Money & Payments

Money & Payments

"Is China cashless now?" — No, but mobile payment absolutely dominates. The good news: Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept international cards, and Tencent's new TenPayGo works without even registering WeChat. This guide gets your whole payment stack ready before departure.

Last updated: 2026-08 · fees & limits per in-app notices

1. Meet the three tools

💙 Alipay (支付宝)

From Ant Group, born as e-commerce escrow, now a life-services super-app: beyond paying it bundles ride-hailing, food delivery, attraction tickets, hotels, train tickets, shared bikes and city transit codes. For foreign travellers:

  • International UI: English and other languages, register with an overseas number or email — no Chinese number needed;
  • One-stop: pre-booking + paying + city transport in one app;
  • FX built in: live exchange rates, charged in your home currency.

💚 WeChat Pay (微信支付)

From Tencent, embedded in WeChat — it lives inside chat: transfers, red packets and group collections happen in conversations. For travellers:

  • Widest small-vendor reach: street stalls and temple donation boxes often show only a WeChat QR;
  • Mini-program ecosystem: many attraction bookings and scan-to-order menus exist only in WeChat — install WeChat even if you pay with Alipay;
  • Slightly steeper setup: WeChat registration needs verification; English coverage is thinner; the wallet sits deeper in menus.

🆕 TenPayGo (Tencent's tourist app, in pilot)

A standalone payment app Tencent has been piloting since late 2025 for international visitors, already on the App Store. Its headline: the lowest possible barrier — no WeChat registration, no Chinese phone number; bind a foreign payment method and pay anywhere WeChat Pay is accepted. See the dedicated section below.

Choosing between them:

DimensionAlipayWeChat PayTenPayGo
FormStandalone app (English UI)Feature inside WeChatStandalone lightweight app
Setup barrierOverseas phone/email + passport IDMust register WeChat firstNo WeChat, no CN number (lowest)
Merchant networkAlipay merchantsWeChat Pay merchantsRides on the WeChat Pay network
City transit codes✅ “Transport”✅ Ride codesRolling out — see app
ExtrasDiDi/tickets/trains/rentalMini-programs (booking/ordering)“Virtual travel assistant” positioning
MaturityVery matureVery maturePilot stage, evolving
Our callPrimaryEssential backupLight alternative
✓ The golden comboAlipay (main paying + transit + booking) + WeChat (mini-programs + small vendors) + a little cash. They coexist fine; both payment codes live one tap from the home screen.

2. Install & bind a card

Both accept Visa / Mastercard / JCB / AmEx / Discover international credit cards (some debit cards too). Install, bind and test a small payment at home — land ready.

📱 Alipay (~10 minutes)

  1. Download: search “Alipay” on the App Store / Google Play (the main app supports international users);
  2. Register: pick your country code (+1/+44/+81…) or email;
  3. ID verification: photograph your passport photo page + face scan (mandatory for foreigners, once);
  4. Bind: Me → “Bank Cards” → “+” → card number, expiry, CVC → complete 3D verification (bank app or SMS);
  5. Set default: make the international card your default payment method (or the QR may complain);
  6. Transit codes: home “Transport” → pick your city → activate metro/bus QR;
  7. Test: pay ¥1 anywhere (or unlock a shared bike).

💬 WeChat Pay (~15 minutes)

  1. Register: install WeChat with your overseas number (may need a friend's assist or a few hours' wait);
  2. English UI (optional): Me → Settings → General → Language;
  3. Bind: Me → “Services” → “Wallet” → “Cards” → “Add a Card” → card details + 3D verification;
  4. Payment code: “+” (top right) → “Money Transfer” → show your QR, or scan the merchant's;
  5. Transit: Services → Transport (city-dependent).
⚠ If binding fails① Confirm your bank allows cross-border card-not-present payments (call before departure — sudden foreign charges trigger fraud locks); ② 3D SMS not arriving → switch Wi-Fi/data and retry; ③ "Card not supported" → try another network (Visa/Mastercard safest); ④ one card can bind both apps simultaneously.

