Alipay in China

[16/8IF]

Example info from the above Youtrip guide on WeChat Pay
https://www.you.co/sg/blog/how-to-use-wechat-pay-in-china/

Q: Can foreigners send or receive red packets (hongbao) with WeChat Pay?

As of now, foreigners using WeChat Pay cannot send or receive red packets on WeChat.

Q: Does WeChat Pay have any transaction fees?

In terms of fees, WeChat Pay charges a 3% transaction fee for purchases above 200 CNY (~S$37). However, for smaller purchases below 200 CNY, there are no transaction fees.

Q: Does WeChat Pay have any spending limitations?

There are also some spending limits to keep in mind:

You can spend up to 6,000 CNY (~S$1,109.97) on each transaction
The monthly spending limit is 50,000 CNY (~S$9,249.77)
The annual spending limit is 60,000 CNY (~S$11,099.72)

Just to share , for me I can use the Red Packet and Transfer function for both Wechat & Alipay.

If I am not wrong Red Packet have a cap at RMB 200 more than that I used the transfer function .

This month alone I have used I think 5-8 times with my Chinese friends .

ps do note my WeChat and Alipay are linked with Chinese domestic banks .

 

[HoGnix]

BTW, I still believe this wallet balance (微信零钱 and 支付宝余额) in RMB is not officially supported for WeChat account bound to a Foreign Bank Card, no matter for WeChat Pay or AliPay. I still consider them as loopholes.

All the improvements done in 2024 is to enable ease of use for Foreign issued bank cards.

They are not really meant for the foreign users to receive RMB in the wallet as wallet balance through transfer or Ang Bao. Now it may work for some users but my thinking is that this may not work any time in the future, as they are not officially supported.

Example: Guides from Tencent
https://www.tencent.com/zh-cn/articles/2201831.html

https://www.tencent.com/zh-cn/media/weixin-pay.html (Chinese version)

https://www.tencent.com/en-us/media/weixin-pay.html (English version)

Forgot to mention, your may need to open a Bank account in China with your SG passport, and then add your Bank Card to WeChat, So your WeChat balance is bonded with your China Bank Card..

 

[xiaofan]

Forgot to mention, your may need to open a Bank account in China with your SG passport, and then add your Bank Card to WeChat.

That is totally different then.

WeChat Pay and AliPay account linked to a China account can of course accept transfer and Ang Bao.

Just to share , for me I can use the Red Packet and Transfer function for both Wechat & Alipay.

If I am not wrong Red Packet have a cap at RMB 200 more than that I used the transfer function .

This month alone I have used I think 5-8 times with my Chinese friends .

ps do note my WeChat and Alipay are linked with Chinese domestic banks .

 

[xiaofan]

For those who may visit China more often, by all means get a local mobile phone number, then try to open up a bank account in China.

If you are lucky enough to be able to open a bank account in China, link that one to your WeChat and Alipay account.

Then deposit money from time to time when you visit China.

 

[xiaofan]

More info from a user in the mobile section.

1) Roaming

2) When a China mobile number is needed, WeChat Pay vs AliPay

3) How to get a Chinese mobile phone number and maintain it.

Experiences between all SG MVNO were similar.

ALL MVNO will give you a Singapore IP (as if you never left Singapore).



Loading speed of non-CN websites (google, HWZ etc.) feels similar to when I'm in Singapore.
Loading speed of CN websites, some are faster than others (e.g. SIMBA faster than Eight). You may not notice it unless you're using them side by side (e.g. loading the food menu as a group).
e.g.
Menu photos were all showing up on other phones while mine was still trickling in (I was on Eight)

Here's some screenshots of various speed test results for those who want some numbers



Signal / Coverage - 5G with full bars all the time and had no connectivity problems within the city centres.
Occassional connectivity issues (Signal but no connection) when travelling to / from the airports and ferry terminals.
Experienced one episode of no signal on CMLink for 1 hour in the hotel room (Baseline full signal). Called CMLink to complain, given a BS reason and told I needed to update to iOS 26.1. Came back on later.

In China

Tested only 5 CN applications - (it was all I knew how to use as they had English translations)
1. WeChat and its various mini-programs (e.g. Didi to book cabs)
2. Alipay (Barely used it because WeChat worked for me)
3. Dianping (Browse for food recommendations)
4. Baidu Map

There are others who had issues with WeChat but no issues with Alipay. Luck of the draw.
Cash was always accepted by every hawker / shop.

With WeChat I could
- Buy metro tickets at the counter in SZ
- Buy metro tickets at the machine in GZ
- Pay hotel fees
- Load the resaurant menu to order food
- Buy items at shops
- Purchase tourist attraction tickets
- Transfer money to others users (Some shops operated this way)
- Book and made payment for Didi / Taxis
- Book trains

Please keep your WeChat account active every 6 months or it will become dormant and you'll require assistance from 3 old friends to help you unfreeze your account.

