Alipay in China

[benzene]

Hi i am planning to go shanghai during Aug for a short trip.
i have downloaded Alipay.
May i know is it advisable to link my alipay to my citibank or ocbc cc?
As i was reading the past thread i saw people linked it to Youtrip etc.

My backup with be alipay+ for both OCBC and Touch & Go app or maybe Changi

 

[natas]

Hi i am planning to go shanghai during Aug for a short trip.
i have downloaded Alipay.
May i know is it advisable to link my alipay to my citibank or ocbc cc?
As i was reading the past thread i saw people linked it to Youtrip etc.

My backup with be alipay+ for both OCBC and Touch & Go app or maybe Changi

If u dun link either cc then how are u going to use alipay? If u want to save a few pennies then apply for youtrip and link it to alipay.

 

[benzene]

If u dun link either cc then how are u going to use alipay? If u want to save a few pennies then apply for youtrip and link it to alipay.

I plan to link but i didnt see anyone mentioned about linking it to DBS, OCBC or OUB cc.
Mostly youtrip etc...
exchange rates all that no issue to me.

 

[natas]

I plan to link but i didnt see anyone mentioned about linking it to DBS, OCBC or OUB cc.
Mostly youtrip etc...
exchange rates all that no issue to me.

There were postings on linking cc... why some link to youtrip.... exchange rates. I linked both cc and revolut set as primary.

 

[froztheart]

Hi i am planning to go shanghai during Aug for a short trip.
i have downloaded Alipay.
May i know is it advisable to link my alipay to my citibank or ocbc cc?
As i was reading the past thread i saw people linked it to Youtrip etc.

My backup with be alipay+ for both OCBC and Touch & Go app or maybe Changi

Better exchange rate vs bank exchange rate, pick your poison.

 

[choowt]

Tried on a new fresh alipay account (verified with passport and other information needed), unable to scan personal QR and pay with ChangiPay. After I opened the merchant services (this is just the basic services that you do not need to take pictures or give address of your business) on the said account, I am able to scan personal QR and pay with ChangiPay. OCBC's PayNow works too as well.

You are doing via:

 

[froztheart]

You are doing via:

So this is a way to top up to Alipay via T&G?
meaning gotta top up to T&G/utilising YT etc. card, and top up Alipay for CN usage?

 

[choowt]

So this is a way to top up to Alipay via T&G?
meaning gotta top up to T&G/utilising YT etc. card, and top up Alipay for CN usage?

This is an "unofficial" workaround for those who would like to top up your Alipay wallet but prefer not to go through 3rd party services (i.e., exchange rate or service charge from such 3rd party services may not be great or you don't feel safe going through such service).

1. The trick for this workaround is to activate your "Receive" QR via "商家服务" so that you are able to receive CNY as if you are a merchant.
2. You need not "top up" via TNG. You can get another person with Alipay (setup with Youtrip, Trust, Revolut or etc.) to scan your "Receive" QR code to "top up"/transfer the CNY into your Alipay wallet. You can even use OCBC bank app or Changi Pay (that support Alipay+) to "top up" the wallet.
3. Some may ask why would you want to top up your Alipay wallet when you can pay via Alipay linked with international credit card or direct QR scan via OCBC bank app/Changi Pay/T&G or etc. Well, there are some small street vendors that don't display the "merchant" version of Alipay QR code or some doesn't turn on acceptance of international credit card payment. For such cases, you can pay via Alipay wallet if you have balance in it.
4. Another use case is if you want to avoid the extra 3% charge for payment above CNY 200 (around SGD 37). The easiest way to top up your Alipay wallet is to get your China friend (if any) to help transfer CNY into the wallet and you pay back with SGD. If such method is not possible, you can use the method as described in point 2 to top up your wallet. Remember to "top up" CNY 200 and below each time to avoid the extra 3% charge. This workaround is a bit troublesome (i.e., you need to "top up" multiple times to accumulate the CNY in your wallet) but for those who doesn't mind the extra 3% charge, just pay with you Alipay linked with international credit card for amount above CNY 200. Alternatively, pay via OCBC bank app/Changi Pay/T&G if you are willing to accept the bank or app exchange rate.

This is just a workaround for folks who are visiting China as a tourist and would like to avoid the extra 3% charge or want to purchase things from small street vendors who display Alipay QR code that doesn't support Alipay+ or international credit card. If you find it too troublesome for just a simple travel to China, just use the official method of paying to vendors via Alipay or WeChat Pay or avoid such purchase.

