In China, cash is no longer necessary - almost everything from shopping malls and hotels to roadside stalls can be paid with mobile phones. The good news is:Alipay and WeChat payment have supported binding international credit cards, so foreign tourists can easily scan the code to pay.
Alipay
- Register with your passport or international phone number, and follow the prompts to bind foreign cards such as Visa/Mastercard/JCB/American Express.
- Some versions offer a "Tour Pass" or international entrance where you can receive travel and consumption coupons.
WeChat Pay
- Bind an international credit card in "Me → Services → Wallet → Bank Card".
- Can be used for QR code payment and some mini programs (such as taxi hailing), but some merchants have limited support for overseas cards.
Applicable scenarios
Convenience stores, restaurants, taxis (Didi), subway and bus QR codes (Chongqing public transportation codes), scenic spot tickets, takeout, and more are almost fully covered.
Limits and Fees
- There is a transaction limit for a single transaction/day, and large purchases may be restricted.
- According to the card organization rules, there may be a handling fee of about 3%, and it is recommended to focus on small daily expenses.
Alternative solutions
Cash (UnionPay/foreign currency exchange), UnionPay Cloud QuickPass Apple Pay， And international credit card direct transactions (for large merchants).
Avoiding pitfalls
- Some night market stalls only accept cash and keep a small amount of change with you.
- Save the offline payment code in advance to avoid the embarrassment of being offline.
- Binding an external card requires receiving a SMS verification code to ensure international roaming is available.