Specific limitations exists that gatekeep services to either
1. China Mobile Number only
e.g.
If you want to join the various shops membership program to earn points from your orders.
You want a SMS alert when your queue or order is ready. (In app alerts work)
There are apps or programs that require a CN number only for registration.
Open a bank account.

2. China / Hong Kong IP only
e.g.
Buying single trip metro ticket at the machine (SZ Only). That means you'll have to buy it at the human counter instead.
Buying a ez-link card at the machine (SZ Only).
Checking on my order status at Mcdonalds in GZ.
Experienced one specific restaurant's webpage that would not load with SG IP.

3. China Citizen only
I chalk this down to bad luck. I couldn't setup the digital metro card for travel in SZ and GZ. (i.e. using phone to scan in / out). First it was internet access error. Eventually encountered another error stating it's for citizens only (I'm not the only one). Eventually worked when I tried again when I was back in Singapore.
You can't use WeChat to make payment outside China (e.g. in Hong Kong).

4. China Issued Bank Card only
Tried buying a ez-link card (I collect cards with pretty designs) at the machine in GZ. They will not accept any SG cards.
You can't use your SG card to store money in your WeChat wallet unless you link a China bank card. (Tour card is the workaround).

5. Chinese Language only
Some features are available with the Chinese language option only. You'll notice the difference when you switch to English.
e.g. Taobao, China Unicom app

The limitations all varies on a case by case basis. What worked for one doesn't mean it worked for all people / all regions. It's not consistent.

Buying a China Mobile Number
It's not necessary. Only for the most dedicated fans.

Where to buy?
1. Airport
2. Offical telecomunication shops (They are not as numerous as SG MY).
- Find outlets near tourist attractions - They are more likely to speak English and accomodate you. (One shop turned me away).
China Mobile - No.1 in CN. Has 8 yuan plan and English speaking CSO.
China Unicom - Attracts the foreigners crowd, more visible branches at tourist hot spots.

Bring your passport and cash (100 to 200 yuan). If you can talk like a local you can ask about 4G plans that cost less than 100 yuan (they aren't advertised in the shops or offered upfront).
15 minutes process.

I was asked if I wanted VPN during my signup.
Their VPN provided HK SG IPs that allows surfing all websites google etc.

5G SA
Speed - Blazing when surfing CN websites, Baidu map.
Average after going through VPN.
Signal - Full bars everywhere.

If you want to keep your number
Before you leave China, call the customer service number, choose the English option and ask to downgrade your plan to a cheaper option (keep asking till you reach 8 - 10 yuan a month).
You can buy data packages via the app (Chinese language only) as you require them in the future.
Top up your balance via WeChat / Alipay.

The China government will send you social reminders on being good citizens when abroad.

Screenshots


In summary,
Travelling to China is now "Easy Mode". Enjoy the trip, food, attractions.

 

[vaxvms]

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

 

[vaxvms]

But your normal WeChat Pay or AliPay account linked to Singapore Credit Card will not be able to accept the transfer.

Or your account may get the transfer but may not be able to spend later.

There are risks ...

My WeChat Pay linked to Singapore Credit Card still has RMB 213.42 and I cannot do anything about it after May 2020. It just sits there...

alipay definitely can tx n rx as i tested out with my wife alipay who link to youtrip card only

after that she can use balance to scan n pay eg 1688 payment

 

[hfngshnll]

From the Youtrip guide for AliPay. Here they do not mention whether you can get refund from the vendor through transfer or Ang Bao. But again I believe they are not officially supported.

last year, i used wechat to do a timeslot booking for a national park, and paid thru wechat pay linked to youtrip. due to weather, one part of the visit was cancelled and that part of the ticket was refunded back to my youtrip. the rules of the national park stated that refund money would be returned to where it originally came from. for less official/ordinary vendors without the payment infrastructure do such refunds, likely will be back to the wallet balance.

earlier this year, i got a small change back after paying the bus operator in cash. she scanned my wechat-receive-money qr code to give me back the small change.

i also got help many times from hotel front desk people and once from eatery-owner to help top up my wallet balance (scanned my receive-money qr code) after giving them the equivalent in cash. i am able to do payments from the wallet balance. ( for both wechat pay and alipay )

for most payments, i deduct from the youtrip card, when amount >rmb200, then i switch the deduct source from youtrip card to wallet balance to get around the 3% fee.

my wechat and alipay only linked to youtrip, both are passport and sg phone verified.

 

[hfngshnll]

2. China / Hong Kong IP only
e.g.
Experienced one specific restaurant's webpage that would not load with SG IP.

there were a few tourist spots where buying tickets from the ticket window required you to scan their qr code to get into their webpage to get the tickets. as my was sg roaming phone, always got errors to load their webpage. in the end, the customer service girls would use their own phones to buy ticket for me, and i scanned their receive-money-qr-code to pay them.

small issue, no big deal.

