If you’ve read our guide on WeChat Pay, you already know that China is a cashless society. Alipay is the other half of this digital ecosystem. Owned by Ant Group (Alibaba’s affiliate), it is equally ubiquitous. Good news: In recent years, Alipay has become even more foreigner-friendly than its competitor, offering higher transaction limits and a smoother experience for international travelers.
Here is your step-by-step guide to setting up and using Alipay in China.
1. Why Alipay?
While WeChat Pay is great for social payments, Alipay often works better for tourists because:
• Higher international card limits: You can pay larger amounts (hotels, tours) more easily.
•The "Tour Pass" Feature: Alipay allows you to load money onto a digital prepaid card, bypassing card fees for small vendors.
• Mini Programs: It has excellent built-in tools for bike-sharing (Hellobike), food delivery, and metro cards.
2. Step 1: Download and Sign Up
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Download: Get the Alipay app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. (Note: If you are in China, Google Play may be blocked; use the App Store or a third-party Android store).
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Sign Up: Open the app. Tap "Sign up with email" or use your international phone number.
○ Tip: Using your email is often more reliable than a phone number for foreigners to avoid SMS delays.
3. Step 2: Adding Your International Card
Alipay officially supports Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover.
1.Go to Me (bottom right corner) > Bank Cards.
2.Tap "Add Card" .
3.Enter your card number. Alipay usually auto-detects it is an international card.
4.Verification: You will need to enter your name exactly as it appears on the card (matching the phonetic spelling) and the billing address of your home country.
Important: While adding the card is free, international cards incur a 3% transaction fee for payments over 200 RMB (approx. $28 USD). However, many small street food payments (under 200 RMB) are fee-free.
4. Step 3: The "Tour Pass" Hack (Highly Recommended)
If you want to avoid the 3% fee entirely and pay like a local, use the Alipay Tour Pass. This is a mini-program within Alipay that acts as a virtual Chinese prepaid card.
1.In the Alipay search bar, type "Tour Pass" .
2.Enter the mini-program.
3.Load money: You can load between 100 RMB and 2,000 RMB (sometimes up to 10,000 RMB) using your international credit card.
4.No Fees: When you use the balance from this Tour Pass, there is no transaction fee, even for small vendors.
5.Refund: At the end of your trip, you can refund the unused balance back to your card (though exchange rate fluctuations may apply).
5. How to Pay
Once your card or Tour Pass is set up, paying is identical to WeChat:
• Scan (Merchant): If the vendor shows you a QR code (the square black/blue pattern), open Alipay, tap "Scan" , point your camera at it, and enter the amount.
• Pay Code (You): If the vendor has a scanner (like in supermarkets), tap "Pay" on the top left of the home screen. This shows your QR code. Let the cashier scan it.
6. Where Can You Use It?
Everywhere. Seriously.
• High-end: Hotels, department stores (SKP, IFC).
• Mid-range: Restaurants, Starbucks, Hema (Alibaba’s supermarket).
• Street level: Fruit stands, taxis, subway tickets (via the "Metro" mini-program).
• Vending machines: Almost all vending machines accept Alipay.
7. Common Issues & Troubleshooting
• "Transaction Declined" by Bank: Some US or European banks automatically block large transactions in China. Call your bank before your trip to authorize your card for "China use" to prevent temporary locks.
• Name Mismatch: When adding your card, if your name is "JOHN DOE," but your passport says "JOHN M DOE," try both variations. Alipay matches the name against your bank’s records.
• Identity Verification (KYC): Occasionally, Alipay will ask for a photo of your passport for "Know Your Customer" (KYC) verification to lift payment limits. This is safe and necessary for high-value transactions.
8. Alipay vs. WeChat Pay: Which to Choose?
• For small, daily expenses (street food, coffee): Alipay Tour Pass is better because it avoids the 3% fee entirely.
• For convenience: Both. Most vendors accept both. I recommend setting up both apps before you leave home. If one has a technical glitch, the other is your backup.
9. Final Tips
• Internet: Alipay needs data to work. Buy an eSIM (Airalo, Nomad) or a local SIM card at the airport upon arrival.
• Translation: Alipay has a built-in translation feature. Tap the "More" button on the home screen and look for the Translate icon to scan menus or text.
Conclusion
Alipay has aggressively improved its international support to attract tourists. If you use the Tour Pass, you can effectively use Alipay exactly as a local would, without worrying about foreign transaction fees eating into your budget.
Set it up before you fly, and you’ll be tapping your way through China the moment you land!