💳 How to Set Up WeChat Pay / Alipay
Updated September 2026 · Tap any step to expand
Set up WeChat Pay or Alipay before the moment you actually need it.
How to pay in China as a foreigner
Three decisions, in the order you actually meet them: what to install before you fly, what to do in the first 24 hours, and where it breaks if it breaks.
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1
Before you fly: install one app, not two
Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign cards, and either will cover most counters. Some merchants only display one QR code, so the second app is a convenience rather than a requirement. Install at home — the download plus the passport check is far less painful on a network you trust than on airport Wi-Fi.
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2
Your first 24 hours: the order matters
The five steps below are already in the order that works: install, register with a number that will still receive SMS in China, add the card, verify with your passport, then test with something small. The passport check is where most people stall — do it while you still have a fallback, not at a till with a queue behind you.
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3
When it breaks: four failures, not a mystery
Nearly every payment problem here is one of four things: the issuing bank blocks the transaction, your name does not match the passport character for character, verification fails with no explanation, or the amount is above a limit you did not know about. Each has its own free first-step page.
Cash is a real fallback, not a last resort. Merchants in China are required to accept RMB cash, so a shop that only shows a QR code still has to take your notes.
Open the app store that came with your phone (App Store on iPhone, Google Play or your phone's built-in store on Android). Search for "WeChat" or "Alipay" and download the official app.
- iPhone: open App Store, search "WeChat" or "Alipay"
- Android: open Google Play or your phone's built-in app store
- Verify the developer name before downloading
Official websites:
WeChat official site Alipay official siteOpen the app and sign up with your phone number. Select your country code, enter your number, and enter the verification code.
- Use a number that can receive international SMS
- If you don't receive the code, wait 60 seconds and try again
- Some carriers block SMS from China — contact your carrier if it fails repeatedly
Go to Wallet → Add Bank Card. Enter your Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express card details.
- WeChat: Me → Services → Wallet → Bank Cards → Add Bank Card
- Alipay: Me → Bank Cards → Add Bank Card
- Your card must support international transactions
Select your ID type
When prompted, choose "Passport" as your ID type. Take a photo of your passport and complete face verification if required.
- Choose "Passport" — NOT "Other ID"
- Your name must match your passport exactly
- Make sure the passport photo is clear and not blurry
Show this code to the cashier
You're ready. Scan QR codes at shops, restaurants, and taxis. Or show your payment code to the cashier.
- Scan: tap the "Scan" button and point at the merchant's QR code
- Pay: show your payment code to the cashier to scan
- Some large purchases may not accept foreign cards — carry cash as backup
Fees & limits at a glance
For foreign cards on Alipay / WeChat Pay. Rules change — confirm in the app before relying on these.
Limits apply after passport verification. A foreign card can pay merchants but cannot transfer, send red packets, or buy wealth products.
Which cards work with which app
| Card network | Alipay | WeChat Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| American Express | ✓ | ✓ |
| JCB | ✓ | ✓ |
| Discover / Diners | ✓ | ✓ |
| UnionPay (overseas-issued) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wise | ✓ | ✓ |
| Revolut | ~ Usually | ~ Usually |
Amex accepted since Feb 2025; JCB since Aug 2023. Revolut routes through Visa/Mastercard and has no official China documentation — treat as “usually works”.
The 5 steps above cover the basics. But here's what actually goes wrong — and what the full guide solves:
- Your card is declined even though it works elsewhere
- You selected the wrong ID type and can't change it
- Your name doesn't match your passport exactly
- Your bank blocks the transaction for security
- The verification fails and you don't know why
- You can receive payments but can't make them
- Your account gets flagged for unusual activity
The full guide covers 15+ issues with step-by-step fixes.
Don't get stuck at Step 3.
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