Yes, that is true for WeChat (i.e. we're all screwed without a Chinese ID and/or bank account) but I thought AliPay accepts foreign passports (for its real name verification) as long as you own a Chinese cell number which is easy to get from eBay. Granted you would still be considered "second class citizen" and will have lower limits in terms of how much balance you carry, but if I recall still in the CNY 9000-10,000 range (which is about USD 1,500-2,000 - enough if you're just a tourist). The tourist version of all these are a joke, of course.