I spent 3 weeks installing AliPay and registering for a tourcard and when I got to Beijing I tried to buy a coffee and it failed. It seems there are some situations where a foreigner can't make payments that a Chinese user can make out of their wallet, so be careful!
Alipay Tourpass has been discontinued since Mar 2023. So it wouldn’t work. Link your credit or debit card to the Alipay account and it should work. Give it a try
@jng4480. Get a VPN before u travel back to China. This allow u to access to Google, search places to visit.... Download all the app u need as u won't able to download back there. I got one before I went back to China but after 4 days, I get block and couldn't have access to anything. Depend where u go in China. In the South, many places still accept cash but no credit card. In the north, like Shanghai, it's only WeChat/ AliExpress.
Hello Gilbert, thanks for the guided video. I need some clarifications: 1. Does navigation on foot using a VPN SIM card show up on Baidu or even Apple Maps? Is a local sim necessary? 2. I understand that when using Didi, the driver normally calls to confirm ride. So does roaming on a Sg Sim or a data SIM card allow it? Thank you!
Yes to both the questions. Local Chinese sim is not necessary, your own SIM card should suffice. The driver now uses the app to call you if needed. Which means that as long as your app is connected you can be contacted.
Great and very informative Video for all us Foreigners who love visiting China and using Alipay step by step guide you have shown here👏👏👏Love you video simple yet effective in its message👍
Hi Gibbon, I have followed all your instructions to install Alipay for my coming trip to China next month. It was approved. But I was not ask to fill in my personal particulars like my name, passport details as shown on your video. All they asked me is my credit card details and it was approved. In this case I am still not very sure and confidence if I can use it in China?
Yes, I understand that this is a new process to make it easier for new users. Once, you need a higher limit or more services, it will request for more information and verification.
Thank you for showing how to use Alipay, I had done all the register and bank card in Alipay in may cell phone from out side China, but when I arrived in China my cell phone (SIM card) did not work. Should I buy new SIM card in China, will it works.
You are most welcome. Where are you from? Suggest that you subscribe to data roaming services provided by your telco. Always more reliable. Plus, many sites and apps like google, facebook etc will not work in China, unless you use a VPN.
@@gibbontravelogue , I know I did not have data roaming since telco in my country charge very high price for that, I did not including it. I think next time I visit I will buy Chine SIM card and see if it works
Hi, quick question I noticed you used it for Metro. When you said you will click on "Transport" on your phone. I don't have this option. I saw you clicked on the third button at 5:39 On my default Alipay interface. 1st Button - Scan 2nd Button - Pay 3rd Button - Collect 4th Button - Pocket I click on "Collect" and yes I do get a QR code, but it says "For Individuals". Am I missing something here?? I have Alipay international version. The closest thing I can find related to metro is "HK/MO/TW cross border transaction"? thanks as always!
Hey, at 3:07, there is a screen shot of the Alipay interface. My 3rd button is Transport. The transport button only works when you are physically in China but even if you are in your own country, the transport button should be there. Try updating the app. My version is 10.5.88
@gibbontravelogue thank you for quick response, i am using android phone and it seems from Google Play store, their latest is 10.5.70. not sure how significant the update from 10.5.70 --> to 10.5.88 is, but unfortunately, i don't see the Transport button on my user interface. The 3rd button for me is Collect. thank you for referencing the 3:07, yeah i dont have that option. I'll probably try next week to see if the app updates itself to 10.5.88 or I may have to try it on an iPhone, which you have. But i'm sure there is something i'm missing or something isn't right or change, etc. Anyhow I appreciate the help. I don't think the "Transport" is a big issue for me. It looked very convienent for metro use. I could have imagine myself at metros scanning rather than using a physical metro cards to top up and scan. Thanks again Gibbontravelogue for your time and effort in these. If there is any new update or progress on my side, ill respond.
@@gibbontravelogue Thanks! I found out the reason. Apparently I needed to allow the app to have Locations enabled. Also, Alipay needed to have the appropriate City on the top left. So when the top left says "City", I get the "Collect" option. But when I am or choose the relevant city (i.e. Beijing, Hong Kong, etc) the "Collect" option becomes "Transport". should anyone come across this, hope this will help. since i aint in China yet, i didn't see the reason to enable Location for the app. now my next mission is trying to order high-speed rail tickets but somehow find a way to reserve seats in advance. i heard some people could order KFC and take-away meals whilst on the travel.
@@WM-eg4gh This is excellent! If you are keen to take the high speed train, you can check this out ua-cam.com/video/MKxNpwAf63Y/v-deo.htmlsi=cMhHwPZsd50frx-y
Many places in China don’t accept master or Visa card. So installing and registering for a WeChat or Alipay account will make it more convenient for you in China.
Thanks Gilbert for your clear explanation. The issue is that our credit card has other charges too. Not sure if WISE and YOUTRIP can be linked to Alipay?
Saya punya akun alipay yang terblokir dan dapat notifikasi dari alipay harus buka rekening di china sementara saya tinggal di Indonesia, untuk turis yang ingin berkunjung ke china apa aja syaratnya agar saya bisa buka rekening di china agar akun Alipay dan sejumlah dana yang terblokir yang saya punya bisa dicairkan.
If you are using an iPhone, go to the Apple AppStore, and search for Alipay to download. If you are using an android phone, go to Google Playstore and search for Alipay to download.
Unless there is free wifi in the area, I presume you will need to purchase some overseas data-loading plan for your Spore SIM card? Can payment through these apps be made still if you use a china SIM card with data-loading plan?
Question: If I added a binding of credit card to Alipay, then, purchases with Alipay in China is just like using my credit card back in the US, am I right? Will the purchases with my Alipay in China show up on the same credit statement we see in the US, in US$ and not in RMB? According to your experience, do banks/credit cards deliberately used exchange rates favorable to themselves?
