Alipay in China

[gregory_choo]

Just added Trust and Youtrip to Alipay using a Singapore phone number.
How can I check if I've setup it correctly and can be used for payment when in China?

test with a valid china merchant qr code.

one way is to go this site: https://testalipay.com
using another hp, notebook or other devices, scroll the page until you see a qr code.
using your alipay app to scan and make payment. any amount will do, i think minimum is rmb 0.01

if the set up is correct, the amount will be deducted from youtrip.

sometimes alipay wants you to go youtrip and approve the transction, especially the first one in new location.

 

[HoGnix]

If select Credit Card to pay, the minimum amount may not 0.01, may be 0.1.

 

[hawkwind]

Just added Trust and Youtrip to Alipay using a Singapore phone number.
How can I check if I've setup it correctly and can be used for payment when in China?

Don't believe there is a fullproof way of checking. I noticed the authorities have set up help kiosks at the airport for assistance with communications and such. Just but something small at one of the shops once arrive and see if it works. Also best to also set up Wechat as well. Sometimes one works while the other doesn't although intermittently.

 

[Shalom_555]

Just added Trust and Youtrip to Alipay using a Singapore phone number.
How can I check if I've setup it correctly and can be used for payment when in China?

One option is to ask someone to scan your alipay and send you 1 rmb (I tried 10 RMB) and if you can receive it, then it should work. You can try vice-versa as well. After receiving rmb, transfer it back

 

[Shalom_555]

For those who who want good exchange rate.... I had my torn ICBC SG debit card (Union Pay) changed yesterday and was informed that I can bind the new card to Alipay and directly debit from my CNY a/c (mult-saver account). Depending on exchange rate, I can convert SGD to CNY anytime. Based on my past txn, ICBC has one of the best SGD/CNY conversion rate. This is only for newly issued ICBC Unionpay debit card and it started last month or so. I have bind my new card now. You might like to check it out. DYODD

 

[iceoxfch]

For those who who want good exchange rate.... I had my torn ICBC SG debit card (Union Pay) changed yesterday and was informed that I can bind the new card to Alipay and directly debit from my CNY a/c (mult-saver account). Depending on exchange rate, I can convert SGD to CNY anytime. Based on my past txn, ICBC has one of the best SGD/CNY conversion rate. This is only for newly issued ICBC Unionpay debit card and it started last month or so. I have bind my new card now. You might like to check it out. DYODD

I could bind the ICBC debit card, but could not pay with it. Did it work for you?

 

[Shalom_555]

I could bind the ICBC debit card, but could not pay with it. Did it work for you?

I am not sure when your ICBC debit card (unionpay) was issued but this feature for unionpay cards issued outside of China for Alipay only started in early Nov 2024. According to ICBC counter officer, only their newly issued debit cards can be used. You can google about this service. Here is one of the link:
https://www.electronicpaymentsinternational.com/news/unionpay-support-alipay-weixin/#:~:text=UnionPay cards issued outside China offers support for Alipay, Weixin,online and offline use cases.&text=This move aims to provide,for inbound travellers to China.

 

[iceoxfch]

I am not sure when your ICBC debit card (unionpay) was issued but this feature for unionpay cards issued outside of China for Alipay only started in early Nov 2024. According to ICBC counter officer, only their newly issued debit cards can be used. You can google about this service. Here is one of the link:
https://www.electronicpaymentsinternational.com/news/unionpay-support-alipay-weixin/#:~:text=UnionPay cards issued outside China offers support for Alipay, Weixin,online and offline use cases.&text=This move aims to provide,for inbound travellers to China.

It should work in theory, but it does not even as of now.

I have not heard back from ICBC since my complaint 3 weeks ago.

 

[gregory_choo]

One option is to ask someone to scan your alipay and send you 1 rmb (I tried 10 RMB) and if you can receive it, then it should work. You can try vice-versa as well. After receiving rmb, transfer it back

no, cannot receive money unless the account is fully verified.

even your account is ok, the sender cannot send you money if it is linked to sg credit card. only those with wallet balance or linked with china bank account can send money to you.

 

[Shalom_555]

no, cannot receive money unless the account is fully verified.

even your account is ok, the sender cannot send you money if it is linked to sg credit card. only those with wallet balance or linked with china bank account can send money to you.

Thanks for filling in my missing details. I could send money cos' it has wallet balance and linked to China bank account. It is a good way to confirm whether a person's account is fully verified by his/her ability to receive money and then using the received money (in the wallet) to transfer out. But it might be difficult to find someone with wallet balance to help.

 

[Shalom_555]

It should work in theory, but it does not even as of now.

I have not heard back from ICBC since my complaint 3 weeks ago.

Thanks for highlighting the reality of this...I can only test this out in my next trip to China in Feb. Hope it works cos ICBC charges 10CNY per withdrawal using ICBC SG card and each time I can only withdraw max 3k CNY.

