Daily life in China depends heavily on mobile payment. Cash can still be used, but many situations assume that people will pay by QR code.
Basic Strategy
- Prepare both WeChat Pay and Alipay.
- Before coming to China, try binding a Visa, Mastercard, or other international bank card in both WeChat and Alipay.
- After arriving in China, get a Chinese phone number as soon as possible.
- If you will stay in China long term, consider opening a Chinese bank account later.
WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay is useful because it is connected to WeChat chats, mini programs, and social contacts. Many shops, small transfers between classmates, group collections, and mini-program orders use WeChat Pay.
Common uses:
- Paying at restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
- Scanning a QR code to buy things.
- Transferring money between classmates.
- Paying inside WeChat mini programs.
- Shared bikes.
- Some campus services.
Setup steps:
- Open WeChat.
- Go to “Me”.
- Find “Services” or “Wallet”.
- Add a bank card or international bank card.
- Complete identity verification as required.
- Test with a small payment first.
Possible issues:
- Some merchants do not support payments from bound international cards.
- Some functions require real-name verification.
- New accounts may trigger risk control and need time or extra verification.
- Accounts registered with overseas phone numbers may have an incomplete service experience.
Alipay
Alipay is very useful for transit codes, city services, and some payment scenarios designed for foreign visitors. Prepare it together with WeChat Pay.
Common uses:
- Paying at shops and restaurants, similar to WeChat Pay.
- Metro and bus transit codes. Recommended.
Setup steps:
- Install Alipay.
- Register with a phone number.
- Complete identity verification if required.
- Bind an international bank card.
- Search for the transit code for your city.
- Test with a small payment.
Common Payment Methods
| Method | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I scan you | The customer scans the merchant’s payment QR code |
| You scan me | The merchant scans the payment code on the customer’s phone |
| Order and pay in a mini program | Payment is completed inside a WeChat or Alipay mini program, common in restaurants |