Alipay in China

[Shalom_555]

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

I was in Chengdu for 12 days in mid Oct 2025 and used my icbc debit card(union pay) bind to alipay. There were no3% fee charge for amount above 200rmb. Live Conversion rates were used and you can check it via icbc app before converting. I found the rates to be better than money changer ,trust and youcard. BUT icbc manager in HollandV told me back in Sep that this is a promo till end Dec 2025. The 3% charges were settled between alipay and ICBC. I will be checking with bank on this validity next wk as I will be hol in china soon

 

[Shalom_555]

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.

OCBC offers a convenient solution&, fuss free but competitive rates may not be best rates (from my experience). So if it’s a short trip,pay for convenience

 

[ericwsw]

This "unofficial" workaround is working for me and my family members' Alipay accounts as of now. See below screen captures:

1. Use another family member's Alipay to scan my "Receive" QR and "pay/top-up" CNY160 to my Alipay wallet. As I had mentioned, you can also use OCBC app or Changi Pay to "top-up" if you are willing to accept the bank/app exchange rate. I prefer Alipay account linked with Youtrip/Trust/Revolut to "top-up" my Alipay wallet to get the best mid-market rate at that moment of top-up.
2. If this "workaround" works for you, great. If not, you can still use cash to pay for stuff in China as paper money is still legal tender. The only thing you need to take note is to prepare CNY in small denomination as the merchant may have problem giving you small changes.

Sorry to dig up the old post... Is this still working today?

 

[quekkb]

getting china number is easy .....just walk in telco n ask a package
than chg the package in app for only 8rmb a mth to maintain it


getting bank acc all dpend on luck esp for tourist
so if passby can walk in n try else no point for visitor who go once a year

I just open a China bank account with my passport and it took me less than an hour to open with CCB.

 

[quekkb]

Don't have to go china to deposit money.

If your WeChat/alipay is linked to china phone no, you can use "dbs remit" to send money to your alipay/WeChat wallets . It is free.

You can use Wise to transfer to your own China bank account.

 

[froztheart]

You can use Wise to transfer to your own China bank account.

You tried and it worked out for you?

 

[quekkb]

You tried and it worked out for you?

Yes. I tried and I received the RMB into my China Bank account immediately.

 

[froztheart]

Yes. I tried and I received the RMB into my China Bank account immediately.

Appreciate the update!
How's the rate though, should be decent but not as great I believe?

 

[boringLife-]

I just open a China bank account with my passport and it took me less than an hour to open with CCB.

Need china sim card? I have cmlink 1cmn service, essentially a virtual +86 number

And i assume you tried to top up wechat/alipay balance and it worked?

 

[froztheart]

Need china sim card? I have cmlink 1cmn service, essentially a virtual +86 number

And i assume you tried to top up wechat/alipay balance and it worked?

Opening China Bank Account definitely require a China Mobile Number.
Doubt 1CMN will work since it's usage is for SG instead of in China.

 

[quekkb]

Appreciate the update!
How's the rate though, should be decent but not as great I believe?

Need china sim card? I have cmlink 1cmn service, essentially a virtual +86 number

And i assume you tried to top up wechat/alipay balance and it worked?

Rate not too bad. However there is a transfer fee. The more you transfer, example, the fee is about 1.3% for 500. No fee when I received into my CCB account.

 

[quekkb]

Need china sim card? I have cmlink 1cmn service, essentially a virtual +86 number

And i assume you tried to top up wechat/alipay balance and it worked?

Yes. I get China Mobile with the plan of 8 RMB per month. I can receive SMS overseas.

Yes, top up wechat/alipay balance works. I can transfer to and fro between Wechat/Alipay and CCB. I also can send red packet.

 

[froztheart]

Rate not too bad. However there is a transfer fee. The more you transfer, example, the fee is about 1.3% for 500. No fee when I received into my CCB account.

Yeah, that's what I recalled too when transferring as the fees scale accordingly with the amount transferred.
Which means transferring from SG to CN bank account then topping up through the linked CN bank account to WCPay & APay respectively.

 

[quekkb]

Yeah, that's what I recalled too when transferring as the fees scale accordingly with the amount transferred.
Which means transferring from SG to CN bank account then topping up through the linked CN bank account to WCPay & APay respectively.

Alternate, you can bring SGD to China and bank into your own China bank account and exchange. The rate is quite good or better.

 

[froztheart]

Alternate, you can bring SGD to China and bank into your own China bank account and exchange. The rate is quite good or better.

Yes, this is what I am doing currently whenever I am over.

 

[beanstalk6]

Alternate, you can bring SGD to China and bank into your own China bank account and exchange. The rate is quite good or better.

Is the rate better than the moneychanger's in Singapore?

 

[quekkb]

Is the rate better than the moneychanger's in Singapore?

Didn't compare money changers in Singapore. But better than ICBC Singapore and BOC Singapore rate.

 

[beanstalk6]

Didn't compare money changers in Singapore. But better than ICBC Singapore and BOC Singapore rate.

Curious, because intuitively it does not make sense for a branch there to handle cash in a currency that does not see a great deal of demand.

 

[quekkb]

Curious, because intuitively it does not make sense for a branch there to handle cash in a currency that does not see a great deal of demand.

I only know the rate CCB give me on the spot is quite good when I deposit the foreigner currency.

 

[16/8IF]

Curious, because intuitively it does not make sense for a branch there to handle cash in a currency that does not see a great deal of demand.

I did that a very long time ago ie bringing SGD cash and exchange at the bank in China not good at all .

What is good is if you TT SGD to a Chinese National's bank acct , they can do the exchange on their banking apps and the rates is good .