A week in China - Where/What?

[PaulyB]

I have just come to this thread because I have a friend who has asked for help setting up Wise for use on a 2 week holiday in China. I think it is a tour but don't know the details. I am surprised (and a little concerned) to see that there is not one mention of Wise as a payment option. The focus is AliPay.

I'd appreciate any experience on this matter. Is Wise a bad choice?

 

[markis10]

The focus is AliPay.

I'd appreciate any experience on this matter. Is Wise a bad choice?

Foreign cards are not accepted at many places in China, you need to setup Alipay/WeChat pay and then use the wise card as the source.

 

[PaulyB]

Foreign cards are not accepted at many places in China, you need to setup Alipay/WeChat pay and then use the wise card as the source.

Ah - I see. Thanks! So the easiest option is just transfer the money to AliPay?

 

[markis10]

Ah - I see. Thanks! So the easiest option is just transfer the money to AliPay?

You don’t need to have a balance in Alipay, just a card the Alipay can charge realtime when you use a QR code to make a payment or use Alipay to buy a metro ticket etc

How to Use Alipay in China 2026: Alipay for Foreigners | Trip.com

Learn how foreigners can use Alipay in China without a Chinese bank card. Link international Visa/Mastercard, use the Tour Pass, and pay for taxis, shopping, and more.

www.trip.com

 

[elanshin]

Ah - I see. Thanks! So the easiest option is just transfer the money to AliPay?

Alipay is a payment Gateway for foreigners. Unless you are a local you can not use it as a wallet that has a balance.

Basically think of it as the eftpos machine (except its all digital and QR codes). There are things that won't accept foreign cards as well but those are rarer now.

 

[markis10]

Alipay is a payment Gateway for foreigners. Unless you are a local you can not use it as a wallet that has a balance.

You don’t need to be a local to load a balance on AliPay from you Chinese bank account, just before COVID Alipay introduced Tourpass (see step 5 on the trip.com guide) to use it as a wallet with the caveats that it’s time limited and unused funds are not refunded, so not of much use anyway unless you are transacting with a merchant that needs it. I have RMB 4.48 in my wallet LOL

 

[BjJames]

Ah - I see. Thanks! So the easiest option is just transfer the money to AliPay?

No need to transfer any money to AliPay. Just install the app and add your credit card as a means of payment I.e. link your card .. in fact you can link more than one and set one of them as your default.. that way if the connection fails on one you can switch to another.
My advice would be to install WeChat also and do the same . Some (few) merchants accept only one if them.
I’m currently in China travelling in the far north.. but live in Beijing.
Never any problem paying… once you get the hang of it. Some merchants want to your scan your code.. others you scan theirs

 

[PaulyB]

I realise this is off topic but do we need to do the whole add passport or licence thing with alichat? Just setting it up

 

[SYD]

I realise this is off topic but do we need to do the whole add passport or licence thing with alichat? Just setting it up

You only need to verify your account if your spending over a threshold - which is quite high.

The advice above about linking two cards is wise (no pun intended).