China is 95% cashless. If you can't scan a QR code, you can't eat, shop, or take a taxi. For years, this was a nightmare for foreign tourists — WeChat Pay and Alipay only accepted Chinese bank accounts. That changed in 2023. Now both apps accept international Visa and Mastercard. Here's exactly how to set it up before you fly.
Setup: 6 Steps, 5 Minutes
Download WeChat
App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Free. Create an account using your US phone number. You'll get a verification SMS.
Open the Wallet
Open WeChat → tap Me (bottom right) → Services → Wallet. If you don't see "Services," your app may need updating or your account needs a few days to activate this feature.
Add your international card
Tap Cards → Add Card → Select International Card → Enter your Visa or Mastercard number, expiry, and CVV. Amex is NOT supported.
Set a 6-digit payment password
This is your PIN for every transaction. Choose something memorable but not obvious. You'll type this every time you pay.
Verify your passport (recommended)
Upload a photo of your passport info page. This increases your daily limit from ¥200/transaction to ¥1,000/day and ¥10,000/month. Takes 1-2 days to verify.
Pay by scanning
At any merchant, open WeChat → tap + (top right) → Scan. Point at the merchant's QR code. Enter amount. Enter PIN. Done. 2 seconds.
Do this BEFORE you fly to China. WeChat account registration requires SMS verification, which may not work reliably on a Chinese SIM. Set up everything on your US phone number at home. Also, new WeChat accounts sometimes need 24-48 hours before the payment feature activates.
Transaction Limits
| Verification Level | Per Transaction | Daily | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card only (no ID) | ¥200 (~$28) | ¥500 (~$70) | ¥3,000 (~$420) |
| Passport verified | ¥1,000 (~$140) | ¥1,000 (~$140) | ¥10,000 (~$1,400) |
For most tourists, the passport-verified tier is enough. A $3 restaurant meal, a $5 taxi ride, a $15 museum ticket — these are well within limits. For larger purchases (hotels, train tickets, shopping), use Trip.com or pay by international card directly at the hotel.
WeChat Pay vs Alipay: Which to Use?
WeChat Pay
Also your messaging app. Everyone in China has WeChat. Add friends, join groups, translate menus. The all-in-one choice.
Alipay
"Tour Pass" mode for foreigners. Slightly higher limits. Better for transit cards and larger purchases. Good backup.
Our recommendation: Set up both. Use WeChat Pay as your primary (because you need WeChat for messaging anyway), and keep Alipay as backup. Between the two, you'll never be unable to pay for anything.
What You Can Pay For
- Restaurants — every restaurant has a QR code, even street stalls
- Taxis and DiDi — pay the driver by scanning, or through the DiDi mini-program inside WeChat
- Street food vendors — yes, the $0.50 dumpling lady has a QR code
- Convenience stores — 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Chinese chains
- Metro and bus — some cities accept WeChat Pay directly; others need a transit mini-program
- Hotels — most accept WeChat Pay at the front desk
- Museums and attractions — book tickets through mini-programs
- Supermarkets and wet markets — scan at self-checkout or the vendor's personal QR
- Hospital registration — many hospitals use WeChat for appointment booking and payment
- Meituan food delivery — order restaurant food to your hotel room via WeChat mini-program
Troubleshooting
- "Payment feature not available" — new accounts need 24-48 hours. Also try updating the app.
- "Card declined" — contact your US bank and tell them you're traveling to China. Some banks block Chinese transactions by default.
- "Exceeded daily limit" — verify your passport in the app to increase limits.
- "QR code not scanning" — make sure you're using WeChat's scanner (not your camera app). Tap + → Scan.
- "Cannot receive SMS" — if you're already in China with a Chinese SIM, verification may fail. This is why we say set up BEFORE you fly.
We Pre-Configure Everything for You
WeChat Pay, Alipay, VPN, eSIM, DiDi, Meituan — all set up before you land. Part of every ChinaWithEase tour package. Zero tech stress on arrival.
Plan My China Trip