Alipay in China

[beanstalk6]

Yes. Capital flight is a real concern for the Chinese government. Each Chinese citizen has a cap of $50K that can be sent out of their country, so every loophole is quickly plugged, including any possibility of foreigner's "assistance". This has been refined over decades, so you are unlikely to be able to beat the system. It is one-way traffic.

 

[16/8IF]

Yes. Capital flight is a real concern for the Chinese government. Each Chinese citizen has a cap of $50K that can be brought out of their country, so every loophole is quickly plugged, including any possibility of foreigner's "assistance". This has been refined over decades, so if you are unlikely to be able to beat the system. It is one-way traffic.

There is also a control for inflow for foreigners so not only outflow . If I remembered correctly it is also USD 50K .

 

[beanstalk6]

There is also a control for inflow for foreigners so not only outflow . If I remembered correctly it is also USD 50K .

I think the requirement is simply to declare how much you bring in or out China if it exceeds US$5,000 or RMB20,000 whereas the cap of $50K imposed on Chinese citizens limits how much each of them can transfer by any electronic means out of the country. It is a quota imposed annually. I know Chinese who wish to emigrate come up against this limit, so people use their whole family's identities to maximise their quota for the year. A family of 4 can legally wire USD200,000 abroad for the year.

 

[xiaofan]

There is also a control for inflow for foreigners so not only outflow . If I remembered correctly it is also USD 50K .

Not to foreigners, but to Chinese citizens, if the currency is CNY.

Reference: DBS Bank Remit to China (only to Chinese citizens).

https://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/support/bank-overseas-funds-transfer-countries.html

Important Information​

• Account Verification: Please ensure the recipient details are accurate and match the recipient's bank records to facilitate a successful transfer. Verify with the recipient if they have an individual bank account in Mainland China and whether it's a Bank Account (Type 1) or Digital Account (Type 2).
  • Bank Account (Type 1) – No Limit
  • Digital Account (Type 2) – Maximum CNY 10,000 daily limit
• Regulations: All overseas funds transfer to Mainland China in CNY are subject to the regulations of The State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People's Republic of China.
• Annual Limit: Each Mainland China recipient can receive funds up to a maximum of USD 50,000 equivalent per annum.
• Multiple Recipients: For transfers to multiple recipients within a short period, the transfers may be held as additional information may be required to process future payments.

 

[beanstalk6]

Not to foreigners, but to Chinese citizens, if the currency is CNY.

Reference: DBS Bank Remit to China (only to Chinese citizens).

https://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/support/bank-overseas-funds-transfer-countries.html

Important Information​

• Account Verification: Please ensure the recipient details are accurate and match the recipient's bank records to facilitate a successful transfer. Verify with the recipient if they have an individual bank account in Mainland China and whether it's a Bank Account (Type 1) or Digital Account (Type 2).
  • Bank Account (Type 1) – No Limit
  • Digital Account (Type 2) – Maximum CNY 10,000 daily limit
• Regulations: All overseas funds transfer to Mainland China in CNY are subject to the regulations of The State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People's Republic of China.
• Annual Limit: Each Mainland China recipient can receive funds up to a maximum of USD 50,000 equivalent per annum.
• Multiple Recipients: For transfers to multiple recipients within a short period, the transfers may be held as additional information may be required to process future payments.

Wow. Even to receive $ from overseas is subject to a limit for Chinese citizens.

 

[xiaofan]

Wow. Even to receive $ from overseas is subject to a limit for Chinese citizens.

It applies to receiving RMB.

If they have access to some other account which holds foreign currency and they do not need to convert the currency to RMB, the limit does not apply.

 

[16/8IF]

I think the requirement is simply to declare how much you bring in or out China if it exceeds US$5,000 or RMB20,000 whereas the cap of $50K imposed on Chinese citizens limits how much each of them can transfer by any electronic means out of the country. It is a quota imposed annually. I know Chinese who wish to emigrate come up against this limit, so people use their whole family's identities to maximise their quota for the year. A family of 4 can legally wire USD200,000 abroad for the year.

