Updated May 2026 · 3 min read

Go2China Pay Guide: Alipay & WeChat Pay for Foreigners (2026)

China is nearly cashless — most shops, restaurants, taxis, and street stalls only accept Alipay or WeChat Pay. The good news: since 2023, both apps let you add a foreign Visa or Mastercard directly, no Chinese bank account required. This go2china pay guide covers everything you need to get set up before you land.

Set up before you arrive. Passport scanning and face verification work more reliably on a fast, unrestricted connection outside China. Don't leave this for the airport.

Step-by-Step Guides

How to Pay in China as a Foreigner

Overview of all payment methods — Alipay, WeChat Pay, Alipay Tour Pass, cash, and foreign cards at POS terminals. Start here if you're not sure which option is right for you.

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How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner

Step-by-step: download, register with a foreign phone number, verify identity with passport, add your Visa or Mastercard. Includes fee details: transactions under ¥200 are free; 3% applies above that.

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How to Set Up WeChat Pay as a Foreigner

Add an international card to WeChat Pay in 10 minutes. Best option if you're already using WeChat to message people. Same fee structure as Alipay: free under ¥200, 3% above.

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Alipay Tour Pass — Prepaid RMB Wallet

Top up a fixed RMB balance with your foreign card. Once loaded, individual payments come from the balance — no 3% fee per transaction. Good for short trips with a fixed budget.

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Key Things to Know

Both Alipay and WeChat Pay work everywhere — shops, restaurants, street food, taxis, trains, and hotels all accept QR code payments. Having both takes about 20 minutes total and gives you a fallback.

The 3% fee only applies to international cards. Transactions under ¥200 are fully waived. For larger purchases, the Alipay Tour Pass (prepaid RMB balance) avoids per-transaction charges entirely.

Cards that work best: physical Visa or Mastercard from a major bank. Some prepaid travel cards and virtual cards (e.g. Revolut virtual) are rejected — bring a backup.

Need the full list of apps to download before going to China?

See the Go2China app checklist →