Alipay in China

[zhiming1]

just back from China and i managed to open 2 bank accounts.

First, i go to china mobile to get a sim card. Monthly fee 8rmb to maintain the card. Minimum must top up 200rmb. Just need our passport. Got the sim card in like 15mins. Do note have to visit the big branches.

Next, i went to Bank of china - just any random one which was a mistake . Took 3 hours plus to open the bank account but still cant linked to alipay/wechat. Next day went another branch, they resolve the issue in 20 minutes. I also deposit sgd to be converted to rmb into the bank account. Still cannot use the bank app though.

Next, i went to China construction bank to open. The staff know that i just open at bank of china. I explain them that there is daily limit so better for me to open another bank. This time, the bank account was opened in less than 30 mins. Can link to alipay/wechat and use their bank mobile app ( need china apple id to download).

For those that visit china often, i recommend to open china bank . No 3% fee. Can just bring sgd/rmb to deposit.

I wonder if i can go to chinatown to send money to my china bank? Not possible for me to TT from sg bank account, as i do not have the inward remittance details ( like swift code)

 

[loganrunning]

I wonder if i can go to chinatown to send money to my china bank? Not possible for me to TT from sg bank account, as i do not have the inward remittance details ( like swift code)

i tried panda remit, they told me cannot. need CN ID card.

 

[jywy2005]

Just drop by ICBC SG branch and open a dual currency account. Exchange CNY when the rates are favourable.

I also applied for iCBC UnionPay credit card. I linked the CC union pay to my Alipay or WeChat international for transactions in RMB. No 3% transactions fees. You can even get cash back for all your expenditures. I also use cc to pay directly at hotels. This method I feel is most convenient for me to track my expenses and to bypass the 3% transaction fees.

This card allows you to withdraw RMB from your SG CNY account in China atm. But max is $2000 RMB per day, with $20 RMB fees. So if you have ICBC China issued debit card, you can deposit the money using the same atm. I find it a hassle to do so. I only use this account to top up my China mobile credit balance, and random online purchases using China Alipay. I think my ICBC China card is RMB only, and I keep a small amount of RMB inside for contingency purposes.

I applied for this ICBC account in China in 2018, so when my passport expired, I had to go back to the same branch (or province) to get it reinstated. The same goes for the China SIM card. Remember to bring your old passport along.

 

[jywy2005]

i tried panda remit, they told me cannot. need CN ID card.

I tried using Pay2home Exchange Kiosk to remit to my own China account many years ago. But the rates are not so good.

And I noticed that the RMB was deposited by a Chinese person. So I didn’t do any more remittances cos I didn’t want to risk having my China account frozen on suspicion of illicit dealings. Proceed at your own risk. Maybe I am paranoid.

 

[TheSage]

just back from China and i managed to open 2 bank accounts.

First, i go to china mobile to get a sim card. Monthly fee 8rmb to maintain the card. Minimum must top up 200rmb. Just need our passport. Got the sim card in like 15mins. Do note have to visit the big branches.

Next, i went to Bank of china - just any random one which was a mistake . Took 3 hours plus to open the bank account but still cant linked to alipay/wechat. Next day went another branch, they resolve the issue in 20 minutes. I also deposit sgd to be converted to rmb into the bank account. Still cannot use the bank app though.

Next, i went to China construction bank to open. The staff know that i just open at bank of china. I explain them that there is daily limit so better for me to open another bank. This time, the bank account was opened in less than 30 mins. Can link to alipay/wechat and use their bank mobile app ( need china apple id to download).

For those that visit china often, i recommend to open china bank . No 3% fee. Can just bring sgd/rmb to deposit.

I wonder if i can go to chinatown to send money to my china bank? Not possible for me to TT from sg bank account, as i do not have the inward remittance details ( like swift code)

Can I know to open bank account in China? must it be only china construction bank? which city or branch is this? If so how to transfer cash to the bank account?

 

[zhiming1]

i was told only big banks like china construction bank, bank of china, agriculture bank and icbc allow foreigners to open. Just need passport and china phone number. i bring sgd to deposit, they will convert to rmb for u. the rates are better than sg banks rates

 

[jywy2005]

i was told only big banks like china construction bank, bank of china, agriculture bank and icbc allow foreigners to open. Just need passport and china phone number. i bring sgd to deposit, they will convert to rmb for u. the rates are better than sg banks rates

Any handling fees?

 

[zhiming1]

there is some fees, but i forget. less than 50 rmb for the card or for the account opening

 

[jywy2005]

there is some fees, but i forget. less than 50 rmb for the card or for the account opening

Thanks for the reply. I was referring to the transaction fees when for the foreign currency exchange.

 

[zhiming1]

no transaction fee, the rate is a bit lower than xe , but much higher than local banks.

 

[Aizenhart]

Hi all, wanted to check if there is a way to see if the merchant's QR code allows for the payment via international card.

Was in China for the first time and had 3 encounters where both my Alipay and Wechat payment couldn't be processed.