There is also a RMB inflow limit for foreigners , I know because i was trying to transfer in to buy a car many years ago .

 

[16/8IF]

It applies to receiving RMB.

If they have access to some other account which holds foreign currency and they do not need to convert the currency to RMB, the limit does not apply.

Yes you are right , only for RMB . You can hold foreign currencies in your account without any limitation.

 

[16/8IF]

Not to foreigners, but to Chinese citizens, if the currency is CNY.

Reference: DBS Bank Remit to China (only to Chinese citizens).

https://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/support/bank-overseas-funds-transfer-countries.html

Important Information​

• Account Verification: Please ensure the recipient details are accurate and match the recipient's bank records to facilitate a successful transfer. Verify with the recipient if they have an individual bank account in Mainland China and whether it's a Bank Account (Type 1) or Digital Account (Type 2).
  • Bank Account (Type 1) – No Limit
  • Digital Account (Type 2) – Maximum CNY 10,000 daily limit
• Regulations: All overseas funds transfer to Mainland China in CNY are subject to the regulations of The State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People's Republic of China.
• Annual Limit: Each Mainland China recipient can receive funds up to a maximum of USD 50,000 equivalent per annum.
• Multiple Recipients: For transfers to multiple recipients within a short period, the transfers may be held as additional information may be required to process future payments.

I should make myself clearer ,
as a foreigner you can bring any amount of foreign currencies into China but you can only convert up to USD50k to RMB per year .

I was based in China for more than 10 years ,
I had this problem when I was trying to buy a car .
This is for personal account and not business acount.

They track your yearly conversion amount .

 

[xiaofan]

I should make myself clearer ,
as a foreigner you can bring any amount of foreign currencies into China but you can only convert up to USD50k to RMB per year .

I was based in China for more than 10 years ,
I had this problem when I was trying to buy a car .
This is for personal account and not business account.

They track your yearly conversion amount .

That is a very good summary of the restriction: they track your yearly conversion amount from foreign currency to RMB, the limit is usually US$50k or equivalent.

So the US$50k limit is not only applicable to Chinese Citizens but also foreign individuals.

 

[froztheart]

I should make myself clearer ,
as a foreigner you can bring any amount of foreign currencies into China but you can only convert up to USD50k to RMB per year .

I was based in China for more than 10 years ,
I had this problem when I was trying to buy a car .
This is for personal account and not business acount.

They track your yearly conversion amount .

And it seems like this is still how it is in 2025, trying to get money in to RMB is such a hassle still..

 

[16/8IF]

That is a very good summary of the restriction: they track your yearly conversion amount from foreign currency to RMB, the limit is usually US$50k or equivalent.

So the US$50k limit is not only applicable to Chinese Citizens but also foreign individuals.

Yes when i was based there from 2007-2016.

Not sure about the latest rules but should be the same .

 

[16/8IF]

And it seems like this is still how it is in 2025, trying to get money in to RMB is such a hassle still..

There was a period can't remembered which year when the USA wanted a stronger RMB due to the trade deficit and during that period every thing was "hot" in China , economy, stock market and real estate , the PBOC had to intervene to buy USD vs RMB to prevent too fast an appreciation of the RMB which will reduce the competitiveness of their goods.

I think it was in 2007 which was also the time they limit foreign ownership of real estate in China , you had to work for at least 1 year in China before you are allow to buy for own use and can't rent out .

B4 2007 there was no restriction except for those village land ( if I am not wrong ).

I always told my China's friends who are in Government , make no sense, foreigners wants to spend money in China and you put an annual limit on it .

 

[froztheart]

There was a period can't remembered which year when the USA wanted a stronger RMB due to the trade deficit and during that period every thing was "hot" in China , economy, stock market and real estate , the PBOC had to intervene to buy USD vs RMB to prevent too fast an appreciation of the RMB which will reduce the competitiveness of their goods.

I think it was in 2007 which was also the time they limit foreign ownership of real estate in China , you had to work for at least 1 year in China before you are allow to buy for own use and can't rent out .

