Using Mobile Payments in China: A Foreign Visitor’s Guide from Linking a Card to Scanning to Pay

Before coming to China, foreign visitors can download Alipay or WeChat and follow the registration instructions to link an international bank card in their own name. Alipay offers an international version, and Weixin Pay also supports several types of internationally issued cards. Some features require identification or real-name information; follow the instructions shown in the app. At a store, you can scan the merchant’s payment code or present your own code for the merchant to scan. Before entering or confirming an amount, check the store name and total, and keep the transaction record after paying. Small purchases are usually convenient, but transfers, red packets, or certain merchants may not support international cards. Carry a small amount of cash and a physical bank card, and enable transaction alerts for your card. Never send your payment code to strangers or use QR codes from unknown sources.