Payments

Check your card, Alipay, and WeChat Pay setup before China.

In about 2 minutes, check whether your card + Alipay + WeChat Pay setup is ready, get a backup if one QR payment fails, and save the result to your Arrival Plan. No account required.

Answer first

Quick payment plan

The safest simple setup is to have two wallets, at least one linked foreign card, and a small cash/card backup. This checker helps you spot the weak point before you land.

What usually works

Alipay or WeChat Pay with a linked foreign Visa or Mastercard.
A second wallet ready in case a merchant QR works better in the other app.
A small first purchase after landing to confirm the setup in the real world.

What often fails

Waiting until the arrivals hall to verify identity or link the first card.
Relying on Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a physical card as the main plan.
Having only one card from one bank, then hitting a fraud block or verification prompt.

Before you arrive

Install Alipay and WeChat.
Finish passport verification.
Link your main card and, if possible, one backup card.
Make sure your bank texts or app codes can reach you while traveling.

If it fails after landing

Try the other wallet or card.
Ask the cashier to scan your code.
Pay cash for the one purchase and fix the app somewhere calmer.

Cash/card fallback

Cash and physical cards are useful safety nets, but the everyday plan is still a working QR wallet.

Simple answer

Short answer: before China, have Alipay or WeChat Pay working with a foreign card, then keep a second wallet, a backup card, and a little RMB cash. If the first QR payment fails after landing, switch wallet or card, ask the cashier to scan your code, or use cash for that one purchase.

Arrival Plan · setup tool

Build your full Arrival Plan →

Check your payment setup

Start with the card you have, then confirm your wallets and backup.

Step 1

Card and wallet readiness

What card will you mainly use?

Alipay set up yet?

WeChat Pay set up yet?

Step 2

Backup and timing

What backup do you want?

How soon do you leave?

Already in China?

A payment just failed — what now?

Already stuck? Pick what failed.

China is convenient after setup, not before setup. Most of these are friction, not trouble — here's the quick way through.

Every payment topic, in one place

How do I pay in China as a foreigner?

Cards & wallets

Cash & ATM

Backup & testing

Payment-app support, visa rules, and connectivity change. Verify time-sensitive items with official sources before departure.