Alipay in China

[mummynew]

did you click the receive button, is it really inside the wallet ? otherwise it will be returned to the payee within 2 weeks

Emmm, so far I have not clicked any receive button (when my friend transferred money to me).

'Inside the wallet' means I can use the money? (I have been using the money to taobao so far but that's before I updating my passport details with bank next week):

 

[mngedo]

Emmm, so far I have not clicked any receive button (when my friend transferred money to me).

'Inside the wallet' means I can use the money? (I have been using the money to taobao so far but that's before I updating my passport details with bank next week):

I will also be going to China later this month to try and un-freeze my China bank account with the new passport. As I no longer use the China phone number which is tied to the bank account so I can’t even login now.

 

[mummynew]

I will also be going to China later this month to try and un-freeze my China bank account with the new passport. As I no longer use the China phone number which is tied to the bank account so I can’t even login now.

I think you need a china number to tie to the bank, meaning you may have to get one before you go and update your passport particulars.

My ac was opened in Guangzhou and all the while I thought only can update my passport particulars in GZ original opening branch, but after checking, it can be updated in Suzhou branch as well (then save my trip to GZ).

* My China sim under Unicom. Monthly subscription is RMB6. Data package price:

 

[mngedo]

I think you need a china number to tie to the bank, meaning you may have to get one before you go and update your passport particulars.

My ac was opened in Guangzhou and all the while I thought only can update my passport particulars in GZ original opening branch, but after checking, it can be updated in Suzhou branch as well (then save my trip to GZ).

* My China sim under Unicom. Monthly subscription is RMB6. Data package price:

Thanks for sharing! This is helpful as I will need to get a China number and maintain it at low cost.

 

[yoongf]

Seems like changi airport app.. has a e-wallet call changipay... that can be pay thru alipay QR codes.

https://soyacincau.com/2023/09/19/1...e-seamless-alipay-payments-in-mainland-china/

 

[wishaaaaa]

Seems like changi airport app.. has a e-wallet call changipay... that can be pay thru alipay QR codes.

https://soyacincau.com/2023/09/19/1...e-seamless-alipay-payments-in-mainland-china/

Hi,

Anyone tried using this changi airport app? Is there any transaction charges ? Please share your experiences. Thanks

 

[mummynew]

Chanced upon this recent report on tourists facing difficulties in spending money in China:

 

[froztheart]

Seems like changi airport app.. has a e-wallet call changipay... that can be pay thru alipay QR codes.

https://soyacincau.com/2023/09/19/1...e-seamless-alipay-payments-in-mainland-china/

Yes, its rolled out since the 2nd half of last year IIRC, but through Liquid account topup.

Hi,

Anyone tried using this changi airport app? Is there any transaction charges ? Please share your experiences. Thanks

"Pay like a local with Changi Pay at Alipay+ enabled merchants and enjoy competitive exchange rates and no transaction fees. "
ChangiPay
FAQ

 

[16/8IF]

very detail report.​

​

Payment Service Guide for Overseas Visitors to Guangdong released​

https://www.newsgd.com/node_5c070fdd03/e0e42121ca.shtml​

 

[vibranze]

Thanks for sharing, I guess this is applicable to other cities as well?

 

[hfngshnll]

Thanks for sharing, I guess this is applicable to other cities as well?

china is a very large country. it will take a lot of time and effort to fully roll out the implementations everywhere.

i went in january this year and used youtrip-linked alipay for the first time. scan them or they scan me for payments no problem for me.

but for public transport, it varies a lot. in the 2nd tier city i went, mrt qr code could not be activated as they still do not accept non china phone no., but the bus qr code could be activated. i also went to 3rd-5th tier cities with no mrt, 2 cities bus qr codes could be activated, 1 city bus qr code could not be activated because the id required is china id card, and not passport. for my coming trip to another 2nd tier city, i could activate the mrt qr code and 1 bus company qr code. this city has another bus company qr code which could not be activated as again, only for china id card, not passport.

 

[hfngshnll]

very detail report.​

​

Payment Service Guide for Overseas Visitors to Guangdong released​

https://www.newsgd.com/node_5c070fdd03/e0e42121ca.shtml​

lol, just now saw this news on taiwan tvbs about shanghai, the costs and processing fees for overseas cards remain a big hurdle for merchants even in shanghai touristy areas.

 

[16/8IF]

lol, just now saw this news on taiwan tvbs about shanghai, the costs and processing fees for overseas cards remain a big hurdle for merchants even in shanghai touristy areas.