Once you bind your US credit card to Alipay, all purchases in China will be reflected on your Alipay account. They will be in RMB. In your credit card statement in the US, you will see individual transactions reflected in US$ with the exchange rate charged by your card issuer with Alipay as the merchant. Different card issuers will have differing fx rates but normally banks will have a pretty high markup of the fx.
Hey, no need to at the point of registration. You will need to provide a copy of your passport for full verification for a higher limit and more services.
Hey, yes you can! You don't need to have a Chinese phone number to register for an Alipay or WeChat account. You can simply register with your US phone number. Once you have registered, you can link your debit or credit card to the account for payments in China. Give it a go today! Let me know if it works
Do set up the WeChat account in your home country with your local phone number first, as I remember that a code will be sent to your mobile number for verification. Subsequently, you will only need data to operate the app.
Yes, cash should still be accepted to many places. It just a little inconvenient as the store can have to provide you with change and they may not have the right change….
Hey, no need to. In large cities like Guangzhou, there are so many places that you can leave the bike. As long is it is a designated bike park, you are fine. Hope you find the video useful.
Yes, I had a friend that sent me money into my foreigner’s Alipay account. It take a long time to finally able to utilize the funds as the verification process can be quite complex. So my advise is just to stick to the non wallet option.
Hi, thanks so much for your video sharing. May I double confirm is it Malaysian use roaming from our telco provider can direct operate Google search, Google Map, WhatsApp , Google Translate?
Thank you so much! This is the best video I've come across so far that details and actually shows real life application of the app. Lessens my stress in trying it out when I eventually go to China. Got yourself a new subscriber! 😊
@@gibbontravelogue , thank you for your video. From your accent I am sure you are a Singaporean. May I ask if I get a temporary China mobile sim card in China when I have arrived in China. Do I have to setup this Alipay App only when I get the temporary sim card. Because I will be only using the China mobile sim card throughout my holiday in China.
Hey, for foreigners, the use of the wallet is not possible as you require a Chinese bank account. You may only link your Alipay account to your credit card for payments which is also possible for your purchases on taobao.
I was told of an options where a local can transfer money to my Alipay Wallet and then I can start utilizing the funds. hence saving the transaction costs related to a credit card.
You can, but a little complicated since e more verification needs to be done. It will take a while before the money comes through. So I wouldn’t suggest that.
Oh, did you try the Hello Bike? I don’t have a Chinese phone number too but it can be accessed through the Alipay app as the verification has already been done there.
@gibbontravelogue @OlisBigPicture After asking people around, I finally found out what the problem was. I'm supposed to use my new phone number from the simcard bought here in China. Now I'm able to get the verification codes and use the bikes. Thanks anyways.
You don’t need a Chinese number to set up Alipay Transport. What you need to be aware of is that you can’t set it up outside China. Once you arrived in China, it will be good.
Very informative video on Alipay. Do foreigners in China need to enable Alipay's Tour Pass to be able to pay with their debit and credit cards in China?
@@gibbontravelogue Hi, nice clear video, thx. i wondered why you didn't mention Tour Card ...... Hasn't this replaced tour pass as a kind of 'wallet' for foreigners so you can use funds in alipay without worrying whether your card issuer will approve the transaction? I know Tour card has some time restrictions and fees, but at least your money is there in Alipay, and separated from your home bank a/c or cc.
@@fivebats10 Yes, Tourpass has been discontinued. This means of payments ie linking credit card or debit card to your Alipay account is what allows foreigners to make purchases in China.
Yes, you can do that. However, for larger amounts, there could be sms otp sent to the card holder to approve the transaction. Which country are you from?
@@calvinang1 i see. As far as i know, the touch and go app can be used in China on the Alipay+ rails. So you can try that for yourself and your children.
@@gibbontravelogue prefer my traditional method of payment of using credit card when travelling however I might try out T&G for transportation as you have suggested. 👍🏻
Thank you so so much for this video. I will travel very soon to China and now I am feeling a little bit more confident than before. I did the steps you explained in your video, so I think everything should work when I will enter mainland China :)
I cannot seem to use the metro/train ticket function as it says its only for verified chinese mainland users. Any workaround? Or does the function only become active when one arrives in the country?
@@gibbontravelogue Thanks for replying so quickly! Much appreciated. Can AMEX be used for payment outside the app (eg: shopping malls) Can use contactless payment using credit card (eg paywave) ? Or everything has to be done via the app? The Changi payment gateway works with both Alipay and WeChat pay QR codes? The 3% transaction fee is on top of the 3-3.25% FCY fee charged by the card? Ie 6-6.25% total?
@@suprememoment6060 wow that’s a lot of questions. First of all credit cards like Amex are not readily accepted except for some really big merchants. Changi App can be used on Alipay QR codes but many of the QR codes now are unified ie both Alipay and WeChat can use. The 3% is added on top of your transaction regardless of the FX markup
Hi I will be travelling to China soon. This is a great and most informative video so far. Thank you! :) Do you know if I Can bind my multi-currency Visa debit card (ie.Wise card or Merchantrade Money Card) to Alipay, and use the available RMB stored in my card for payment? Does it work?
Interesting… what error did u encounter? I tried to scan an Alipay+ qr code in Singapore and it works. It’s just that you will pay in RMB for an item in Singapore.
Just to be very clear that an Australian issued card can be linked to Alipay and use for purchases while in China. Because other sources claimed that foreign cards cannot be used. Perhaps these other sources are out-dated. Another thing would be that my Australian phone would need to have a local sim card. Otherwise it is not workable in China.
Hey, yes, foreign-issued credit card can now be linked to both Alipay and WeChat pay. As for your phone, you can consider an e-sim such as Nomad, Airalo etc just download the app.
