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Thread: Opinion: without Alipay and Wechat Pay, you are screwed in Shanghai
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Old Jun 7, 2023 | 6:16 pm
  #431  
gudugan
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Originally Posted by wlau
1) I have a local Chinese mobile. I have been paying 8RMB a month for years to keep that number ever since they did away with disposable prepaid SIM. I usually pay a lumpsum into the account to keep it active while I am outside of China.
2) WeChat has a native Chinese app versus Global app (name in English). I have the Global app. When I was in China last few weeks, I re-registered my ID (passport) and they seem to have approved me. The added US-issued card shows up. However, I tried to log into the app yesterday (in the US) and my previously added card is gone and now it ask me to reverify my ID again This entire process is so mysterious.
3) I have my US mobile number registered on most of my Chinese accounts as I can get free SMS globally. I don't know if the local Chinese mobile can receive SMS in roaming outside of China. I think the 3 carriers in China does provide free incoming SMS while roaming but I am not sure.
4) Even though I have a local Chinese number, I usually use my US-number to register things in China. DiDi specifically has never given me any trouble at all.

Questions for ya
1) As far as AliPay is concerned, I think you are saying you registered an account using Tourcard and then you added a secondary payment card ( your US-issued card ) directly to AliPay, right? Are you using the same card registered with Bank of Shanghai (Tourcard) or a different card?
2) Are you saying even loading the Tourcard balance has a 5% fee?
1- good. You can do that with alipay
2- I am using wechat from Mainland China App Store (iPhone). It’s still named “WeChat” on my phone however. When I put my Chinese phone number in it said it would switch my account from “Wechat” to “微信”. My theory is it’s based on the phone number not the App Store. I agree the process is very mysterious.
3- China Mobile can receive free SMS abroad, I posted in the phone thread.
4-

1- I have never used Tourcard. Malloc has (see upthread). I am using Chase Sapphire Reserve. I think foreign credit card only works after you do passport verification which only works after you have a local phone number.
2- Yes. This is why I don’t want to use it
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