Your foreign Visa, Mastercard or Amex does work in China, but you cannot just tap it. You bind the card inside Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay by scanning a QR code. No Chinese bank account is required.
Anything at or below ¥200 is free. Above ¥200 both apps charge 3% on the full amount, not just the part above ¥200. A ¥250 bill costs ¥7.50 in fees.
Install and verify both apps before you fly. Downloading and verifying them after landing is where most trips go wrong.
Start with these
- 1Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you flyCard binding + identity check needs a working phone and often a code sent to your home number.
- 2If Alipay already blocked youMost restrictions are temporary and there is an in-app appeal that works.
- 3Carry a little cash for the first few hoursAirport taxis, small shops and some ticket windows still take notes.
All guides in this section
When Alipay goes wrong3
Alipay Account Restricted? What It Means and How to Fix It (2026)Why an account gets restricted, and how to get it back.
“Bank Card Not Supported” on Alipay: Every Cause and the Fix (2026)The three different errors hiding behind one message.
Can You Use Alipay Without a Passport?What you can and cannot do without passport verification.