Fees & limits (per in-app notices): payments ≤ ¥200 are fee-free; above that ≈3% currency conversion (some cards/promos waived). Bound international cards typically cap at ¥5,000–6,000 per transaction with annual ceilings — ample for travel; for big purchases keep a POS-friendly card or cash.

4. TenPayGo, hands-on

What it is: Tencent's standalone pilot payment app for international visitors — it connects your foreign payment method to the WeChat Pay merchant network: anywhere a WeChat QR works, TenPayGo pays, without registering WeChat or holding a Chinese number.

  • Who it suits: travellers who'd rather not register WeChat, short stays, "install one thing and pay" minimalists, or phones short on space;
  • Get it: search “TenPayGo” on the Apple App Store (Android channels rolling out);
  • Positioning: Tencent calls it a “virtual travel assistant” — payments plus transport, shopping and dining services, expanding through the pilot;
  • Caveat: still pilot-stage — fees, limits, card coverage and transit depend on the in-app small print; never make it your only method;
  • Relation to WeChat Pay: TenPayGo is the lightweight front door to the same network; they coexist — daily life on Alipay/WeChat, TenPayGo as the low-friction spare.
ℹ The safe stackPrimary: Alipay (international card). Backup: WeChat Pay. Spare/taster: TenPayGo. Floor: ¥300–500 cash. Four layers, zero panic.

5. Does cash still matter?

Importance: ★★☆☆☆ (down, not out). Carry ¥300–500 equivalent for remote stalls, village buses, temple boxes, dead phones and the rare cash-only snack cart.

Exchanging: a little before departure; more in China with your passport at bank branches or hotel front desks — Bank of China branches handle FX most universally; airport counters are worse but fine for emergencies. ATMs marked Visa/Plus or Mastercard/Cirrus are everywhere (bank-attached machines are most reliable); fees depend on your issuer.

✓ Call your bank before departureTell them your destination and dates so "sudden foreign charge" fraud locks don't strand you — the classic payment faceplant of international travel. Also confirm the card allows cross-border card-not-present use (needed for binding).

6. Paying by scenario

ScenarioBest methodNotes
Metro/busAlipay/WeChat “Transport” QRMost cities interoperable; Beijing Yitongxing, Shanghai Metro Dadu Hui as alternates
Ride-hailingDiDi app (international cards)Cash in-car also possible
TaxisQR, keep cash spareInsist on the meter
Chains / mallsQR or foreign-card POSLarge merchants take cards widely
Street food / marketsQR (some CN-cards-only) or cashHave the vendor scan YOUR payment code — usually solves it
Train tickets12306 app/site (international cards)Passport-based real-name ticketing
AttractionsOfficial WeChat mini-programsBook real-name slots early for hot sites
⚠ "Card not supported" momentsA shrinking minority of POS terminals take domestic cards only. Fixes: ① have them scan your payment code (routes through the international-card channel); ② cash; ③ a neighbouring shop pays and you transfer them back. No drama — it's rare now.

7. Tipping, refunds & budgets

  • Tipping: not a thing in China. Fine dining adds 10–15% service on the bill; bellhops and guides appreciate but don't expect;
  • Departure tax refund: spend ¥500+ at one tax-refund store in a day → ≈9% back at departure. Keep invoices and refund forms; Hainan runs its own offshore-duty-free system;
  • Daily budget (pp): backpacker ¥300–500 (hostel, local food, transit) | comfortable ¥600–1,000 (3–4★, special meals, taxis) | premium ¥1,500+ (5★, curated experiences). Tier-1 cities +30%.

8. Payment safety

  • Payments sit behind passcode/biometrics — guard the phone, not the wallet;
  • Never screenshot or forward your payment code — it IS money;
  • Treat "scan for a free gift" booths with suspicion (data harvesting);
  • Keep card SMS alerts on; freeze at the first anomaly.