Pay with confidence

Who this is for

Visitors who want to prepare a payment method before landing, without opening a Chinese bank account. Alipay and WeChat Pay support eligible international cards, subject to the app’s checks and your card issuer.

What to prepare

Have your phone, your own bank card and access to verification messages ready. Keep your passport available if the official app requests identity verification. Do not send your card or passport details to this website.

Set up before departure

Install Alipay or WeChat from its official app-store listing. Check the developer rather than using a download link from an unsolicited message.
Create your account with a phone number you can access abroad. Complete the current sign-in and verification instructions.
Find the card or wallet section, add your own supported card, and complete the bank’s approval step. Exact menu labels can change with app versions and language settings.
Read the payment conditions shown in the app. Card support, fees, limits and available features can vary. Linking a card does not guarantee that every transaction will work.
Make sure you know how to contact your bank from abroad and have another way to pay.

At the checkout

There are two common QR-code flows: you scan the merchant’s code, or the merchant scans your payment code. Ask the cashier which one to use. Confirm the merchant, amount and currency before approving a payment, then check the transaction result before trying again.

Try your first purchase somewhere unhurried so you have time to understand the process. Never share a screenshot of your payment code.

Keep a backup

Bring a physical bank card and arrange access to RMB cash. Card acceptance varies by merchant; check the logos and ask staff. Official guidance describes cash, cards and mobile payments as available options. Do not plan your whole trip around one app or one card.

If a payment fails

Ask the cashier to confirm whether anything was charged. Check your connection, the selected payment method and your bank’s verification messages. If it still fails, use your backup and contact the payment provider or bank through its official support channel. Repeatedly retrying the same payment can make it harder to track what happened.

For the screenshots and newest interface instructions, follow the official resources below. This guide is source-reviewed; it is not a live test of your card or app account.