Jun 7, 2023, 10:09 am
Last edit by: gudugan
China has largely moved to a cashless system with two widely accepted payment apps, AliPay and WeChat Pay. Both require extensive identity verification. Assuming you do not live in China (i.e. you are visiting for tourism/short term business, do NOT have a residence permit):
If you are coming for multiple visits:
Go to a China Mobile or China Unicom store and get a cell phone number (estimated time 2.5 hours). Ideally go to the largest branch with most representatives as they will have the best chance of figuring it out. All you need is your passport and cash to pay the initial deposit (I brought Y200). Tourist visa is fine. You want to open this in the area that you will spend the most time in, as they may give you data locked to your province. I am paying Y40 for 12GB data (you need to keep the plan active in some form, even when you are outside of China). More details in https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35217727-post24.html
If you are coming for a one time visit (maximum 10,000 CNY in 180 day period). This method is not currently recommended as the fees are higher than the above method and ID verification is still required.
Currently it is not recommended to open a bank account.
If you are coming for multiple visits:
- July 2023 update: A phone number does not seem to be required any more.
- [Optional but recommended] Open a new AliPay account (even if you have an existing one) because your old one could be in a weird state.
- Verify your passport with AliPay. If you have one, use your Chinese (+86) phone number over a foreign phone number. Many apps act differently if you use foreign phone numbers.
- Your account should be fully active and you can have a friend top up your balance on AliPay and pay with the balance.
- Add a Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club or Discover card to your account. For small purchases you can pay with your foreign credit card with no fee. A purchase of Y271 triggered a 3% fee.
Go to a China Mobile or China Unicom store and get a cell phone number (estimated time 2.5 hours). Ideally go to the largest branch with most representatives as they will have the best chance of figuring it out. All you need is your passport and cash to pay the initial deposit (I brought Y200). Tourist visa is fine. You want to open this in the area that you will spend the most time in, as they may give you data locked to your province. I am paying Y40 for 12GB data (you need to keep the plan active in some form, even when you are outside of China). More details in https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35217727-post24.html
If you are coming for a one time visit (maximum 10,000 CNY in 180 day period). This method is not currently recommended as the fees are higher than the above method and ID verification is still required.
- Download AliPay from the App Store
- In the search box at the top, type "TourCard"
- Verify your information and load money onto it. You will be charged a 5% fee for adding money. If the money is not used fully after 180 days, it will be refunded to your card. The current limit is 10,000 CNY. If you want to top up more than that, you can cancel the card after it expires and reopen a new card. The remaining amount of chargeable balance (max 10,000 CNY) will not be reset if you apply for a refund. My understanding is that since this is linked to your passport, if you need more than 10,000 CNY, you have to use another solution. Restrictions: You cannot transfer money to another account. Does not support wealth management, red envelope, etc.
Currently it is not recommended to open a bank account.
Opinion: without Alipay and Wechat Pay, you are screwed in Shanghai
Jun 3, 2019, 11:55 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,417
Jun 7, 2019, 1:03 pm
#94
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 113
During my last trip to China, I went to a bar with a friend in Beijing and I tried to pay with cash and the person looked so confused. They were probably thinking "... is this?" and then they told me that they didn't carry any cash to make change for the 300 RMB for the 253 RMB bill. I ended up paying 200 in cash and my friend used their WeChat to pay for the rest of it. Very annoying.
Jun 7, 2019, 1:21 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,105
I think that's the real practical issue. Not that places aren't willing to accept cash, but you should always be prepared to fork over exact change since they don't have much cash on hand any longer.
This works the other way, too. If you do pay by phone all the time, then on the rare occasion you need small change -- take a 2RMB local bus, for example -- you probably won't have it.
This works the other way, too. If you do pay by phone all the time, then on the rare occasion you need small change -- take a 2RMB local bus, for example -- you probably won't have it.
