A Complete Guide to Modes of Payment When Travelling to China

How to pay when travelling to China? Mobile payment is notably popular, while cash and bank cards are also widespread.

Banks in China

Mobile payment has been the most common pattern in China, daily used for paying for everything. Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, etc. are welcomed options all over the country.

Alipay is the major service of payments in addition to WeChat Pay in China. After registering or signing in the app, you can add credit or debit card to your Alipay account. The bank cards of Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, Discover, JCB & UnionPay can be accepted.

As for paying, you can tap the button of “Scan” or ”Pay/Collect” at the top of home page.

•  The former is to scan the QR code of merchants, then fill in the amount of payment and pay.

•  The latter is to show your payment code to merchants, who will then scan your code for paying.

Alipay Tap is an emerging way for payment. As the function of Alipay Tap is opened with NFC, users can touch the luminous blue ring with your phone to pay, without open the app. Remember to confirm the payment just after touching.

Similarly, you can scan the QR code of vendors or show your payment code to the cashiers. Tapping the “+” at the top right corner of Chats page, you will find “Scan” & “Money” at the last two lines.
 

If you fail to link your bank card with the Alipay/WeChat Pay account, Tour Card can also be applied to pay in China for visitors older than 18 from out of the mainland. As your appliance is approved within a few days, you can top up the tour card with your bank cards issued in your hometown. It’s valid in 180 days, but you can restart it if you would like use it again after the validity period. Of course, you can also close the account when there is no balance, if you are not going to use it anymore. The balance is refundable, while there is a charge at the real-time exchange rate.

In the apps of Alipay or WeChat Pay, you can search and find the mini program of Tour Card. When you are to pay, present the payment code of your Tour Card to the cashier. It should be noted that, you have to show the Tour Card code of corresponding payment app the merchant supported. That’s to say, if a shop apply WeChat Pay only, your Tour Card applied via Alipay can’t be used. Don’t worry, almost all merchants accept both Alipay and WeChat Pay in China.

UnionPay, E-CNY and more payment apps are also usable in China, you may explore the app(s) if interested.

Some international e-wallets are allowed to be used directly in China, so that you need not to download another app. However, those apps are mainly launched in neighboring Asia countries & regions.

Alipay+ Logo

Cooperated with Alipay, following apps and more are acceptable wherever Alipay+ is acceptable. Please take notice of the logos at the cashier counter.

•  Hong Kong & Macao: Alipay HK, MPay

•  South Korea: toss Pay, Naver Pay

•  Mongolia: hi Pay

•  Malaysia: TouchnGo eWallet

•  Singapore: SG, CHANGI Pay

•  Thailand: true money

 As the old way of payment, cash is always practicable in China. If you need to exchange Chinese cashes, you can go to the exchange counter at the airport on your arrival. More conveniently, you may withdraw cashes at an ATM directly with the logo of your bank card.

 Read More: Chinese Currency & Money Exchange

 Your bank cards of Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, etc. can be accepted when paying in China. Generally, you can swipe your card inside hotels， restaurants and shops, rather than stalls roadsides.

 How do I make sure whether may card is acceptable or not?

You bank card can be accepted if there is a display of the logos at the checkout counter. If there is not the logo of your bank card, please ask the cashier directly.

 If you will stay in China for a long time or settle in China, it’s advised to apply for a local bank account. It would be easier for payment, and enjoy more financial services of the bank. If needed, please consult on the official websites of the banks or turn to the staff at the banks for details.

 If you find it difficult to deal with the mobile payment in China, try to pay with Beijing Pass or Shanghai Pass. Coming to Beijing/Shanghai, you can purchase a practical card named to be Beijing Pass/Shanghai Pass on arrival at the international airport or designated train stations & metro stations. It can be swiped to take public transportation, go shopping in the specified malls & convenience shops, and buy tickets of most attractions on the spot in the city. It is easy to top up at the airports and self-service machine at each metro station, especially Beijing Pass can be recharged via Silk Pass app on a smart phone with NFC function.

Furthermore, it can be swiped to take bus/metro in over 300 cities all over China as well. Shopping & purchasing attraction tickets are unavailable in other places.