the "Scan" button, point your camera at the code, enter the amount (if the merchant hasn't set it already), and confirm with your PIN.
This is for bigger stores, supermarket chains, and anywhere with a proper checkout counter. You open the app, tap "Pay" (or "Money" in WeChat), and a QR code and barcode appear on your screen. The cashier scans it with their handheld scanner, and the money comes out automatically. You don't enter an amount — they do it on their end.
Both apps have transit features. In Alipay, you can set up a "Transport Card" for the city you're in — this gives you a QR code for subway turnstiles and buses. It's available in most major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, etc.). WeChat Pay can do this too through mini-programs, but it's fiddlier and sometimes requires a Chinese phone number. For metro rides, Alipay is smoother.
Didi is China's Uber, and it's fully integrated into both apps. In Alipay, search for "Didi" in the mini-programs section. In WeChat, same thing. You can also download the standalone Didi app, but it's mostly in Chinese. The mini-program versions work fine in English.
Here's a handy trick: WeChat Pay and Alipay charge 0% for transactions under ¥200 (about $28 USD) and 3% for anything at or above ¥200. If you're having a ¥380 dinner for two, ask if you can split the bill — ¥190 each, both under the threshold, both fee-free. Most Chinese restaurants are happy to split.
Alipay has a feature called "TourCard" — a virtual prepaid card issued by Bank of Shanghai. You load it up with up to ¥10,000, it's valid for 180 days, and there's a one-time 5% top-up fee. The advantage? Once the money's loaded, every transaction is fee-free, no 3% surcharge. If you're doing a lot of big purchases (hotel stays, shopping), the TourCard can save you money vs. paying the 3% per-transaction fee every time.
To find it, search for "TourCard" in the Alipay app.
"My card won't link"
This is the most common issue. Nine times out of ten, it's your bank blocking the charge. Call them. If that doesn't work, try a different card. If that doesn't work, use the TourCard (Alipay) — you can top it up with a card that might not work for direct linking.
"I'm not getting the SMS code"
Check that your phone can receive international SMS. Some US carriers (looking at you, T-Mobile prepaid) block certain types of international messages by default. If you're using an eSIM, switch to a physical SIM for setup. If you're still stuck, you can usually request a voice call instead of SMS — the app will call you with an automated message reading the code.
"My passport verification keeps failing"
Common reasons: (1) Your selfie doesn't match — remove glasses, skip the hat, no smiling, straight on. (2) Your photo is blurry — retake in good light, flat surface, capture the full page. (3) Your name doesn't match what you entered — in WeChat, edit your profile name to match your passport exactly (including middle names). Then re-verify.
"The app is suddenly in Chinese"
Don't panic. Go to Settings (the gear icon) and find "Language." Switch it back to English. In Alipay, this is Me → Settings → Language. In WeChat, it's Me → Settings → General → Language.
"My card worked yesterday but is being declined today"
Your bank might have flagged the transactions as suspicious. Call them. This happens especially if you suddenly make a bigger purchase. If you need to pay right now, switch to your other app or use cash.
"The merchant's QR code won't scan"
Clean your camera lens. Try the in-app scanner (not your phone's camera app). Hold steady. If the code is on a phone screen, adjust brightness. If it's on a crumpled piece of paper, ask if they have a newer one.
"I downloaded the wrong app"
If the icon looks off or the name is slightly different, delete it and download the official version. Alipay is a blue shield with a white "支." WeChat is green with two white chat bubbles. Double-check the publisher.
Short answer: yes. Both apps are regulated by the People's Bank of China and use serious security. Every payment requires either your 6-digit PIN, your face, or your fingerprint. Neither app stores your full card number. Both have fraud protection.
That said, the standard smartphone rules apply:
As for privacy: Alipay and WeChat are Chinese companies, and yes, they collect data — same as every major tech company everywhere. The apps need your passport info for anti-money-laundering compliance, which is a legal requirement. If you're uncomfortable with that, you can't use these apps, and you'll need to rely entirely on cash (which is difficult but possible in cities).
One thing to know about the 2026 policy update: single transactions over ¥5,000 may require you to state the purpose of funds (e.g. "travel expenses"). This is part of China's anti-money-laundering framework and applies to everyone, not just foreigners.
| Alipay | WeChat Pay |
|---|---|
| Blue icon, white "支" | Green icon, chat bubbles |
| Published by Ant Group | Published by Tencent |
| Easier for foreigners | Harder verification |
| Accepts debit cards | Credit cards only |
| Does NOT accept Amex | Does NOT accept debit |
| Supports: Visa, MC, JCB, Discover, Diners, UnionPay | Supports: Visa, MC, Amex |
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