How to pay in China: A guide to new payment options (2024)

FAQs

What is the payment method in China? ›

China is primarily a cashless and cardless economy, with the vast majority of shoppers using their phones (digital wallets) to pay for items in person and online. Digital wallets WeChat Pay and Alipay are China's two most popular payment methods, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the mobile payments market.

Alipay and WeChat are the most commonly used payment apps. As we mentioned before, Alipay is recommended for international visitors because setting it up is expected to be easier and less prone to issues.

Alipay and WeChat Pay, China's two major payment apps, now allow foreign users to link their international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard, to their platforms, greatly streamlining the payment processes.

Overview: The Digital RMB is a legal digital currency issued by the People's Bank of China, intended to replace some of the circulating paper and coin currency. Features: Equivalent to traditional RMB, maintains anonymity, and supports online and offline payments.

Alipay is the most frequently used payment app in China. Users can make payments easily by scanning a QR code with Alipay. It allows linking to Visa debit/credit cards without the need for a Chinese phone number. With over 1.3 billion users, Alipay dominates the digital wallet market, holding a 55% share.

Bank or Wire Transfer

International bank or wire transfers are a popular choice for businesses to send global payments due to their common usage and effectiveness. All major banks in China, as well as every other country, utilize the SWIFT code system for secure international bank transfers between bank accounts.

Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover cards can all be added to Alipay. QR code. Method 2: Tap "Pay/Receive", and present your QR code to the merchant. (1) Search for WeChat in the app store, and download it.

Yes. PayPal can definitely work in China. The service of PayPal is now available in 200 countries and regions, including Hong Kong China, Taiwan China, and Mainland China¹.

Will my credit or debit card work in China? Most Chinese ATMs accept Visa (Plus), Cirrus and Maestro. They accept both chip-and-pin cards and cards with only a magnetic stripe on the back. There are also special ATMs for foreign cards in many major business and shopping areas.

Does China accept Apple Pay? ›

* In China mainland, you can use Apple Pay on the web in Safari only on compatible iPhone and iPad models using iOS 11.2 or later.

It's easy to send money from the United States and receive money in China with MoneyGram. Use your Visa or Mastercard debit card to send to a bank account or for cash pickup in China, to thousands of places where you see the MoneyGram sign.

China's two primary payment apps, Alipay and WeChat pay, launched respectively in 2004 and 2013. Today, they slickly integrate retail purchases, person-to-person money transfers, transport bookings, and a host of other transactions.

Most Chinese pay nowadays with their phone with AliPay or WeChatPay. And I also paid almost everything with my phone during my travels in May/June last year and recently in January. It's very practical. But you can still pay with cash in China although getting back the exact amount can be a problem.

Yes. PayPal can definitely work in China. The service of PayPal is now available in 200 countries and regions, including Hong Kong China, Taiwan China, and Mainland China¹.

* In China mainland, you can use Apple Pay on the web in Safari only on compatible iPhone and iPad models using iOS 11.2 or later.

WeChat Pay may be better if the majority of your income is earned and spent in China, and you are looking for an online payment system that integrates into China's most popular social media platform. But if global convenience for financial services is a priority for you, consider Alipay.