How to Pay in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay & Your Foreign Card

Most everyday payments in China happen by scanning a QR code on your phone. Cash is still legal tender, but many small shops, food courts, and self-order screens are built around QR payments, so a phone wallet makes life much easier. Some hotels, malls, and metro stations also accept foreign Visa and Mastercard now.

You don't need a Chinese bank account. You can link a foreign card to both Alipay and WeChat Pay. My advice: start with Alipay, then add WeChat Pay as a backup.

1. Why Start with Alipay

• English interface: Alipay has an international mode in English.
• Transit and ride-hailing built in: You can open metro QR codes and call a Didi right inside the Alipay app, in English.
• Foreign cards: Visa and Mastercard work for most travelers. American Express, Discover, Diners Club, and JCB are also supported on many accounts, but check which cards the app accepts when you add yours.

2. Why Add WeChat Pay Too

You can link a foreign card to WeChat Pay as well. It has limits, but it's worth having:

• Some places only take WeChat Pay. Many mini-programs, including some ticketing and ordering pages, only accept WeChat Pay. Alipay can't pay inside them.
• Businesses only: You can pay business QR codes (restaurants, shops, taxis). You can't transfer money to a person or send red packets (Hongbao) without a mainland Chinese bank account.
• You'll use WeChat for messaging anyway: Hotels, drivers, and local contacts often prefer it.

3. The 200 RMB Rule, Fees & Card Checks

• 200 RMB or less (about $28): No platform fee.
• Over 200 RMB: A 3% platform fee on the whole payment, not just the part over 200. Your own card issuer may add its foreign transaction fee on top. The fee is shown before you confirm.
• Verify with your passport first: The apps ask you to verify your identity with your passport before you can link a foreign card, and unverified accounts have much lower limits. Do this at home, not at a checkout counter.
• Limits: After passport verification, Alipay allows up to about US$5,000 per payment and US$50,000 per year. WeChat Pay's limits for foreign cards are usually lower. Your limit in the app can be lower than these numbers too, so check it there. That's enough for a normal trip, but a big purchase can hit it.
• Tell your bank, and keep your home number working: Let your bank know you're traveling to China. Banks often text a one-time code when you link a card. If your home SIM can't receive texts abroad, the setup can fail. Set it up at home before you fly, or make sure you can receive that code.

4. Paying for the Metro (and a Cash Backup)

Public transit in China is set up city by city. A metro pass for one city doesn't carry over to the next.

• Switch cities in Alipay: Open the Transport (出行) section, choose the city you're in (for example Guangzhou or Chongqing), and accept the local terms.
• Guangzhou also lets you tap a card: Guangzhou Metro takes contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB at all stations. Your card needs the contactless symbol. Tap on a gate marked with your card's logo, and use the same card when you exit. Your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee on each tap. Keep the Alipay code as your backup.
• "Scan" vs "show" your code: At metro gates and many convenience stores, you show your QR code to their scanner. At food stalls and on table-ordering signs, you scan their printed QR code with your camera.
• Keep some cash: Carry a 50 or 100 RMB note. If a metro gate rejects your code or your card gets declined, you can buy a single-ride ticket at the machine or the station window.