In actual fact, if they just "linked their overseas CC" to WeChat Pay and Alipay, they work exactly like
a credit card thru both Apps.

The concerned some of them have is there could be "fraud" where their card are "compromised" if they used WeChat Pay and Alipay, but if they used just their overseas credit card thru the POS , the same thing can happened. ( if I remembered correctly this happened many years ago before WeChat Pay and Alipay came into the market).


Last year I spend some time in China and used both WeChat Pay and Alipay, as long as you don't spend more than RMB 200 than there is no extra charges.

I did two transactions above to test it and indeed there will be a notice to show you the breakdown and you can choose to proceed or not, of course later I found out when my credit card bill came, the FX rate was not very good. ( i used OCBC CC linked).

Some have suggested on this thread to "break up" the amount to below RMB 200 each time and pay multiple times .

For me I have my own solution, as I have two WeChat Pay accounts and 1 Alipay . One of the WeChat Pay account is linked with a China bank account, so I do "red packet" transfers to top-up my the other two accounts wallet thus "evade" the additional cost.

Some also suggested you can ask merchants or the Hotel to top up your account for you , I haven't try this so cant really share my experience in this area, maybe some here have and can share ?

Overall always bring some small denomination bank notes as a "fallback". ( I do that as well, 5,10,20 & 50).

 

[lionheart80]

will be going for my virgin trip to beijing in 2 weeks time and had linked my alipay and wechat pay with trust and youtrip card with changipay as backup

just wanna ask if the convenience stores over there like 7-11 accept cash payments as would like to get smaller notes else can help to advise where are the places we spend to get smaller denomination notes

 

[16/8IF]

will be going for my virgin trip to beijing in 2 weeks time and had linked my alipay and wechat pay with trust and youtrip card with changipay as backup

just wanna ask if the convenience stores over there like 7-11 accept cash payments as would like to get smaller notes else can help to advise where are the places we spend to get smaller denomination notes

Not sure about Beijing haven't been there for donkey years but others cities yes, and in fact I always try to buy some small stuff(choclate etc) at the airport to break my RMB 100.

 

[natas]

will be going for my virgin trip to beijing in 2 weeks time and had linked my alipay and wechat pay with trust and youtrip card with changipay as backup

just wanna ask if the convenience stores over there like 7-11 accept cash payments as would like to get smaller notes else can help to advise where are the places we spend to get smaller denomination notes

If u read, a lot mentioned, yes cash is accepted. Of cause if u buy a bottle of mineral water n u pay by 100rmb, the cashier might reject or show u not enough cash to return u. I was in China last dec... when alipay failed, I used cash.

 

[fishypop]

Do you guys use Singapore credit card to link to Alipay? Wouldn't that incur alot of FX transaction fees?

And is Alipay considered "online transactions"?

 

[natas]

Do you guys use Singapore credit card to link to Alipay? Wouldn't that incur alot of FX transaction fees?

And is Alipay considered "online transactions"?

Do u have a choice? U have a china bank account or cc? If u dun feel like paying extra....then use cash.

 

[vibranze]

will be going for my virgin trip to beijing in 2 weeks time and had linked my alipay and wechat pay with trust and youtrip card with changipay as backup

just wanna ask if the convenience stores over there like 7-11 accept cash payments as would like to get smaller notes else can help to advise where are the places we spend to get smaller denomination notes

What is changipay ah, can use in China too? I linked my alipay and wechat pay to my Revolut card, but dunno if i setup correctly or not since no way to test it here.

 

[hfngshnll]

In actual fact, if they just "linked their overseas CC" to WeChat Pay and Alipay, they work exactly like
a credit card thru both Apps.

agree that this is the best way forward for both tourists and the merchants.

main issues for tourists (esp the angmohs) is privacy and fear factors about installing prc apps.
main issue for merchants is the additional overheads to absorb for accepting the overseas card directly.
main challenge for the prc govt is to remove from their various systems (at city, town and business entity levels) of the requirements for china-only phone no. and china-id only)

The concerned some of them have is there could be "fraud" where their card are "compromised" if they used WeChat Pay and Alipay, but if they used just their overseas credit card thru the POS , the same thing can happened. ( if I remembered correctly this happened many years ago before WeChat Pay and Alipay came into the market).

frauds can happen at different layers : phone, app or the card/pos levels. i use youtrip debit card to minimize this risk. the card only got some money when i travel overseas, there is no direct link to any of my credit cards or bank accounts, and i always lock the card when back in hotel room. lol.