Payment · 2026 guide for foreigners
Cash is increasingly rare in Chinese cities—most shops, restaurants, and transit systems expect a QR code scan. As a foreigner you can set up both Alipay and WeChat Pay with just a passport and an international card. This guide walks you through each step, what the limits are, and how to avoid common problems on the ground.
Both are accepted at the vast majority of places you'll visit—convenience stores, chain restaurants, metro gates, Didi, and tourist attractions. The main difference: Alipay has a dedicated "international visitor" flow with a TourCard prepaid product, while WeChat Pay is linked to WeChat (which many travelers already use for messaging). If you can only do one, Alipay's TourCard is the more reliable for first-time visitors. Having both gives you a fallback—some street vendors only accept one.
Alipay's dedicated foreign visitor product. Download the Alipay app, switch to the international version, go to "International Travel" or "TourCard," verify your passport, and top up with a Visa or Mastercard. Funds sit as RMB in the card; you pay by showing the QR code. Top-up cap is around ¥50,000/year; single transaction up to ¥5,000. Remaining balance can be refunded after your trip. Also works for metro in many cities.
In WeChat, go to "Me → Services → Wallet," complete real-name verification with your passport, then add a Visa/Mastercard/JCB card. Each payment charges your linked foreign card in real time (converted to RMB). No top-up needed—but exchange rates and international fees apply. You can't transfer money to other users or send red packets without a Chinese bank card. Good if you already use WeChat; avoid if you don't want to manage another app.
Do this at home—some steps require access to unblocked websites to verify your card or receive SMS codes.
Install from the App Store or Google Play. Open it and select your country/region. If prompted, choose the international version (not the mainland China version). Sign up with your phone number.
On the home screen look for "International Travel" or search "TourCard." The interface changes occasionally—tap "Get started" or equivalent. You'll be asked for your passport number and name exactly as printed.
Submit your passport details and complete a face-scan or document upload if prompted. Approval is usually instant. If it fails, ensure your name spelling exactly matches the passport (no middle name abbreviations or missing hyphens).
Enter your Visa or Mastercard details. Your bank may send a one-time password (OTP) to complete the first transaction. Top up a small amount (e.g. ¥200–500) to test. The money sits as RMB balance in the TourCard; no daily exchange rate fluctuation once loaded.
Some Chinese restaurants and online stores outside China accept Alipay—try a small payment to confirm everything is working. If that's not possible, test at the first convenience store or metro station as soon as you arrive in China.
Tap "Me" (bottom right) → "Services" → "Wallet". Agree to the terms. If you haven't completed identity verification before, you'll be prompted now.
Tap "Identity Info" → "Verify." Choose "Passport" (or your applicable foreign ID type), enter your name, ID number, and expiry date. You may be asked for profession and address—fill in honestly; it's for regulatory compliance.
In the Wallet, tap "Bank Cards" → "+". Enter your Visa/Mastercard/JCB number, expiry, CVV, and billing address. WeChat will send a small charge and reversal to verify. Your bank may flag this—approve it or check your banking app. After verification the card is linked and ready.
To pay, tap the "+" icon in a chat or use the scan icon on the home screen → "Pay." Show your payment QR code for the cashier to scan, or scan the merchant's code yourself. Enter the amount if using merchant QR scan. The charge hits your linked foreign card immediately.
Most major city metros (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou…) accept Alipay or WeChat Pay at the gates—no physical card needed. Open the Alipay app → "Transit" or "Metro" section, select your city, and enable transit mode. At the gate, hold the phone to the reader with the transit QR code displayed. WeChat Pay has a similar "City Services → Metro" flow. For buses the process varies by city but is usually the same QR code.
Ensure your screen brightness is at maximum. Hold the phone steady and parallel to the reader; don't tilt. If the code keeps refreshing, there may be a network issue—ask staff at the window to manually process, or buy a single-journey token with cash. Always carry a small amount of RMB for this scenario.
Rules and features change. Use this as a planning guide; confirm current limits and eligibility in the Alipay and WeChat Pay apps before your trip.