Hey, so glad you it helpful. The Changi app has a pay icon at the bottom menu. Tap on that, and you can see the wallet option at the bottom. To use it, you will need to top that up using your bank account. When making payments in China, let the cashier know that you are paying by Alipay.
how to you get receipt? how do you know what exact items your purchased? if you bought 2x apple and 3x pine, does it show you transactions when you scan a payment?
if i link my debit card to ali pay, am i right that by this method alipay only draw money from my bank account as much as the billing itself, thus there is no any deposit in advance that sent from bank account to alipay ? please help to confirm, thanks
Great video.. Need to check if Alipay works offline? If not, can roaming work or only China SIM works Another question, if passport info need MUST be submitted when registering Alipay? I saw some videos showing that passport is not required to be submitted... Is that so?
No, Alipay doesn’t work offline, you will need internet access. Either from your telco roaming services or a 3rd party e-sim. It doesn’t have to be a China issued SIM card
Hey, not sure if they are any apps in India that uses the Alipay payments rails and absorbs the 3% fees. If there aren’t any, one way to avoid it is to break the transaction into smaller transactions if it is possible. For example, if the payment is for 300rmb, you can ask to pay it two times for 200rmb and 100rmb.
Thanks for your very clear description. Will I be able to purchase items from Chinese online shops from my home country using this method? Or is it purely applicable for use when one visits China?
Gilbert, if you're making a payment (after scanning Alipay+ QR Code) while in China via your Changi app (which you've added a Wise card with sufficient money in its CNY wallet), I assume Changi app will bill me against my Wise card in CNY (i.e. no conversion from CNY to SGD). Am I right? What's your experience?
Hey Sunny, the Changi App uses a digital wallet which you can only top up with Singapore dollars. It cannot link to any credit card including your wise card. Once you top up the wallet with Singapore dollars, the payment will be processed and the fx rate will be imposed by the Changi App provider, LiquidPay.
I managed to add my Visa credit card in MyChangi app and was able to use the app to make purchases which were charged to my linked Visa credit card. These purchases were made in Singapore. I did not need to top up cash to the app in order to make purchases. To top up cash, I need to use Liquidpay and must sign up with Liquidpay which I am reluctant to do. Don’t want another account to manage.
Changi App is an app which contains a wallet for Singapore residents and it allows users to make payments in China using Alipay. Are you from Singapore?🇸🇬
@@gibbontravelogue must i use topup to the e-money or can i put credit card in wallet? e-money store in sgd, when use in other currently, which rate follow?
Thanks for watching and glad that it has been helpful to you. The Transport button is right at the top, alongside Scan, Pay/receive and Pocket. You should see it. My app version is the latest 10.5.80. When u r in your home country and you tap on Transport, u will get a message that this service is only available to Chinese Mainland users. This is normal, you will be able to use once you arrive in China.
I seem to be hitting a daily limit. Is there such a thing? I linked my international card and currently I'm in a 2 week trip to China. The daily limit is extremly frustrating, sometimes it triggers mid day while shopping and just makes my whole day hard.
And is there a difference between me scanning the static QR code of the merchant vs the merchant scanning my dynamic QR code within Alipay? I noticed that if the merchant scans my QR code it usually (99%+) works everytime, while if I scan the merchant/store code Alipay usually throws the red text error "Your bank declined this transaction due to fraud bla bla bla" even though when I contact my bank they say they didn't decline any transaction whatsoever.
Yes, there is a daily limit of US$5k, which is recently revised. Perhaps you can check if you are completely verified. If you are not verified adequately, the limits are lower.
Hey, you can download Alipay - Simplify Your Life. It is on both Apple AppStore and Google Playstore. What model of phone are you using that it is not compatible?
Hi there, love your video. I'm from Scotland and I have a bank of Scotland card. Do I top up alipay from my card or when I pay items, alipay will take money from my bank account with exchange rate included?
Hey thanks and glad you enjoyed the video. It’s the latter. When you pay for items, Alipay will take money from your bank account. However, be sure that the bank of Scotland card is a Mastercard or Visa card or the other cards that I mentioned in the video.
Hi Gibbon, Thank you for the guide on setting up Alipay. It is very helpful and detailed. I have tried to use Alipay in Singapore after the set up but it isn't working. Can we test Alipay in Singapore before our trip to China, or is it only available for use by foreigners within China? Please kindly assist. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Yes, I’ve ever tried scanning the Alipay+ QR code in Singapore and it works, although the payment will be in RMB. Do you know what is the error message when u scanned the QR code in Singapore?
@@gibbontravelogue I scanned the Alipay QR code without the '+' at the end, and received an error message stating, "Payment failed. This service is only available for individuals with a China identification card." or Is it we can only use Alipay+ QR code in Singapore?
@@StephanieGan-yb1xp thanks. My understanding is that our international Alipay account would be able to scan both Alipay+ and Alipay QR code. But since you have this message, then I could be wrong. Nevertheless, you can try using it in China, it might work. At the same time, you could also have WeChat Pay as a backup.
@@gibbontravelogue Yes, I have the same understanding as you. I will try to test at other vendors in Singapore and see if they work. Hopefully it will work in China. Yes, I have also downloaded the WeChat as a backup. Thanks for your help.
I spent 3 weeks installing AliPay and registering for a tourcard and when I got to Beijing I tried to buy a coffee and it failed. It seems there are some situations where a foreigner can't make payments that a Chinese user can make out of their wallet, so be careful!
Alipay Tourpass has been discontinued since Mar 2023. So it wouldn’t work. Link your credit or debit card to the Alipay account and it should work. Give it a try
@@gibbontravelogue tourpass has been discontinued but replaced by tourcard, still active and I've been in correspondence with them
Great video! You should make another video on the SIM and VPN. What needs to install first before arriving China😁😁
That’s sounds like a wonderful idea. Thanks for the suggestion.
It's.works .. hurray
@@andriono08 That’s fabulous! Enjoy your trip in China!
@jng4480.
