WeChat Pay & Alipay Guide

🇨🇳 The reality of payments in China

China is overwhelmingly cashless. Most merchants — restaurants, convenience stores, taxi drivers, temple ticket booths, even some street vendors — display a QR code at the counter. You scan it with your phone, enter the amount, and pay. No tap, no swipe, no signature.

WeChat Pay and Alipay together cover well over 90% of all mobile payment transactions in China. Having both apps installed is the safest bet: some smaller merchants only have one.

Step-by-step setup

1. Download WeChat from the App Store or Google Play. Install it before you arrive in China if possible.
2. Create an account using your phone number. You'll receive an SMS verification code.
3. Add a friend or join a group (optional but helpful). WeChat needs a small amount of activity before enabling payments.
4. Go to Me → Services → Wallet. Tap "Add a Card" to link your international Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover or Diners Club card.
5. Verify your identity: You'll need to enter your passport details. Some users may be prompted for a facial verification scan.
6. Set a 6-digit payment PIN — this is used for every transaction. Don't forget it.
7. Once the card is linked, you're ready. Look for the "Scan" icon in the top-right corner of the home screen to pay at merchants.

💳 Card linking & fees

🧧 Key WeChat Pay features

• ✓ Scan to Pay — The default way to pay. Scan the merchant's QR code, enter the amount, confirm.
• ✓ Quick Pay (Show Code) — The merchant scans your QR code. No amount entry needed.
• ✓ Red Packets (Hongbao) — Send money in chat as a gift. Essential for group dinners and celebrations.
• ✓ Split Bills — Divide a restaurant bill among friends in a group chat. Very common in China.
• ✓ Mini Programs — Pay for Didi rides, Meituan food delivery, train tickets and more without leaving WeChat.

Step-by-step setup

1. Download Alipay from the App Store or Google Play. Look for the blue-and-white logo.
2. Register with your international phone number. Unlike WeChat, Alipay has a dedicated "International" mode.
3. Open the app and tap "Sign Up". Choose "Register with an overseas number". You'll receive an SMS code.
4. Go to Me → Bank Cards and tap the "+" icon. Select "Add international card".
5. Enter your card details. Alipay supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club and UnionPay.
6. Verify your identity with passport details and, in most cases, a facial recognition scan.
7. Once verified, your card shows up in the wallet. Go to "Pay" to scan a merchant QR code or show your payment code.

💳 Card linking & fees

🧧 Key Alipay features

• ✓ Scan to Pay — Same as WeChat. Scan the merchant's QR code, pay.
• ✓ Payment Code — Show your QR code for the merchant to scan (great for busy counters).
• ✓ Alipay+ — Some overseas e-wallets (like Kakao Pay, GCash, TrueMoney) work directly with Alipay merchants in China.
• ✓ Travel Perks — Discounted museum tickets, airport lounge access, travel insurance.
• ✓ Mini Programs — Book hotels on Fliggy, order Didi rides, pay utility bills, and more.
• ✓ Yu'e Bao — A money-market fund built into Alipay. Not useful for short-term travellers.

📸 Method A: Merchant-presented QR (You scan)

Most restaurants, shops and street vendors display a printed QR code on the counter or wall.

1. Open WeChat or Alipay
2. Tap the "Scan" icon (top-right in WeChat, bottom-left "Scan" in Alipay)
3. Scan the merchant's QR code
4. Enter the amount you need to pay
5. Add a note if you want (optional)
6. Enter your 6-digit PIN → done

📱 Method B: Customer-presented QR (They scan)

Faster for fixed-price items (convenience stores, supermarkets, ticket counters).

1. Open WeChat or Alipay
2. WeChat: Tap "Me → Services → Wallet → QR Code"
3. Alipay: Tap "Pay" on the home screen
4. A large QR code (and barcode underneath) appears on your screen
5. The merchant scans it with their handheld scanner
6. The amount is deducted automatically → done

🛡️ Security & common sense

• ✓ Enable payment code protection — Both apps have a setting to require your PIN before showing the payment QR. Turn it on.
• ✓ Set a daily limit — WeChat Pay and Alipay both allow you to cap daily spending through international cards. Start low.
• ✓ Never screenshot your payment code — Anyone with the image can scan and deduct money.

💡 Practical know-how

• ✓ Carry some cash — ¥200–500 in small notes. Some taxi drivers, rural vendors, and temple donation boxes still only take cash.
• ✓ Alipay's "Discover" tab — Has curated travel guides, restaurant recommendations, and translation tools for tourists.
• ✓ WeChat's "Translate" feature — Long-press a chat message or menu item and tap "Translate" to convert Chinese to English.
• ✓ Receipts are digital — Both apps keep a transaction history you can refer back to. No paper receipts needed.
• ✓ Top-up via friend — If your international card fails, a Chinese friend can top up your WeChat Pay or Alipay balance.

🆕 New & Not Yet Working

• 🆕 PayPal → WeChat Pay (May 2026) — US PayPal users can now scan WeChat Pay QR codes at merchants across China. This is a landmark integration between Tencent and PayPal, announced during APEC 2026. Currently rolling out to US accounts first; expansion to other regions expected.
• ✗ Apple Pay / Google Pay — Almost nowhere accepts NFC payments from Apple Pay or Google Pay. QR is king.
• ✗ Samsung Pay — Similarly, not supported at the vast majority of merchants.