 

[gregory_choo]

Thanks for filling in my missing details. I could send money cos' it has wallet balance and linked to China bank account. It is a good way to confirm whether a person's account is fully verified by his/her ability to receive money and then using the received money (in the wallet) to transfer out. But it might be difficult to find someone with wallet balance to help.

for most people, just need to make sure can pay using linked sg credit card. for this purpose, the qr code on the www.testalipay.com site is good. just need to scan the qr code and make 0.05rmb payment. not free but very cheap.

 

[iceoxfch]

Hope it works cos ICBC charges 10CNY per withdrawal using ICBC SG card and each time I can only withdraw max 3k CNY.

ATM withdrawals from ICBC China ATMs should work.

Alipay and WeChat Pay payments with the ICBC Singapore UnionPay debit card are a separate matter altogether.

 

[Shalom_555]

ATM withdrawals from ICBC China ATMs should work. There are no fees when withdrawing from their ATM with your ICBC Singapore UnionPay debit card, apart from their spread.

Alipay and WeChat Pay payments with the ICBC Singapore UnionPay debit card are a separate matter altogether.

In my Oct trip to SHA/HZ/SZ, I have withdrawn 5 times using SG ICBC UnionPay debit card and there is a 10 RMB /withdrawal fee. When I withdrew CNY in BJ in April, there were no withdrawal charges. Below can be found on ICBC website:
Cash withdrawal at ICBC ATM within Mainland China is RMB10 per transaction;balance inquiry is free of charge.
Cash withdrawal using other banks’ ATM within Mainland China is RMB20/SGD4 per transaction;balance inquiry is RMB4/SGD0.80 per transaction.

 

[iceoxfch]

In my Oct trip to SHA/HZ/SZ, I have withdrawn 5 times using SG ICBC UnionPay debit card and there is a 10 RMB /withdrawal fee. When I withdrew CNY in BJ in April, there were no withdrawal charges. Below can be found on ICBC website:

Cash withdrawal at ICBC ATM within Mainland China is RMB10 per transaction;balance inquiry is free of charge.
Cash withdrawal using other banks’ ATM within Mainland China is RMB20/SGD4 per transaction;balance inquiry is RMB4/SGD0.80 per transaction.

Can confirm. I stand corrected. This fee was introduced recently.

 

[iceoxfch]

It should work in theory, but it does not even as of now.

ICBC customer service advised that for UnionPay debit card transactions to proceed on Alipay and WeChat Pay, (1) 3DS must be disabled and (2) the merchant on Taobao, JD and PDD must support international UnionPay card payments.

Miraculously, I found a Taobao merchant that supported (2) and successfully paid with the ICBC UnionPay debit card. It's easier said than done.

MasterCard and VISA is far better supported for the time being.

 

[16/8IF]

ICBC customer service advised that for UnionPay debit card transactions to proceed on Alipay and WeChat Pay, (1) 3DS must be disabled and (2) the merchant on Taobao, JD and PDD must support international UnionPay card payments.

Miraculously, I found a Taobao merchant that supported (2) and successfully paid with the ICBC UnionPay debit card. It's easier said than done.

MasterCard and VISA is far better supported for the time being.

Let me share my recent experience that I had with Alipay.

I was at Macau airport, 711 store ; decided to buy a diet coke. I asked the cashier whether a foreigner can also pay with Alipay. She said started Nov 2024, yes foreigner can use Alipay to pay in Macau.

I presented my Alipay QR code and it was rejected . below is a screenshot of the "alert or notice why it was rejected " !



Cashier than say you must linked a China bank account.

I showed her, 1) I had RMB balances in the Wallet; 2) two China bank accounts linked; 3) One SG Credit card linked. 4) I verified my account.

Indeed sometimes really need to test the payment system personally and not take their words on it.

 

[HoGnix]

Let me share my recent experience that I had with Alipay.

I was at Macau airport, 711 store ; decided to buy a diet coke. I asked the cashier whether a foreigner can also pay with Alipay. She said started Nov 2024, yes foreigner can use Alipay to pay in Macau.

I presented my Alipay QR code and it was rejected . below is a screenshot of the "alert or notice why it was rejected " !



Cashier than say you must linked a China bank account.

I showed her, 1) I had RMB balances in the Wallet; 2) two China bank accounts linked; 3) One SG Credit card linked. 4) I verified my account.

Indeed sometimes really need to test the payment system personally and not take their words on it.

It could be your Alipay is not registered with Mainland China ID!
To prevent any abuse of Alipay, non-China ID registered Alipay Account can only pay in Mainland China, not Macau (off shore RMB already).

 

[16/8IF]

It could be your Alipay is not registered with Mainland China ID!
To prevent any abuse of Alipay, non-China ID registered Alipay Account can only pay in Mainland China, not Macau (off shore RMB already).

Yes I am aware, that is why I ASKED the cashier whether a( Non China) foreigner can use Alipay to pay.
She says starting NOV 2024 foreigner can use Alipay to pay.

See the Photo I posted It clearly stated need to be China ID. ( in one of my previous post, I have stated the payment authorization level is classified by Nationality )

I have been updating this in this thread and also WeChat as I travelled annually to China and Macau and I will always test it.

 

[iceoxfch]

Indeed sometimes really need to test the payment system personally and not take their words on it.

Totally agree!