 

[vaxvms]

You are doing via:

will not work i think


error will be " merchant not supported for Alipay+ " when u try to scan n pay aswat u face few mth ago

 

[choowt]

will not work i think


error will be " merchant not supported for Alipay+ " when u try to scan n pay aswat u face few mth ago

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.

 

[jtec14]

Hello,

I am thinking to book hotels, 民宿 in Singapore using the ctrip mini app in alipay and pay by alipay linked with youtrip/SG credit card.

May also use it to book transport or driver when I reached china.

Is it possible? Was concerned about not having a China number?

Thanks in advance

 

[Innocuous*]

Hello,

I am thinking to book hotels, 民宿 in Singapore using the ctrip mini app in alipay and pay by alipay linked with youtrip/SG credit card.

May also use it to book transport or driver when I reached china.

Is it possible? Was concerned about not having a China number?

Thanks in advance

Why don't you try to do your booking via ctrip app directly and pay via Youtrip/sg credit card without doing it via Alipay? If it works, you don't have to pay the 3% fee via Alipay for transaction above 200RMB.

 

[dilphinus]

Hello,

I am thinking to book hotels, 民宿 in Singapore using the ctrip mini app in alipay and pay by alipay linked with youtrip/SG credit card.

May also use it to book transport or driver when I reached china.

Is it possible? Was concerned about not having a China number?

Thanks in advance

I'm pretty sure the 民宿 won't accept foreigners.

 

[beanstalk6]

I have come across a case in Youtube. A Malaysian booked minsu in China. May be via AirBnB or some other platform. He successfully stayed in such establishments in Kunming and other cities in southern China. In Guiyang he stayed in an otherwise vacant apartment building.

I'm pretty sure the 民宿 won't accept foreigners.

 

[dilphinus]

Yeah that is he's not caught.

There has been real life cases where neighbors will batoh and hotels will call the police for unregistered guests. Do it at your own risk.

 

[beanstalk6]

I am thinking to book hotels, 民宿 in Singapore using the ctrip mini app in alipay and pay by alipay linked with youtrip/SG credit card.

Better make sure the minsu is registered as a hotel establishment. Foreign guests have to be registered by the owner of the establishment, no matter it is a hotel or a private residence. It is a grey area if you are staying at a private residence that is rented to you for your stay. When I stay over, my Chinese friends make it a point to register my stay with the local police. I am told it means trouble for them if they do not do so. Uncertain what will happen to me though- they assume nothing will happen to me.

 

[16/8IF]

Better make sure the minsu is registered as a hotel establishment. Foreign guests have to be registered by the owner of the establishment, no matter it is a hotel or a private residence. It is a grey area if you are staying at a private residence that is rented to you for your stay. When I stay over, my Chinese friends make it a point to register my stay with the local police. I am told it means trouble for them if they do not do so. Uncertain what will happen to me though- they assume nothing will happen to me.

You will be fine , if I am not wrong 500 per day ( can't remembered) deported and ban from entering China , that is what I was told by the Police station .

If you are lucky and meet and understanding police officer , maybe they just give you a warning .

Even if you are staying in your own apartment you still have to register .

You will be given a print out of the forms with all your details and photo .

 

[jtec14]

Why don't you try to do your booking via ctrip app directly and pay via Youtrip/sg credit card without doing it via Alipay? If it works, you don't have to pay the 3% fee via Alipay for transaction above 200RMB.

Thanks, will try. My first time going, the thing is someone in my group was saying, scared those booked through china apps if book in singapore without china number, will have issue checking in or cannot find the bookings when reached china

 

[jtec14]

I'm pretty sure the 民宿 won't accept foreigners.

Thanks for highlighting, had combed through various threads and saw a lot of warnings on this.

Was looking at wuzhen homestay, 乌镇民宿 thus googled around and they accept foreigners.

 

[beanstalk6]

You will be fine , if I am not wrong 500 per day ( can't remembered) deported and ban from entering China , that is what I was told by the Police station .

If you are lucky and meet and understanding police officer , maybe they just give you a warning .

Even if you are staying in your own apartment you still have to register .

You will be given a print out of the forms with all your details and photo .

I am very sure they won't penalise the foreign guest as it is work for them. However, since fines contribute to the government revenue, in the current financial climate, things may change.