Alipay in China

[16/8IF]

I'll be in Guangdong in couple of weeks. Intend to use both alipay and WeChat pay. Will update if there's any changes.

Recently WeChat required me to do a biometric verification. Last used in Guangzhou in January.

I just came back after spending about 70 days in Guangdong province and Macau.

Didn't have any problem or a need to redo any new verification for both my Alipay and WeChat pay which was
setup many years ago ( think at least 5 years ago) but I did an upload of my new passport which was approved within 20 mins ( new 10 years).

All payments made thru the two platforms were successful although for public bus I used cash( 1 RMB notes).

 

[Honda_typeR]

Anyone using this card ICBC UnionPay Dual Currency Credit Card for ali or wechat pay?

Able to advise if this card for purchase over 200rmb no need pay the 3% surcharge.

Also this card states no foreign transaction fees.

So the currency exchange rate from rmb to sgd use icbc or unionpay rate? thanks

 

[dilphinus]

Anyone using this card ICBC UnionPay Dual Currency Credit Card for ali or wechat pay?

Able to advise if this card for purchase over 200rmb no need pay the 3% surcharge.

Also this card states no foreign transaction fees.

So the currency exchange rate from rmb to sgd use icbc or unionpay rate? thanks

The 3% surcharge is from Alipay and WeChat Pay. Not from the bank. So doesn't matter you use which bank card. As long as > RMB200 not from the wallet, there is a 3% surcharge.

This is different to the charge(s) that you bank will impose.

 

[cherynsq]

The 3% surcharge is from Alipay and WeChat Pay. Not from the bank. So doesn't matter you use which bank card. As long as > RMB200 not from the wallet, there is a 3% surcharge.

This is different to the charge(s) that you bank will impose.

basically just split bill to be below RM200 will be fine ya?

 

[Honda_typeR]

The 3% surcharge is from Alipay and WeChat Pay. Not from the bank. So doesn't matter you use which bank card. As long as > RMB200 not from the wallet, there is a 3% surcharge.

This is different to the charge(s) that you bank will impose.

Shucks i thought only apply to visa and master.

So it seems foreign unionpay also cannot escape.

 

[xiaofan]

basically just split bill to be below RM200 will be fine ya?

Yes, that is one good workaround.

The other workaround is as what I mentioned, to get help and top up the wallet balance if that is possible.

 

[Honda_typeR]

basically just split bill to be below RM200 will be fine ya?

yeah i guess thats is the only workaround.

Haha but if it is bigger amount not sure if most the merchants is willing to do it more than twice.

 

[vaxvms]

Anyone using this card ICBC UnionPay Dual Currency Credit Card for ali or wechat pay?

Able to advise if this card for purchase over 200rmb no need pay the 3% surcharge.

Also this card states no foreign transaction fees.

So the currency exchange rate from rmb to sgd use icbc or unionpay rate? thanks

bank rate

5.27 for dec usgae myself

 

[cherynsq]

bank rate

5.27 for dec usgae myself

I just changed rmb notes at 5.42

 

[Honda_typeR]

bank rate

5.27 for dec usgae myself

Is the rate competitive similar like Trust?

 

[froztheart]

I just came back after spending about 70 days in Guangdong province and Macau.

Didn't have any problem or a need to redo any new verification for both my Alipay and WeChat pay which was
setup many years ago ( think at least 5 years ago) but I did an upload of my new passport which was approved within 20 mins ( new 10 years).

All payments made thru the two platforms were successful although for public bus I used cash( 1 RMB notes).

You got your international WeChatPay & Alipay to work in MAC?

 

[16/8IF]

You got your international WeChatPay & Alipay to work in MAC?

Opps sorry I didnt make it clear that they were NOT working in Macau. ( did it in another post).

Same message as usual Only for China Nationals IDs.

 

[wuso]

Shucks i thought only apply to visa and master.

So it seems foreign unionpay also cannot escape.

Well, it seems Unionpay international does waive this 3% but is probably limited period only, so not sure worth the effort to apply those cards. Currently, ICBC and DBS has this UnionPay card, but fineprints/T&Cs probably have stuff like min spend etc etc

I only looked at the DBS one, which specifically state "Simply link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay and enjoy a 3% transaction fee waiver on amounts over RMB 200, which is typically charged by these platforms."

https://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/cards/debit-cards/dbs-unionpay

 

[xiaofan]

ICBC Singapore Friendship Credit Card

https://singapore.icbc.com.cn/en/column/1143510810581213185.html

RMB/SGD Dual Currency (UnionPay)

Enjoy great savings with no administrative fees for all transactions made in RMB, and enjoy preferential cash advance fees with our wide ATM network in Mainland China using ICBC Friendship Credit Card! All transactions made in Mainland China are charged directly in RMB, and you have the flexibility to pay this amount in RMB or SGD. For all other transactions made outside Mainland China, pay with Singapore Dollars.