 

[froztheart]

last year, i used wechat to do a timeslot booking for a national park, and paid thru wechat pay linked to youtrip. due to weather, one part of the visit was cancelled and that part of the ticket was refunded back to my youtrip. the rules of the national park stated that refund money would be returned to where it originally came from. for less official/ordinary vendors without the payment infrastructure do such refunds, likely will be back to the wallet balance.

earlier this year, i got a small change back after paying the bus operator in cash. she scanned my wechat-receive-money qr code to give me back the small change.

i also got help many times from hotel front desk people and once from eatery-owner to help top up my wallet balance (scanned my receive-money qr code) after giving them the equivalent in cash. i am able to do payments from the wallet balance. ( for both wechat pay and alipay )

for most payments, i deduct from the youtrip card, when amount >rmb200, then i switch the deduct source from youtrip card to wallet balance to get around the 3% fee.

my wechat and alipay only linked to youtrip, both are passport and sg phone verified.

Yeah, which is why I find it weird that Xiaofan is sharing that not able to transfer/move the money.
Should be able to pay with verified account unless something is wrong somewhere.

 

[Wanderer123]

change no issue nowadays as they just tx to ur VX or ali...no cash involved

Errr, if u can send and receive with wechat/ali, why use cash on the first place?

 

[xiaofan]

Yeah, which is why I find it weird that Xiaofan is sharing that not able to transfer/move the money.
Should be able to pay with verified account unless something is wrong somewhere.

I will try again later.

I think it may have to do with my account. I was using the WeChat Pay wallet with quite some transactions before 2020.

Still as per the official WeChat document, the account linked to foreign bank card are supposedly not able to use WeChat Pay transfer function and red packet function. So technically it is a loophole even if the two functions work for some users here.

I cannot find such clause in AliPay document though. So it may not count as a loophole in the end.

 

[vaxvms]

Errr, if u can send and receive with wechat/ali, why use cash on the first place?

was replying to someone who wan use cash n scare no small change from vendor

 

[vaxvms]

oh ya if use wechat metro QR code realise there is some city who do not accept international CC only can use local bank card n balance eg chengdu
alipay metro QR code no issue for chengdu

strange ......

 

[bertrande]

Just chiming in here to share what I have been doing instead of bringing rmb to China to deposit into accounts. Trust Card debit function offers consistently better rates than at SG money changers. So when I am in China, I withdraw from ATM and deposit back using the Chinese bank card. Maximum per transaction is 3k rmb and you can do it more than once (don’t know the upper limit - the most i have done is 4 times or 12k rmb). Easier than carrying a wad of cash. I’ve done it at ICBC ABC and CMB as i hold accounts with these banks.

 

[froztheart]

Just chiming in here to share what I have been doing instead of bringing rmb to China to deposit into accounts. Trust Card debit function offers consistently better rates than at SG money changers. So when I am in China, I withdraw from ATM and deposit back using the Chinese bank card. Maximum per transaction is 3k rmb and you can do it more than once (don’t know the upper limit - the most i have done is 4 times or 12k rmb). Easier than carrying a wad of cash. I’ve done it at ICBC ABC and CMB as i hold accounts with these banks.

Ahhh, so like using YT/Trust to withdraw IN CHINA and then straight go deposit while IN CHINA which is much more convenient.
Interesting that Trust do not like limit on withdrawals unlike YT where it's like $400 monthly limit.

 

[HoGnix]

Ahhh, so like using YT/Trust to withdraw IN CHINA and then straight go deposit while IN CHINA which is much more convenient.
Interesting that Trust do not like limit on withdrawals unlike YT where it's like $400 monthly limit.

Yes, its actually withdraw Cash from ATM with SG issued card like Trust and Youtrip, then immediate straightaway use the same ATM deposit the cash to China Bank account.

 

[beanstalk6]

Interesting that Trust do not like limit on withdrawals unlike YT where it's like $400 monthly limit.

All the multi-currency cards (Wise, Revolut, YouTrip) I checked impose limits, unlike bank-issued ones.

 

[froztheart]

Yes, its actually withdraw Cash from ATM with SG issued card like Trust and Youtrip, then immediate straightaway use the same ATM deposit the cash to China Bank account.

Yup, literally take out from travel cards and put back into Chinese bank accounts, got it.

All the multi-currency cards (Wise, Revolut, YouTrip) I checked impose limits, unlike bank-issued ones.

That's what I thought but @bertrande is sharing like able to withdraw up to 2.4k SGD wor....

 

[beanstalk6]

Yup, literally take out from travel cards and put back into Chinese bank accounts, got it.

That's what I thought but @bertrande is sharing like able to withdraw up to 2.4k SGD wor....

That is the distinction - Trust card is issued by its bank. It is not a "travel card".