Ditch the Cash: A Foreigner’s Guide to China’s QR Code Payment Revolution

Setup the Payment

The two dominant players in China’s QR code payment landscape are Alipay and WeChat Pay, integrated within the immensely popular Alipay and WeChat apps, respectively. Understanding how to set up and use these platforms is key to navigating daily transactions in China.

Setting Up Your Digital Wallet: Binding Your Foreign Credit Card

Both Alipay and WeChat Pay are increasingly accommodating foreign visitors by allowing them to link international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) to their accounts. Here’s a general guide:

Alipay:

1. Download and Install Alipay: Obtain the Alipay app from your app store.
2. Sign Up/Log In: Create an account using your phone number (international numbers are often accepted).
3. Navigate to “Bank Cards”: Look for a section labeled “Bank Cards” (银行卡 – Yínháng Kǎ) or similar within your profile or payment settings.
4. Add a Bank Card: Tap on “Add Bank Card” (添加银行卡 – Tiānjiā Yínháng Kǎ).
5. Enter Card Details: Fill in your international credit card number, expiry date, CVV, and billing address.
6. Verification: You may need to go through a verification process, which might involve receiving an SMS code on your registered phone number or other authentication methods.
7. Complete Binding: Once verified, your foreign credit card should be linked to your Alipay account.

WeChat Pay:

1. Download and Install WeChat: Obtain the WeChat app from your app store.
2. Sign Up/Log In: Create an account or log in to your existing WeChat account.
3. Access WeChat Pay: Tap on “Me” (我) in the bottom right corner, then select “Pay” (支付).
4. Tap “Wallet”: In the WeChat Pay screen, tap on “Wallet” (钱包).
5. Select “Cards”: Choose “Cards” (银行卡 – Yínháng Kǎ).
6. Add a Bank Card: Tap on “Add a Bank Card” (添加银行卡 – Tiānjiā Yínháng Kǎ).
7. Enter Card Details: Fill in your international credit card number, expiry date, CVV, and billing address.
8. Verification: Similar to Alipay, you might need to verify your card through an SMS code or other methods.
9. Complete Binding: Once verified, your foreign credit card will be linked to your WeChat Pay account.

Important Notes on Binding Foreign Cards:

• Success May Vary: While both platforms are improving support for foreign cards, the success rate can depend on your card issuer and specific bank policies.
• Limited Functionality: Be aware that some functionalities within Alipay and WeChat Pay might be limited when using foreign cards compared to local Chinese bank cards. For instance, peer-to-peer transfers might not be available.
• Transaction Limits: There might be transaction limits for foreign credit cards.

Paying with a Scan

Once your payment method is linked, using QR codes is incredibly simple:

“Scan to Pay” (扫一扫 – Sǎo Yī Sǎo): This is the most common method.

1. Open Alipay or WeChat Pay: Launch the respective app.
2. Tap “Scan”: Look for a “Scan” (扫一扫) icon, usually located in the top right corner or as a prominent button on the payment screen.
3. Scan the Merchant’s QR Code: Point your phone’s camera at the QR code displayed by the merchant (often a static image or a dynamic code on a payment terminal).
4. Enter Amount (If Required): Sometimes, you’ll need to manually enter the payment amount.
5. Confirm Payment: Tap “Pay Now” or a similar confirmation button. You might be asked to enter a payment password or use biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition).
6. Payment Successful: You’ll see a confirmation screen indicating that the payment was successful.

“Show to Pay” (付款码 – Fùkuǎn Mǎ): For some merchants, you might need to generate your own payment code to be scanned by their terminal.

1. Open Alipay or WeChat Pay: Launch the app.
2. Access “Payment Code”: Look for “Payment Code” (付款码), “Pay” (收付款), or a barcode/QR code icon, usually located at the bottom of the payment screen.
3. Show Your Code: A unique barcode and QR code will appear on your screen. Present this code to the merchant’s scanner. The payment will be automatically deducted from your linked payment method.

Paying with a touch

While “Scan to Pay” via QR codes remains the dominant payment method in China, Alipay has introduced another convenient option for in-person transactions: “Tap and Pay” (碰一碰 – Pèng Yī Pèng). This Near-Field Communication (NFC)-based technology offers an even quicker and sometimes more intuitive way to pay, especially in situations where scanning a QR code might be slightly less convenient.

Understanding Alipay’s “Tap and Pay” (碰一碰)

“Tap and Pay” allows you to make payments by simply tapping your mobile phone against a compatible Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal. This technology leverages NFC, the same communication protocol used for contactless payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay in other parts of the world. Alipay’s implementation aims to streamline the payment process further, offering an alternative to scanning QR codes.

How “Tap and Pay” Works:

1. Ensure NFC is Enabled: On your smartphone, you’ll need to have the NFC (Near-Field Communication) feature turned on in your device’s settings.
2. Open Alipay: Launch the Alipay app on your phone.
3. Access “Tap and Pay”: Look for an option related to “Tap and Pay” (碰一碰), “NFC Payment” (NFC支付 – NFC Zhīfù), or similar within the Alipay app’s payment settings or main screen. You might need to navigate through menus or look for a dedicated icon.
4. Select Your Payment Method: Ensure your preferred linked payment method (e.g., your bound international credit card or Alipay balance) is selected for NFC payments.
5. Tap Your Phone: When making a purchase at a participating merchant, look for the contactless payment symbol (similar to Wi-Fi waves) on the POS terminal. Gently tap the back of your phone against this symbol.
6. Authentication (If Required): Depending on the transaction amount and your settings, you might be prompted for further authentication, such as your Alipay payment password or biometric verification (fingerprint or facial recognition).
7. Payment Successful: Once the transaction is complete, you’ll see a confirmation on the POS terminal and within your Alipay app.