Get a VPN before u travel back to China. This allow u to access to Google, search places to visit.... Download all the app u need as u won't able to download back there. I got one before I went back to China but after 4 days, I get block and couldn't have access to anything.
Depend where u go in China. In the South, many places still accept cash but no credit card. In the north, like Shanghai, it's only WeChat/ AliExpress.
Hello Gilbert, thanks for the guided video. I need some clarifications:
1. Does navigation on foot using a VPN SIM card show up on Baidu or even Apple Maps? Is a local sim necessary?
2. I understand that when using Didi, the driver normally calls to confirm ride. So does roaming on a Sg Sim or a data SIM card allow it?
Thank you!
Yes to both the questions. Local Chinese sim is not necessary, your own SIM card should suffice. The driver now uses the app to call you if needed. Which means that as long as your app is connected you can be contacted.
Thank you for your information. very clear and simply explains step by step. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! And thanks for supporting the channel!
Hello! Great video! After using the rental bike, where can I leave the bike? 😅
Hey thanks! After using the bike, you will have to park the bike at designated zones. Dun worry, the zones are huge and plentiful within the cities.
Great and very informative Video for all us Foreigners who love visiting China and using Alipay step by step guide you have shown here👏👏👏Love you video simple yet effective in its message👍
Thanks and so glad that you enjoyed the video.
If take public transport like metro and train in Beijing with children, how to scan QR if only adults have handphone with Alipay?
If that is the case, you can use your Alipay to pay for the purchase of the train or subway tickets
If I link my credit card to Alipay and then scan a qr code with a foreign credit card from eu, and then scan the code will it work ?
Yes, you can link your EU visa or Mastercard credit card to Alipay and scan the Alipay QR code to make payments in China.
Hi Gibbon, I have followed all your instructions to install Alipay for my coming trip to China next month. It was approved. But I was not ask to fill in my personal particulars like my name, passport details as shown on your video. All they asked me is my credit card details and it was approved. In this case I am still not very sure and confidence if I can use it in China?
Yes, I understand that this is a new process to make it easier for new users. Once, you need a higher limit or more services, it will request for more information and verification.
Thank you for showing how to use Alipay, I had done all the register and bank card in Alipay in may cell phone from out side China, but when I arrived in China my cell phone (SIM card) did not work. Should I buy new SIM card in China, will it works.
You are most welcome. Where are you from? Suggest that you subscribe to data roaming services provided by your telco. Always more reliable. Plus, many sites and apps like google, facebook etc will not work in China, unless you use a VPN.
@@gibbontravelogue , I know I did not have data roaming since telco in my country charge very high price for that, I did not including it. I think next time I visit I will buy Chine SIM card and see if it works
Hi, quick question
I noticed you used it for Metro. When you said you will click on "Transport" on your phone. I don't have this option. I saw you clicked on the third button at 5:39
On my default Alipay interface.
1st Button - Scan
2nd Button - Pay
3rd Button - Collect
4th Button - Pocket
I click on "Collect" and yes I do get a QR code, but it says "For Individuals".
Am I missing something here?? I have Alipay international version.
The closest thing I can find related to metro is "HK/MO/TW cross border transaction"?
thanks as always!
Hey, at 3:07, there is a screen shot of the Alipay interface. My 3rd button is Transport. The transport button only works when you are physically in China but even if you are in your own country, the transport button should be there. Try updating the app. My version is 10.5.88
@gibbontravelogue thank you for quick response, i am using android phone and it seems from Google Play store, their latest is 10.5.70. not sure how significant the update from 10.5.70 --> to 10.5.88 is, but unfortunately, i don't see the Transport button on my user interface. The 3rd button for me is Collect.
thank you for referencing the 3:07, yeah i dont have that option. I'll probably try next week to see if the app updates itself to 10.5.88 or I may have to try it on an iPhone, which you have. But i'm sure there is something i'm missing or something isn't right or change, etc.
Anyhow I appreciate the help. I don't think the "Transport" is a big issue for me. It looked very convienent for metro use. I could have imagine myself at metros scanning rather than using a physical metro cards to top up and scan.
Thanks again Gibbontravelogue for your time and effort in these. If there is any new update or progress on my side, ill respond.
@@WM-eg4gh Hey, you are most welcome. I’m sure you will have a great time in China despite this!
@@gibbontravelogue Thanks! I found out the reason. Apparently I needed to allow the app to have Locations enabled. Also, Alipay needed to have the appropriate City on the top left.
So when the top left says "City", I get the "Collect" option. But when I am or choose the relevant city (i.e. Beijing, Hong Kong, etc) the "Collect" option becomes "Transport".
should anyone come across this, hope this will help. since i aint in China yet, i didn't see the reason to enable Location for the app.
now my next mission is trying to order high-speed rail tickets but somehow find a way to reserve seats in advance. i heard some people could order KFC and take-away meals whilst on the travel.
@@WM-eg4gh This is excellent! If you are keen to take the high speed train, you can check this out
ua-cam.com/video/MKxNpwAf63Y/v-deo.htmlsi=cMhHwPZsd50frx-y
So can you use a physical visa or Mastercard?
Many places in China don’t accept master or Visa card. So installing and registering for a WeChat or Alipay account will make it more convenient for you in China.
An excellent video ... Thank You!
Glad you liked it. Thanks.
Do we need to enable the linked credit card for overseas usage?
Yes, you will have to.
Hi bro, debit master card have approved in china?
Yes 100%, both credit or debit master card can be linked to your Alipay account.
Thanks Gilbert for your clear explanation. The issue is that our credit card has other charges too. Not sure if WISE and YOUTRIP can be linked to Alipay?
Yes, as long as it is a visa or master card regardless of credit, debit or prepaid, it can be linked to Alipay. Thanks for supporting this channel.
@@gibbontraveloguethanks again. Greetings from Singapore too.
