A practical guide for foreign visitors on setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay before arriving in China, linking foreign cards, handling payment failures, and carrying cash as backup.
Your Visa or Mastercard is added to Alipay or WeChat Pay, you land in China, and every payment gets declined. Here is why it happens and the same-day fix for foreign travelers.
A practical, step-by-step guide to paying in China as a foreign visitor: Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign Visa or Mastercard, ATM cash withdrawal, and what to carry as a backup.
Side-by-side comparison of Revolut, Wise, and Curve for foreign travelers using Alipay and WeChat Pay in China, with practical advice on fees, exchange rate, and which card to bind first.
A practical 2026 guide explaining how foreign visitors can pay in China using Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayPal, and credit cards, with setup steps and common mistakes to avoid.
This guide lists the six China travel apps that work with only a foreign phone number, passport, and Visa or Mastercard, and the three apps to skip on a short trip.
This guide explains how foreign travelers can use Meituan, Dianping, and Taobao in China with only a foreign phone number, and when a Chinese SIM becomes worth the money.
A practical guide to the essential apps every first-time visitor needs before landing in China: Alipay, WeChat, Amap, 12306, plus DiDi and Dianping for food and transport.
Step-by-step guide for foreign travelers to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay, link an international Visa or Mastercard, and know when cash is still needed in China.
This guide explains how foreign travelers can pay in China using Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, or cards, with step-by-step setup and common mistakes to avoid.
US travelers can now use PayPal in China by scanning WeChat Pay merchant QR codes. This guide explains how the PayPal-WeChat Pay integration works, what fees apply, and what you need to do before you go.
Understand every fee layer when using PayPal with WeChat Pay QR codes in China — the 3% processing fee, the ¥200 fee-free threshold, PayPal's conversion markup, and how to minimize costs.
Compare PayPal, Alipay, and WeChat Pay for your China trip. This guide covers setup difficulty, merchant acceptance, fees, and which method fits your travel style in 2026.
A practical guide to China's mobile-payment ecosystem for foreign travelers: how to set up WeChat Pay and Alipay before arrival, what the phone replaces in daily life, and what to do when things go wrong.
A realistic guide to payment methods in China for foreign visitors. Covers Alipay Tour Pass setup, WeChat Pay as backup, why Visa and Google Pay do not work, and how much cash to bring in small denominations.
This guide explains how foreign tourists can set up Alipay and WeChat Pay, avoid fees on international cards, and navigate China's cashless society.
Step-by-step guide for foreign visitors to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with international credit cards. Essential for paying in China's cashless society.
Alipay is generally better for foreign travelers because it works more reliably outside China, has clearer international card support, and offers smoother public transport integration. WeChat Pay works well once in China but has more setup hurdles.
Direct foreign credit card acceptance is very limited in China. Most shops only accept Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash. International brand stores and hotels may accept foreign cards, but mobile payment apps are essential for daily spending.
A practical guide to payment options for foreign travelers in China, including how to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with international cards and when to carry cash.