★Enjoy unlimited 1.6% Cashback on local and overseas spend.*

No minimum spend and no limitation to the number of transactions.

The more you spend, the more Cashback you earn!

*Terms and conditions apply.

*Please click here for FAQs.

★Perpetual annual fee waiver

★Enjoy exclusive privileges on your spends in both Singapore and China

3% fee waiver for Alipay and Wechat Pay transactions, including those above 200RMB. UnionPay’s terms and conditions apply.

Enjoy up to 10% cashback for transactions made in Mainland China under the SplendorPlus promotion. Terms and conditions apply.

 

[xiaofan]

UOB Unionpay Card
https://www.uob.com.sg/personal/cards/cashback/unionpay-card.page

3% Transaction fee waiver​

Enjoy zero transaction fee on transactions above 200 Chinese Yuan (CNY) when you pay with UOB UnionPay Card via Weixin Pay and Alipay.

 

[xiaofan]

The following new development from OCBC is supposed to be without the 3% fee above RMB 200.

https://www.ocbc.com/group/media/re...-and-pay-all-merchants-qr-codes-in-china.page

Singapore, 1 December 2025 – OCBC will become the first Singapore bank to enable customers to scan-and-pay all merchant QRs in China through its Singapore mobile banking app. This capability stems from an expanded partnership with UnionPay International, formalised on 28 November in Shanghai. The partnership leverages NETS infrastructure to support payments to merchants that accept Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), complementing the OCBC app’s existing ability to scan and pay Alipay+ and UnionPay merchant QR codes. This Weixin Pay capability will be ready in Q1 2026.

This feature is expected to benefit OCBC Singapore customers travelling to China, where QR-based cashless payments dominate daily life – from hailing taxis to dining out. They simply need to scan and pay any Weixin Pay, Alipay+ or UnionPay merchant QR code to make payments. These payments are debited directly from customers’ OCBC Singapore accounts, eliminating the need to download and fund third-party apps or queue for currency exchange. Customers enjoy competitive, real-time exchange rates with no additional fees, ensuring seamless and secure transactions at every merchant in China.

 

[xiaofan]

BTW, I can not find the 3% Alipay and Wechat Pay transaction fee waiver info for ICBC UnionPay Dual Currency Credit Card.

I tend to believe it will also work. But need confirmations from the users here or need to check with ICBC Singapore.

https://singapore.icbc.com.cn/en/column/1438059017535897823.html

 

[xiaofan]

No information from BOC Singapore website either.
https://www.bankofchina.com/sg/bcservice/

But there is a Facebook post saying no transaction fee using Alipay and WeChat for the BOC UnionPay credit cards.
https://www.facebook.com/bankofchin...-and-wechat-nowyou-can-enjoy/998322699000628/

12 November 2024 ·
You can add your BOC UnionPay credit cards to AliPay and WeChat now!
You can enjoy a hassle-free shopping with contactless payment, and shop worry-free with no transaction fee when you spend in Chinese mainland using Alipay and WeChat bound with BOC UnionPay credit cards! T&Cs apply. Learn how to bind your cards at https://bit.ly/BindToAW .
...

 

[xiaofan]

One more thing to take note, the 3% waiver for Alipay/Wechat pay transactions above RMB 200 for various UnionPay cards is considered as a promotion, so they may be time bound.

Please check with your bank to double confirm.

 

[beanstalk6]

The following new development from OCBC is supposed to be without the 3% fee above RMB 200.

https://www.ocbc.com/group/media/re...-and-pay-all-merchants-qr-codes-in-china.page

Singapore, 1 December 2025 – OCBC will become the first Singapore bank to enable customers to scan-and-pay all merchant QRs in China through its Singapore mobile banking app. This capability stems from an expanded partnership with UnionPay International, formalised on 28 November in Shanghai. The partnership leverages NETS infrastructure to support payments to merchants that accept Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), complementing the OCBC app’s existing ability to scan and pay Alipay+ and UnionPay merchant QR codes. This Weixin Pay capability will be ready in Q1 2026.

This feature is expected to benefit OCBC Singapore customers travelling to China, where QR-based cashless payments dominate daily life – from hailing taxis to dining out. They simply need to scan and pay any Weixin Pay, Alipay+ or UnionPay merchant QR code to make payments. These payments are debited directly from customers’ OCBC Singapore accounts, eliminating the need to download and fund third-party apps or queue for currency exchange. Customers enjoy competitive, real-time exchange rates with no additional fees, ensuring seamless and secure transactions at every merchant in China.

This corresponds to this:
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/wechat-wallet.5708797/post-157961466
My solution, if I want to avoid using the WeChat Pay or Alipay app. E-CNY is still a long way off in terms of acceptance.

It looks like the final piece will be complete in Q1 2026 for OCBC users to be able to scan both Wechat Pay and Alipay QR codes to pay in China.

https://www.straitstimes.com/busine...wechat-pay-qr-codes-to-pay-merchants-in-china