Jun 7, 2019, 1:35 pm
#96
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 113
I think that's the real practical issue. Not that places aren't willing to accept cash, but you should always be prepared to fork over exact change since they don't have much cash on hand any longer.
This works the other way, too. If you do pay by phone all the time, then on the rare occasion you need small change -- take a 2RMB local bus, for example -- you probably won't have it.
This works the other way, too. If you do pay by phone all the time, then on the rare occasion you need small change -- take a 2RMB local bus, for example -- you probably won't have it.
Jun 7, 2019, 1:43 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,460
And subway station token machines are getting upgraded at a rather quick pace all across China (PRC only, the rest falling further behind. I almost can't believe the technological gap when travelling to Non-Mainland China areas nowadays) to accept WeChat as well as AliPay.
Jun 8, 2019, 8:56 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Which is way rather quickly more and more buses do accept UnionPay payment (contactless) besides the local public transport card.
And subway station token machines are getting upgraded at a rather quick pace all across China (PRC only, the rest falling further behind. I almost can't believe the technological gap when travelling to Non-Mainland China areas nowadays) to accept WeChat as well as AliPay.
And subway station token machines are getting upgraded at a rather quick pace all across China (PRC only, the rest falling further behind. I almost can't believe the technological gap when travelling to Non-Mainland China areas nowadays) to accept WeChat as well as AliPay.
Jun 9, 2019, 1:16 am
#100
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Jun 25, 2019, 11:38 pm
#101
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,105
Both Alipay and WeChat now have options to let a relative or friend directly use your bank card for payments, including payments with QR codes. You attach them to your account and then set a monthly spending limit. On Alipay this is called 亲密付. On WeChat it's called Relative Cards (on WeChat look under Me > WeChat Pay > Wallet).
This may -- may -- be a way of allowing trustworthy friends visiting China to use QR codes on their phones for payments, if it doesn't require the attached friend or relative to be name verified. But I don't whether this is the case. I also don't know whether it works with Alipay or WeChat accounts opened with non-Mainland mobile numbers.
Perhaps some guinea pigs will try this out and report back.
This may -- may -- be a way of allowing trustworthy friends visiting China to use QR codes on their phones for payments, if it doesn't require the attached friend or relative to be name verified. But I don't whether this is the case. I also don't know whether it works with Alipay or WeChat accounts opened with non-Mainland mobile numbers.
Perhaps some guinea pigs will try this out and report back.
Jul 6, 2019, 9:27 am
#102
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,854
I recently opened a WeChat account in the USA. A friend of mine whom is a USA Expat and has an account in China tied to a China phone number wanted to send me some money so I would be able to pay merchants while traveling in China. I’ve read there’s been some recent changes in the WeChat app that prohibits foreign tourists from doing the same. Seems you need to have Credit card issued by Chinese bank to verify and US cards will not work. This is all new for me any advice. Thanks and enjoy your travels
Jul 6, 2019, 9:35 am
#103
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,113
I haven't tinkered with my settings in a while, but my understanding is that as long as you enroll in wx and/or ap using a PRC phone number, other people can juice your accounts for you. That having been said, spending an hour to get a good bank account is well worth the effort for frequent visitors.
Jul 6, 2019, 9:55 am
#104
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,105
I will repeat once again that I understand that is no longer the case: if the recipient of the funds does not register with a Chinese bank card within 24 hours the funds will automatically go back to the sender.
But you might try "lending" your bank card to your friend per my post above. Let us know if it works.
But you might try "lending" your bank card to your friend per my post above. Let us know if it works.
Jul 6, 2019, 9:59 am
#105
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,854
Thanks to both of you for your replies. The big operative in having him lend me his code is “if” . If it’s for sure, great but I don’t want to be the guinea pig and end up in China and it not working. I read a few blogs and there use to be some workarounds but I guess things are clearly changing. My travel isn’t until early September so I have some time to work it out. I hope those guinea pigs arrive :-)