@@Andy_TKC hey majullah Singapura !
Saya punya akun alipay yang terblokir dan dapat notifikasi dari alipay harus buka rekening di china sementara saya tinggal di Indonesia, untuk turis yang ingin berkunjung ke china apa aja syaratnya agar saya bisa buka rekening di china agar akun Alipay dan sejumlah dana yang terblokir yang saya punya bisa dicairkan.
As far as I know, tourists wouldn’t be able to open an account in China. Perhaps you can contact Alipay to sort out those issues that you mentioned.
@@gibbontravelogue thank you for information
Can I use wetchat or alipay?I only have debit card
Yes, you can simply link your debit card to Alipay or Wechatpay
@@gibbontravelogue bank central asia
How to download Alipay?
If you are using an iPhone, go to the Apple AppStore, and search for Alipay to download. If you are using an android phone, go to Google Playstore and search for Alipay to download.
Unless there is free wifi in the area, I presume you will need to purchase some overseas data-loading plan for your Spore SIM card? Can payment through these apps be made still if you use a china SIM card with data-loading plan?
Yes, you can use a Chinese prepaid card for Chinese apps like WeChat and Alipay but not your everyday app like facebook, UA-cam and WhatsApp.
Thanks for sharing 😊
Hey glad the video has been helpful!
Can i pay by alipay offline?
Cannot. You need internet access
Do you need a chinese phone number for payments in China, or alipay works there with your original number registered?
No need to have a Chinese phone number, just use your own local number to register for an Alipay account.
Question: If I added a binding of credit card to Alipay, then, purchases with Alipay in China is just like using my credit card back in the US, am I right?
Will the purchases with my Alipay in China show up on the same credit statement we see in the US, in US$ and not in RMB? According to your experience, do banks/credit cards deliberately used exchange rates favorable to themselves?
Once you bind your US credit card to Alipay, all purchases in China will be reflected on your Alipay account. They will be in RMB. In your credit card statement in the US, you will see individual transactions reflected in US$ with the exchange rate charged by your card issuer with Alipay as the merchant. Different card issuers will have differing fx rates but normally banks will have a pretty high markup of the fx.
When you install the Alipay, do you need to scan your Identity Card or Passport?
Hey, no need to at the point of registration. You will need to provide a copy of your passport for full verification for a higher limit and more services.
Can I use my American iphone? I've heard I can not because it doesn't have a Chinese phone number and doesn't have a sim card to change out.
Hey, yes you can! You don't need to have a Chinese phone number to register for an Alipay or WeChat account. You can simply register with your US phone number. Once you have registered, you can link your debit or credit card to the account for payments in China. Give it a go today! Let me know if it works
Is it possible to do all of the ordering & purchases without a phone number? I plan to use a data only eSIM in China.
Do set up the WeChat account in your home country with your local phone number first, as I remember that a code will be sent to your mobile number for verification. Subsequently, you will only need data to operate the app.
Hi must we activate Alipay by purchasing something in our own country first before going to China?
Oh no no. No need. My advice is to set up both WeChat and Alipay in case one doesn’t work.
@@gibbontravelogue thanks so much, friend!
Can I use cash?
Yes, cash should still be accepted to many places. It just a little inconvenient as the store can have to provide you with change and they may not have the right change….
I enjoyed watching this. I've been in China for four days now and this is the first self explanatory video that's very good and you're funny too😅
Hahaha thanks for watching. So glad you find it helpful!
Did we needs to pay extra services for each transaction ??????
No. Only for transactions above RMB200, there is a fee of 3%
Do we have to return the 🚲 at its original spot❓
Hey, no need to. In large cities like Guangzhou, there are so many places that you can leave the bike. As long is it is a designated bike park, you are fine. Hope you find the video useful.
thanks for the informative video! will definitely be helpful in my upcoming trip
Glad it was helpful! Have a safe and fruitful trip!
Can an Alipay account that is meant to be used by a foreigner receive money transferred from a local Chinese friend by "hong pao" from that friend?
Yes, I had a friend that sent me money into my foreigner’s Alipay account. It take a long time to finally able to utilize the funds as the verification process can be quite complex. So my advise is just to stick to the non wallet option.
@@gibbontravelogue Thank you for your reply
Hi, thanks so much for your video sharing. May I double confirm is it Malaysian use roaming from our telco provider can direct operate Google search, Google Map, WhatsApp , Google Translate?
No problem. If u subscribe to your local telco roaming services, you will be able to use these apps seamlessly. Maybe with the exception of TikTok
Hello! How is the fee for each time payment?
Hi! No fee if below 200rmb. If above, there is a 3% charge.
The other things when we arrives China we cannot use our iPhone we have to use China SIM card so how can we pay ?
It doesn’t matter which SIM card u use, as long as you have mobile data, the app on your phone will work.
If I added two credit cards in Alipay, upon checkout , can I select the credit card for payment?
Yes, you can. Just below the QR code generated by your Alipay app, you can select your preferred credit card.
Thanks for sharing.
Is it a must to upload your passport into Alipay? Can we manually input our Singapore passport number?
@@laytintan6889 It is part of the verification process, so it needed.
wow this video by far the most brief and easy to grasp, thanks fyi! 🎉
Glad you liked it!! Thanks and all the best for your trip to China 🇨🇳
Thank you so much! This is the best video I've come across so far that details and actually shows real life application of the app. Lessens my stress in trying it out when I eventually go to China. Got yourself a new subscriber! 😊
Hey thanks and so glad that this video has been helpful. Enjoy your trip to China!
Use auto roaming from local telco need VPN?
If you are using your local telco roaming service, then you don’t need a VPN
perfect video for non Chinese residents visiting China using Alipay
Thank you!
Thanks and hope the video has been helpful to you.
@@gibbontravelogue , thank you for your video. From your accent I am sure you are a Singaporean.
