Finally: Alipay and WeChat Pay for International Tourists!

In 2023, China reopened its doors to international tourists post-pandemic. The nation is making waves with its approach in welcoming tourists by addressing one of the most painful problems I had in the past as a tourist in China – the ability to pay with China’s Alipay and WeChat Pay.

A quick background on the payment options in China: most merchants, even streetside vendors who accept digital payments, are usually reluctant to receive cash. The convenience of utilising their digital payment platforms is so well-integrated into the everyday lives of locals that tourists in the past had difficulty paying for items in stores. While most still accepted cash, they often gave ‘the look’ whenever we whipped out cash.

Utilising international credit cards for payment

As a traveller, what I absolutely loved about this system is the near-universal acceptance of these platforms. The best part is how these digital wallets can be linked to international credit cards – allowing me to choose the card offering the best rates (add cards like YouTrip, Revolut and Trust for better rates!).

Do note that both Alipay and WeChat Pay waives the international credit card transaction fees of 3% for only transactions under RMB 200. For any amount greater than that, the 3% surcharge will be added to your payment. If you’re purchasing multiple items, you may want to request for the merchant to split the transactions so that you can avoid the fees.

More than just a payment gateway

It is also worth noting that both Alipay and WeChat Pay have mini applications (小程序) within the main application itself, which provides easy access to other applications commonly used in China.

For example, DiDi – the Uber/Grab equivalent in China – has an application link within Alipay that makes the booking of private hire vehicles and taxis very convenient. DiDi utilises Alipay as the default payment method and users do not have to worry about dealing with payment options.

Limitations

Most Chinese local users link a local bank account to their Alipay and WeChat Pay accounts. This unlocks a lot of features for them – features that are not available to international users. For example, international users are not able to do local transfers between accounts while local users are able to do so.

In addition, I’m not too sure if it’s the way some merchants set-up their digital payment accounts, but transactions for certain merchants do not go through. In cases like this, you can either try the other payment option or pay cash instead. The merchants themselves are not too sure why either but just note that this could happen.

Setting-up WeChat Pay

1. Download WeChat Pay and register using your mobile number (international numbers are welcome).
2. After logging in, navigate to “Me” > “Services” > “Wallet”. If you can’t find it, go to “Me” > “Settings” > “General” > “Tools” > “Weixin Pay” and Enable it.
3. In the “Wallet” section, choose “Add Card” and agree to the terms and conditions.
4. You’ll need to provide additional details such as your name, address, and ID. If opting for a passport, be prepared to upload a copy later. A handy hint: avoid using commas in your address.
5. Bear in mind, verification might take some time, but everything should run smoothly once you’ve followed the steps above.

After you’re all set up, making payments is a breeze. Click on the top-right “+”, then either select “Scan” to capture the merchant’s QR code for payment, or choose “Money” to display your QR code for the merchant to scan.

Alipay has a pretty similar set-up option and it’s a bit more straightforward too! You can watch the video here for some quick instructions!

Conclusion

China’s move towards streamlining payment for international tourists is definitely a plus for both users and merchants alike. Having used both Alipay and WeChat Pay in my latest trip to China, I’ve got to say my travel experience there has been elevated.