B4 2007 there was no restriction except for those village land ( if I am not wrong ).

I always told my China's friends who are in Government , make no sense, foreigners wants to spend money in China and you put an annual limit on it .

Yeah, or at least make it possible while keeping a limit to it since I can understand why the need to control.
Unlike now where there's literally no option for convenience of spending, we're not talking about buying costly items like property/vehicles etc.
I just want convenience to transfer in and spend in China

 

[16/8IF]

Yeah, or at least make it possible while keeping a limit to it since I can understand why the need to control.
Unlike now where there's literally no option for convenience of spending, we're not talking about buying costly items like property/vehicles etc.
I just want convenience to transfer in and spend in China

You mean you have problem ?

It is not a problem sending money by TT to your China's bank account( have to be multi currencies account ) .

You can send from Singapore any foreign currencies to your Multi currencies account with a bank in China.

From that account you can only exchange that to RMB by going to the bank , present your passport and bank card and than you can convert them.

I used to do it all the time but these days I find it easier to change to RMB with the money changer in Singapore and bring it over to China.

I than deposit them into my various bank's account using the ATM machine which is so much easier compared to the above .

The three banks i used are at the same location where I am staying .

These are the three bank accounts I linked with Alipay , Wechat Pay and Douyin .

I do this every year without any problem .

 

[vaxvms]

But I see in Didi app, the payment method said can accept cash???

idk u can try and update us

nvr bring cash out in china many years already but passport is a MUST!!!!

 

[vaxvms]

I used to do it all the time but these days I find it easier to change to RMB with the money changer in Singapore and bring it over to China.

I than deposit them into my various bank's account using the ATM machine which is so much easier compared to the above .

The three banks i used are at the same location where I am staying .

These are the three bank accounts I linked with Alipay , Wechat Pay and Douyin .

I do this every year without any problem .

sama sama

i also deposit cash to ah tiong bank whenever i need to purchase a bigger ticket items

 

[xiaofan]

The difficulty may be how to set up a Multi currencies account with a bank in China, with just visa-free stay.

At least I was not able to even open a bank account.

For people with valid long term visa (including previously), should not be an issue.

 

[froztheart]

You mean you have problem ?

It is not a problem sending money by TT to your China's bank account( have to be multi currencies account ) .

You can send from Singapore any foreign currencies to your Multi currencies account with a bank in China.

From that account you can only exchange that to RMB by going to the bank , present your passport and bank card and than you can convert them.

I used to do it all the time but these days I find it easier to change to RMB with the money changer in Singapore and bring it over to China.

I than deposit them into my various bank's account using the ATM machine which is so much easier compared to the above .

The three banks i used are at the same location where I am staying .

These are the three bank accounts I linked with Alipay , Wechat Pay and Douyin .

I do this every year without any problem .

Yeah, facing issues might probably be because my MCA isn't setup yet/incomplete registration the last time I was trying to transfer to my CN bank account.

How you do it seems to be a much more convenient way than to visit the bank and exchanging it to RMB.
My initial plan/understanding was to have it transferred to CN bank account then exchange it online without going through the hassle of visiitng the bank to exchange.

 

[16/8IF]

The difficulty may be how to set up a Multi currencies account with a bank in China, with just visa-free stay. At least I was not able to even open a bank account. For people with valid long term visa (including previously), should not be an issue.

Yeah, facing issues might probably be because my MCA isn't setup yet/incomplete registration the last time I was trying to transfer to my CN bank account.

How you do it seems to be a much more convenient way than to visit the bank and exchanging it to RMB.
My initial plan/understanding was to have it transferred to CN bank account then exchange it online without going through the hassle of visiitng the bank to exchange.

Yes I understand what you trying to do , but unfortunately as a foreigner I think they require you to do it physically at the bank with your passport in order to have better control.

I think for now depositing RMB cash is the way to go since at the ATM you don't need to queue nor present your passport . Everything can be done in 10 minutes .