May I ask if I get a temporary China mobile sim card in China when I have arrived in China. Do I have to setup this Alipay App only when I get the temporary sim card. Because I will be only using the China mobile sim card throughout my holiday in China.
@@panyaboonc5621 Preferably not, you should use your own country’s SIM card number to register for Alipay.
@@gibbontravelogue , Thank you very much for your prompt replied. Singaporean efficiency is highly appreciated.
Alipay account available
Can you make a tutorial how to top up Alipay balance using Visa/Mastercard? To purchase some item on taobao or xianyu.
Thanks
Hey, for foreigners, the use of the wallet is not possible as you require a Chinese bank account. You may only link your Alipay account to your credit card for payments which is also possible for your purchases on taobao.
I was told of an options where a local can transfer money to my Alipay Wallet and then I can start utilizing the funds. hence saving the transaction costs related to a credit card.
Actually, I don’t suggest that. My experience is that the money got stuck for a while till the verification was completed.
Can I receive dollars in my Alipay account
You can, but a little complicated since e more verification needs to be done. It will take a while before the money comes through. So I wouldn’t suggest that.
Foreigners can't rent the bikes because it requires sms verification codes which can only work if you have a Chinese phone number. I've tried it.
Oh, did you try the Hello Bike? I don’t have a Chinese phone number too but it can be accessed through the Alipay app as the verification has already been done there.
@@gibbontravelogue Yes. It still asks for a phone number and sms verification.
@gibbontravelogue @OlisBigPicture After asking people around, I finally found out what the problem was. I'm supposed to use my new phone number from the simcard bought here in China. Now I'm able to get the verification codes and use the bikes. Thanks anyways.
@@Righteous1ist Great that you have solved the mystery! And thanks for sharing with all of us here!
I have the issue that i can’t setup Alipay transport because I don’t have a Chinese phone number. Does anybody have a solution for this?
You don’t need a Chinese number to set up Alipay Transport. What you need to be aware of is that you can’t set it up outside China. Once you arrived in China, it will be good.
@@gibbontravelogue Ah ok Thank you
Very informative video on Alipay. Do foreigners in China need to enable Alipay's Tour Pass to be able to pay with their debit and credit cards in China?
Thanks for watching. Tour Pass has been discontinued by Alipay and this new access is so much more convenient.
@@gibbontravelogue Hi, nice clear video, thx. i wondered why you didn't mention Tour Card ...... Hasn't this replaced tour pass as a kind of 'wallet' for foreigners so you can use funds in alipay without worrying whether your card issuer will approve the transaction? I know Tour card has some time restrictions and fees, but at least your money is there in Alipay, and separated from your home bank a/c or cc.
@@fivebats10 Yes, Tourpass has been discontinued. This means of payments ie linking credit card or debit card to your Alipay account is what allows foreigners to make purchases in China.
Can I register Alipay with my credit card on to my children phone? Would appreciate your advice. Thx in advance
Yes, you can do that. However, for larger amounts, there could be sms otp sent to the card holder to approve the transaction. Which country are you from?
@@gibbontravelogue I am a subscriber from Malaysia and am travelling to China during the summer holidays. TQVM for your very prompt reply.
@@calvinang1 i see. As far as i know, the touch and go app can be used in China on the Alipay+ rails. So you can try that for yourself and your children.
@@gibbontravelogue prefer my traditional method of payment of using credit card when travelling however I might try out T&G for transportation as you have suggested. 👍🏻
easy - you need money & card to use alipay...as i have no chance of either its useless!
Thank you so so much for this video. I will travel very soon to China and now I am feeling a little bit more confident than before. I did the steps you explained in your video, so I think everything should work when I will enter mainland China :)
Glad you find the video helpful! Yes, everything should work and you will have an enjoyable and fun-filled experience in China!
I cannot seem to use the metro/train ticket function as it says its only for verified chinese mainland users. Any workaround? Or does the function only become active when one arrives in the country?
Yes, it will work once you arrive in China. Dun worry.
@@gibbontravelogue Thanks for replying so quickly! Much appreciated.
Can AMEX be used for payment outside the app (eg: shopping malls)
Can use contactless payment using credit card (eg paywave) ? Or everything has to be done via the app?
The Changi payment gateway works with both Alipay and WeChat pay QR codes?
The 3% transaction fee is on top of the 3-3.25% FCY fee charged by the card? Ie 6-6.25% total?
@@suprememoment6060 wow that’s a lot of questions. First of all credit cards like Amex are not readily accepted except for some really big merchants. Changi App can be used on Alipay QR codes but many of the QR codes now are unified ie both Alipay and WeChat can use. The 3% is added on top of your transaction regardless of the FX markup
@@gibbontravelogue Thanks for helping out! Noob here so trying to figure things out before I head over. :P Your videos are very informative. Thanks
@@suprememoment6060 have a great trip!!!
Nice! Now I know 😊
👍
From Morocco .thanks for your explication about alipay. my son has just arrived to Nanjin in china to study.
Wow, great to know this video reaches Morocco! All the best to your son in his studies in China! And thanks for supporting this channel.
Hey friend can we meet in Canton Fair
Hey, I’m back home already 😅. Enjoy Canton Fair
Thank you for showing I knew and read about it but I wanted to be shown
Great! Thanks for watching. Wishing you a good trip to China so that you can also experience it for yourself.
Hi I will be travelling to China soon. This is a great and most informative video so far. Thank you! :) Do you know if I Can bind my multi-currency Visa debit card (ie.Wise card or Merchantrade Money Card) to Alipay, and use the available RMB stored in my card for payment? Does it work?
Thanks and so glad that the video has been helpful for you. Yes, all Visa, Mastercard and JCB can be linked to Alipay.
Good video!
Did we did to provide our passport detail to verify ourselves at Alipay. Thanks
Thanks! Yes, the KYC (know your customer) process requires your passport details.
