1
Alipay vs WeChat Pay: Which one?
Download and set up both — if one fails at checkout, you'll be glad you have the other
Alipay
Primary payment app
Traveler-friendliness★★★★★ Most traveler-friendly, optimized for visitors
Supported international cardsVisa · MC · JCB · Discover · Diners · AMEX*
Transaction feesFree under ¥200; 3% fee above ¥200
Per-transaction limit~USD 5,000 (~¥35,000) per transaction
TourCard✅ Strongly recommended (see below)
Interface languageEnglish-friendly interface
WeChat Pay
Communication + backup payment
Traveler-friendliness★★★ Works well, but some features are restricted
Supported international cardsVisa · MC · AMEX · JCB · Discover · Diners
Transaction feesFree under ¥200; 3% fee above ¥200
Per-transaction limit~USD 5,000 (~¥35,000), after passport verification
TourCard⚠️ Apply via Alipay first, then link to WeChat Pay
Interface languagePartial English support
| 💙 Alipay | 💚 WeChat Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traveler-friendliness | ★★★★★ Most traveler-friendly, optimized for visitors | ★★★ Works well, but some features are restricted |
| Supported international cards | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, AMEX* | Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, JCB, Discover, Diners Club |
| Transaction fees | Free under ¥200; 3% fee above ¥200 | Free under ¥200; 3% fee above ¥200 |
| Per-transaction limit | ~USD 5,000 (~¥35,000) per transaction | ~USD 5,000 (~¥35,000), after passport verification |
| Annual spending limit | ~USD 50,000 | ~USD 50,000 |
| TourCard | ✅ Strongly recommended (see below) | ⚠️ Apply via Alipay first, then link to WeChat Pay |
| Best for | Go-to payment app; works at attractions, food delivery, ride-hailing | Communication tool + backup payment |
| Interface language | English-friendly interface | Partial English support |
About AMEX: Since February 2025, Alipay officially supports American Express cards. However, there's a catch — co-branded AMEX cards issued by third-party banks are not yet supported. Only cards issued directly by American Express work. If you're unsure, try linking it before you go, and keep a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.
2
💙 Alipay Setup Steps
Complete Steps 1–3 before you leave home. Step 4 is done after arriving in China.
1
Download and Register
Before departure
▾
→
Search for Alipay on the App Store or Google Play and download it
→
Sign up with your home country phone number (no Chinese number needed)
→
Enter the SMS verification code to complete registration
→
When installed outside mainland China, the app automatically switches to the international version (English interface)
Avoid the Hong Kong version! You may see AlipayHK in search results — do not download it. AlipayHK is a separate product designed exclusively for Hong Kong residents and requires a Hong Kong bank account. Make sure you download the standard Alipay app.
Register before you leave home! You'll need to receive an SMS verification code on your home-country phone. Trying to do this in China often fails due to network or roaming issues.
2
Complete Identity Verification
Before departure · Strongly recommended
▾
Once verified, your annual spending limit increases from USD 2,000 to USD 50,000, and you unlock additional features.
1
Select 'Passport' as your ID type
2
Upload a photo of your passport
3
Complete a face scan
Verification is usually instant, though it can occasionally take a few hours for manual review. Try to do this at least 48 hours before your trip to avoid last-minute stress.
3
Link Your International Card
Before departure
▾
1
Enter your card number manually, or tap 'Scan card' for automatic recognition
2
Enter the cardholder name exactly as it appears on the card, including middle names and hyphens
3
Enter the expiry date and CVV
4
Complete the SMS verification from your bank
Supported card types:
✅Visa (highest success rate)
✅Mastercard (highest success rate)
✅JCB
✅Discover
✅Diners Club
⚠️AMEX (direct American Express cards only)
❌Prepaid cards / virtual cards (not supported)
Contact your bank before you leave. Let them know you'll be using Alipay in China and ask them to whitelist Alipay transactions. Many banks automatically block the first transaction from China as a fraud precaution.
4
Set Up TourCard
⚠️ Must be done inside mainland China
▾
🏦 What is TourCard?
TourCard is a prepaid virtual debit card issued by Bank of Shanghai, accessible through an Alipay mini-program. It's designed exclusively for international visitors. Once activated, it functions like a local Chinese bank card, unlocking payment scenarios where international cards may be declined.
¥10,000Balance limit
180Valid for (6 months)
5%Top-up fee per transaction
18+Minimum age
📍
TourCard can only be applied for while you're physically inside mainland China — the system verifies your location. Activate it as soon as you check into your hotel, before you need it.
When do you need TourCard?
🚗DiDi ride-hailing
🍜Meituan / Ele.me food delivery
🛍️Taobao shopping
🧾Paying individual sellers
💰Street vendors and tips
How to set it up (must be inside mainland China):
1
Enable location services on your phone
2
Search 'TourCard' in the Alipay search bar and open the official mini-program
3
Submit your passport details (name, ID number, date of birth, expiry date) — face scan may be required
4
Top up with your international card (start with ¥500–1,000 to test it out)
Smart strategy: For regular purchases at restaurants and shops, pay with your linked international card (free under ¥200). Only switch to TourCard when you hit a 'local account only' payment scenario.