I had my Youtrip card added to both payments.

Thanks.


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[jywy2005]

Hi all, wanted to check if there is a way to see if the merchant's QR code allows for the payment via international card.

Was in China for the first time and had 3 encounters where both my Alipay and Wechat payment couldn't be processed.

I had my Youtrip card added to both payments.

Thanks.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

Could be due to your mobile phone having no signal. Happened to me a couple of times.

Dun think many places accept cc, unless in big establishments. Can try OCBC pay to scan Chinese merchants QR code, but heard the rates are no good.

 

[Aizenhart]

Thanks for the reply.

But when I tried scanning the QR codes, the Alipay payment page mentioned something along the lines of due to security issues the card is currently blocked and to have me contact my bank.

It was 3 separate occasions at different locations too, but the similar thing was they were small local business vendors, (e.g., in the local heartlands/markets)

While other vendors accepted it in the same location, and my payments were successful.

Thus wondering if there's a way I could tell.

 

[jywy2005]

Thanks for the reply.

But when I tried scanning the QR codes, the Alipay payment page mentioned something along the lines of due to security issues the card is currently blocked and to have me contact my bank.

It was 3 separate occasions at different locations too, but the similar thing was they were small local business vendors, (e.g., in the local heartlands/markets)

While other vendors accepted it in the same location, and my payments were successful.

Thus wondering if there's a way I could tell.

At small remote villages, this is quite common, especially if the vendor is using weixin 农村银行 something like that.

Once I was paying and there was no network or poor connectivity, payment couldn’t get through. Another customer also encountered the same problem.

I used 2 different phones to test, one with China mobile (local) and the other China 联通 roaming. Both had the same issue.

Cash is still king.

 

[Aizenhart]

At small remote villages, this is quite common, especially if the vendor is using weixin 农村银行 something like that.
Once I was paying and there was no network or poor connectivity, payment couldn’t get through. Another customer also encountered the same problem.
I used 2 different phones to test, one with China mobile (local) and the other China 联通 roaming. Both had the same issue.
Cash is still king.

Yup, had to use cash when the Alipay couldn't be processed.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[orlengtao]

just back from China and i managed to open 2 bank accounts.

First, i go to china mobile to get a sim card. Monthly fee 8rmb to maintain the card. Minimum must top up 200rmb. Just need our passport. Got the sim card in like 15mins. Do note have to visit the big branches.

Next, i went to Bank of china - just any random one which was a mistake . Took 3 hours plus to open the bank account but still cant linked to alipay/wechat. Next day went another branch, they resolve the issue in 20 minutes. I also deposit sgd to be converted to rmb into the bank account. Still cannot use the bank app though.

Next, i went to China construction bank to open. The staff know that i just open at bank of china. I explain them that there is daily limit so better for me to open another bank. This time, the bank account was opened in less than 30 mins. Can link to alipay/wechat and use their bank mobile app ( need china apple id to download).

For those that visit china often, i recommend to open china bank . No 3% fee. Can just bring sgd/rmb to deposit.

I wonder if i can go to chinatown to send money to my china bank? Not possible for me to TT from sg bank account, as i do not have the inward remittance details ( like swift code)

hi bro. do you mind sharing your sim card get from china mobile is min 200rmb right? Just to confirm is china mobile and not other telco? How much call & data does it come with also (curious)? Can receive sms in sg?

 

[klavier]

Recent experience in Chongqing..
Their MRT do not accept payment with Alipay/Wechat with foreign CC/Debit card...
Had to buy tickets at the counter with cash.. At first I thought it was a problem either with Youtrip or my CC. However, after experiecing this problem at the second station, I was told by the staff that other foreigners had to buy at the counter with cash as well. Not sure why this is the case but do take note if going Chongqing..

I did not have the same problem in other cities in China.

 

[froztheart]

hi bro. do you mind sharing your sim card get from china mobile is min 200rmb right? Just to confirm is china mobile and not other telco? How much call & data does it come with also (curious)? Can receive sms in sg?

Initial cost is about there, 200RMB. Any other telcos like China Unicom/China Telecom works too, they are pretty much similar, just which is the most convenient to sign up from your location of stay.

Call & Data depends on the package that you select, message can be received with sufficient value otherwise, the roaming doesn't work.

 

[orlengtao]

Initial cost is about there, 200RMB. Any other telcos like China Unicom/China Telecom works too, they are pretty much similar, just which is the most convenient to sign up from your location of stay.

Call & Data depends on the package that you select, message can be received with sufficient value otherwise, the roaming doesn't work.

Understand, than you! For china mobile what's the minimum requirement to receive sms?

 

[froztheart]

Understand, than you! For china mobile what's the minimum requirement to receive sms?

It's the same across all 3 telcos in China, need to have balance for your account to access roaming.
Once it hits negative, roaming access will be cutoff.

The 4th telco isn't accepting non-locals yet so only the main 3 to choose from for now.
And the workings are more or the less the same, packages, usages bundles, cost etc.