Thanks for the tips😃
I have registered Alipay international app but when I tried to use in SG to test on some of the vendor, I encountered error. Weird.
Interesting… what error did u encounter? I tried to scan an Alipay+ qr code in Singapore and it works. It’s just that you will pay in RMB for an item in Singapore.
@@gibbontravelogueit say - 抱歉，该服务仅支持中国大陆身份证实名制用户。
@@gibbontravelogue it say something like 抱歉，该服务仅支持中国大陆身份证实名制用户。
@@gibbontravelogueJust wondering if you have encounter or know of anyone got this issue before.
@@gibbontravelogue It show an error stating that service only for mainland china resident
Just to be very clear that an Australian issued card can be linked to Alipay and use for purchases while in China.
Because other sources claimed that foreign cards cannot be used. Perhaps these other sources are out-dated.
Another thing would be that my Australian phone would need to have a local sim card. Otherwise it is not workable in China.
Hey, yes, foreign-issued credit card can now be linked to both Alipay and WeChat pay. As for your phone, you can consider an e-sim such as Nomad, Airalo etc just download the app.
Thank you for this helpful information.
Should one install AliPay before traveling to China or it is necessary to install the app once in China.
Glad you find this video helpful. Yes, you should download WeChat and Alipay and link them to your credit or debit card before travelling to China.
Very helpful video! Fellow singaporean here too. Can i check how do i use the changi app to make payment if i want to avoid paying the 3% fee?
Hey, so glad you it helpful. The Changi app has a pay icon at the bottom menu. Tap on that, and you can see the wallet option at the bottom. To use it, you will need to top that up using your bank account. When making payments in China, let the cashier know that you are paying by Alipay.
To get the transportation card, you need a local number. And local SIM is very expensive
No, a Chinese sim is not necessary. Your own country sim is enough to register.
@@gibbontravelogue oh really I'll try that next time
how to you get receipt? how do you know what exact items your purchased? if you bought 2x apple and 3x pine, does it show you transactions when you scan a payment?
This is just a payment mode. The cashier will still give you a receipt.
if i link my debit card to ali pay, am i right that by this method alipay only draw money from my bank account as much as the billing itself, thus there is no any deposit in advance that sent from bank account to alipay ? please help to confirm, thanks
That’s correct, your purchase using Alipay will debit directly from your bank account. There is no deposits and no topping up to a wallet.
Great video.. Need to check if Alipay works offline? If not, can roaming work or only China SIM works
Another question, if passport info need MUST be submitted when registering Alipay?
I saw some videos showing that passport is not required to be submitted... Is that so?
Yes, I understand that you can still use Alipay as an unverified user. But the limits are low and functionalities restrictive.
No, Alipay doesn’t work offline, you will need internet access. Either from your telco roaming services or a 3rd party e-sim. It doesn’t have to be a China issued SIM card
No need for the Alipay tour card ?
No more need. Tour card has been discontinued and succeeded by this linkage of credit/debit card to the Alipay account.
@@gibbontravelogue great thanks alot
Great video. Greetings from Jakarta Indonesia
Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the video!
I am travelling to china i am from india should i pay extra fees for any purchase i make from alipay when i connect my international card
Hey, not sure if they are any apps in India that uses the Alipay payments rails and absorbs the 3% fees. If there aren’t any, one way to avoid it is to break the transaction into smaller transactions if it is possible. For example, if the payment is for 300rmb, you can ask to pay it two times for 200rmb and 100rmb.
Hi, so is it not necessary to top up anymore? As it does not work for me with an international credit card.
Yes, the wallet is not available to foreigners. So just link your credit card and make the payment.
Thanks for your very clear description. Will I be able to purchase items from Chinese online shops from my home country using this method? Or is it purely applicable for use when one visits China?
Hey, thanks. Yes, the WeChat account can be used at all Chinese merchants, both online and offline.
The merchant may not be able to ship for you, and they will most likely cancel the order.
@@625as-pj5mg of course, one has to check if the delivery covers the country/address that one is from.
@@gibbontravelogue Chinese online stores serve China, and foreign trade services are in charge of foreign trade companies
Gilbert, if you're making a payment (after scanning Alipay+ QR Code) while in China via your Changi app (which you've added a Wise card with sufficient money in its CNY wallet), I assume Changi app will bill me against my Wise card in CNY (i.e. no conversion from CNY to SGD). Am I right? What's your experience?
Hey Sunny, the Changi App uses a digital wallet which you can only top up with Singapore dollars. It cannot link to any credit card including your wise card. Once you top up the wallet with Singapore dollars, the payment will be processed and the fx rate will be imposed by the Changi App provider, LiquidPay.
@@gibbontravelogue I managed to add my Wise card to Changi app as a payment method. So, not sure I understand your comment of "cannot link".
I managed to add my Visa credit card in MyChangi app and was able to use the app to make purchases which were charged to my linked Visa credit card. These purchases were made in Singapore.
I did not need to top up cash to the app in order to make purchases. To top up cash, I need to use Liquidpay and must sign up with Liquidpay which I am reluctant to do. Don’t want another account to manage.
Thank you very informative.,Will use it in china my next trip...
Glad it was helpful! Yes, do try it out!
Hi do you have to verify your identity first before you link to your bank card ?
Hey, yes, there is a verification process that you will need to go through.
china has expensives visas 200 USD so better stay home
I notice that the visa cost for US citizens starts from usd140. Well, if you intend to have a longer visit to China, it could be well worth the money.
What Changi apps you mentioned to avoid the 3% services charge spend above 200rmb?
Changi App is an app which contains a wallet for Singapore residents and it allows users to make payments in China using Alipay. Are you from Singapore?🇸🇬
@@gibbontravelogue How to use the Changi App in china?
@@steventay Download the app. It’s a digital wallet so top it up and then use it to scan Alipay QR codes.