✦
Two ways to pay with QR codes
▾
📷
You scan the merchant
Also called 'Scan to Pay'. Best for: street stalls, small shops, taxis
1
Open Alipay2
Tap 'Scan'3
Scan the merchant's QR code4
Enter the amount, confirm📲
Merchant scans you
Also called 'Show Payment Code'. Best for: supermarkets, metro, chain restaurants
1
Open Alipay2
Tap 'Pay'3
Show your payment QR code4
Wait for the merchant to scan3
💚 WeChat Pay Setup Steps
Complete before departure — WeChat is also your most important communication tool in China
1
Download and Register WeChat
Before departure
▾
→
Search for WeChat on the App Store or Google Play (international version, also called Weixin)
→
Sign up with your home country phone number and enter the SMS code
Avoid the Hong Kong version! WeChat Pay HK may appear in search results. Like AlipayHK, it's designed for Hong Kong residents and requires a Hong Kong bank account. Make sure you download the standard WeChat app.
New account verification: WeChat requires a verified WeChat user to scan your QR code when you first register — it's an anti-bot measure. Ask a friend to help you complete this before you leave home.
2
Link Your International Card
Before departure
▾
1
Enter your Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, JCB, Diners Club, or Discover card details
2
Enter the cardholder name exactly as it appears on your passport
3
Complete passport identity verification (upload photo + face scan)
Turn off your VPN before doing this! WeChat Pay's fraud detection is very sensitive to VPN connections. Linking a card while on a VPN can trigger an account lock — you'll have to wait 24 hours to try again.
About debit cards: UnionPay debit cards are supported. Visa/Mastercard debit cards may work, but results are inconsistent. It's worth setting up Alipay as your primary payment method regardless.
✦
Transaction Limits & Restrictions
▾
💙 Alipay
Per-transaction limit~USD 5,000
Annual limit~USD 50,000
💚 WeChat Pay
Per-transaction limit~USD 5,000
Annual limit~USD 50,000
These limits apply after you've completed passport identity verification. Unverified accounts have a much lower default limit (~USD 1,000 per transaction). Link your passport when you set up the card to unlock the full amount.
WeChat Pay
❌Cannot send or receive red packets (hongbao)
❌Cannot transfer money to individuals
❌Some small vendors may not accept it
✅Restaurants, malls, tourist attractions
✅Ride-hailing (DiDi, etc.)
✅All mainstream merchant payments
TourCard works with WeChat Pay too: Apply for TourCard through Alipay, then link it to your WeChat Pay wallet. This gives you the same expanded coverage on both platforms.
4
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common issues travelers run into — click to expand each answer
❓ My card keeps failing to link. What should I do?
▾
The issue is almost always on your bank's side, not Alipay's or WeChat's.
1
Call your bank and ask them to enable international online transactions and whitelist Alipay / Tencent (WeChat)
2
Make sure your VPN is off and try again
3
If your Visa fails, try your Mastercard, or vice versa
4
If nothing works: set up TourCard when you arrive in China, or ask your hotel front desk for help
❓ Why won't my international card work at some places?
▾
Paying registered businesses (hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, ride-hailing apps) → International cards usually work fine
Paying individuals (street stalls, tipping a person directly) → International cards cannot settle peer-to-peer transactions — you'll see a payment failure. Solution: use Alipay TourCard, which acts as a local bank card
❓ I arrived in China and nothing is set up. What now?
▾
1
TourCard: TourCard (best option): Open Alipay inside China, search 'TourCard', and you can apply and use it the same day
2
Airport help desk: Major airports in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou typically have international payment assistance counters in the arrivals hall
3
Hotel front desk: Many hotels will pay on your behalf and let you settle with your credit card — good for emergencies
💬 The best emergency plan is not needing one. ChinaTravelBuddy walks you through every setup step before you leave, so everything works from day one. →
❓ My payment suddenly stopped working / keeps disconnecting. How do I fix it?
▾
Go to Alipay → 'Me' → 'Bank Cards', remove your card, then add it back. This usually resolves the issue. It's a known quirk of using international cards — the problem is typically on the bank's side.
❓ Do I need internet access to pay?
▾
Alipay supports offline payment codes — you can pay up to ¥200 without any internet connection, which is very handy in the metro or at remote scenic spots. Transactions over ¥200 require a connection.
5
Complete Pre-Trip Checklist
Work through this timeline so everything is ready when you land
✓
2 weeks before departure
Contact your bank: enable international online transactions + whitelist Alipay and WeChat
Prevents card-linking failures and blocked transactions when you first try to pay
✓
1 week before departure
Download Alipay, register with your home phone number, complete identity verification
You need to receive an SMS on your home-country number — much easier to do before you travel
✓
1 week before departure
Link your international card and complete a small test transaction
Confirms your card works — if there's a problem, you still have time to fix it
✓
3 days before departure
Download WeChat, complete registration (ask a friend to scan your QR code), link your card
Backup payment method + your essential communication tool in China
✓
1 day before departure
Set up your eSIM or confirm your roaming plan
Ensures you have internet from the moment you land — payments and maps work right away
★
⚡ After arriving in China
Set up your Alipay TourCard as soon as possible
Covers payment scenarios where international cards are declined (food delivery, street vendors)
Checklist done — but want someone to double-check everything?
ChinaTravelBuddy offers pre-trip setup verification, fully customized itineraries, zero-markup bookings, and 24/7 real human support throughout your trip. Your solo adventure, backed by a full team.
6
Card Recommendations & Backup Plans
Maximize your savings while staying prepared for anything
Use a card with no foreign transaction fees
Cards like Wise, or travel-specific credit cards, save you 1–3% on every purchase. Over a full trip, that adds up quickly.
Bring two cards from different banks
Visa and Mastercard have the broadest acceptance. If one gets blocked, you have an instant backup — no awkward moments at checkout.
Carry a small amount of cash (RMB)
Having ¥500–1,000 in cash covers remote areas, the rare cash-only vendor, or a temporary app outage. It's good peace of mind.
Make sure your banknotes are clean and undamaged — torn or worn-out bills can be refused.