@@gibbontravelogue must i use topup to the e-money or can i put credit card in wallet? e-money store in sgd, when use in other currently, which rate follow?
@@steventay cannot link to credit card. It’s a digital wallet which you need to top up using Paynow.
App version please
Mine is the latest version 8.4.8
Thank you so much! Best regards from Argentine!
You are welcome! Wow all the way from Argentina, so glad you enjoyed the video.
@@salvadorignacioscilipoti6081 hello argentine
Hi, thanks for the great video!!
I have a question, i can't find the "transport" option in my alipay, is it because i haven't arrived in china yet?
Thanks for watching and glad that it has been helpful to you. The Transport button is right at the top, alongside Scan, Pay/receive and Pocket. You should see it. My app version is the latest 10.5.80. When u r in your home country and you tap on Transport, u will get a message that this service is only available to Chinese Mainland users. This is normal, you will be able to use once you arrive in China.
@@gibbontravelogue ah yes, i have to change my location for the "transport" option to appear 😂😂😂 thank you!!
Where do you change the location? My apps seems like dont have transport feature like you 😅 @@WenoxWen
@@tangerine414 it's on the top left side of the app
I seem to be hitting a daily limit. Is there such a thing? I linked my international card and currently I'm in a 2 week trip to China. The daily limit is extremly frustrating, sometimes it triggers mid day while shopping and just makes my whole day hard.
And is there a difference between me scanning the static QR code of the merchant vs the merchant scanning my dynamic QR code within Alipay? I noticed that if the merchant scans my QR code it usually (99%+) works everytime, while if I scan the merchant/store code Alipay usually throws the red text error "Your bank declined this transaction due to fraud bla bla bla" even though when I contact my bank they say they didn't decline any transaction whatsoever.
Yes, there is a daily limit of US$5k, which is recently revised. Perhaps you can check if you are completely verified. If you are not verified adequately, the limits are lower.
Hmm, I’m not sure why this is so. If all fails, i suggest you go to plan B. Download and use WeChat Pay instead. Always good to have a back up plan
Thank you for your information
My pleasure!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! Hope it’s useful to you.
Nice Amazing videos
Thanks for supporting this channel!
I tried to download but all in Chinese.
Download Alipay- Simplify Your Life, that’s the international version.
I came from Indonesia
Nice, one of my favourite countries!
@@gibbontravelogue thank you
@@gibbontravelogue are you Singapore's citizen?
@@HelmiSyarizal Yes, i am.
@@gibbontravelogue can I go your home?
Where can I find the international version. When I tried to dowmload from Google store, it stated that my device is not compatable. Pls advise,
Hey, you can download Alipay - Simplify Your Life. It is on both Apple AppStore and Google Playstore. What model of phone are you using that it is not compatible?
@@gibbontravelogue
Ya, realized my xiaomi is not compatible but my old Samsung was ok...thk
@@davidmak7624 oh I see. Wishing you a good trip in China!🇨🇳
thanks very much , sir, very well explained.
Thanks and glad that it’d been useful.
Very useful. Thank you for sharing! ❤
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video
Hi there, love your video. I'm from Scotland and I have a bank of Scotland card. Do I top up alipay from my card or when I pay items, alipay will take money from my bank account with exchange rate included?
Hey thanks and glad you enjoyed the video. It’s the latter. When you pay for items, Alipay will take money from your bank account. However, be sure that the bank of Scotland card is a Mastercard or Visa card or the other cards that I mentioned in the video.
@@gibbontravelogue does that mean my bank will charge an exchange rate for every purchase?
@@AAAAAA-tj1nq Yes, your bank will use a foreign exchange rate for your payments
@@gibbontravelogue oh dear. Many thanks for your help!
AlkpayHK the same as Alipay?
Yes, same. It can be used in China.
is de 3% fee for singapore or for all countries?
It’s a few imposed by Alipay for all countries except China.
Wow. This is helpful.
Glad it was helpful! 🙏
After linking my local bank card with Alipay, the money is out from my local card, right ?
Hey, no no. There is no money out at the point of linking. The money is only out when a purchase happens ie you scan the QR code to make a payment.
@@gibbontravelogue So, I can make a purchase as soon as I link with the card. No need to topup.
@@winthawko2530 Yes, no top-up.
@@gibbontravelogue thank you
your tips are good
Glad you like them!
Thank you so much for sharing!!!
You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed the video.
thank u 🥰🥰
You’re welcome 😊 Hope it’s been helpful.
Very helpful, greetz from Germany
Glad it was helpful! Germany? That’s quite far from where I am currently, Singapore 🇸🇬. Hope to see u in this part of the world!
Hi Gibbon,
Thank you for the guide on setting up Alipay. It is very helpful and detailed. I have tried to use Alipay in Singapore after the set up but it isn't working. Can we test Alipay in Singapore before our trip to China, or is it only available for use by foreigners within China?
Please kindly assist. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Yes, I’ve ever tried scanning the Alipay+ QR code in Singapore and it works, although the payment will be in RMB. Do you know what is the error message when u scanned the QR code in Singapore?
@@gibbontravelogue I scanned the Alipay QR code without the '+' at the end, and received an error message stating, "Payment failed. This service is only available for individuals with a China identification card." or Is it we can only use Alipay+ QR code in Singapore?
@@StephanieGan-yb1xp thanks. My understanding is that our international Alipay account would be able to scan both Alipay+ and Alipay QR code. But since you have this message, then I could be wrong. Nevertheless, you can try using it in China, it might work. At the same time, you could also have WeChat Pay as a backup.
@@gibbontravelogue Yes, I have the same understanding as you. I will try to test at other vendors in Singapore and see if they work. Hopefully it will work in China. Yes, I have also downloaded the WeChat as a backup. Thanks for your help.
@@StephanieGan-yb1xp All the best for your trip in China!
thank you
You're welcome