Expats & Visitors Rejoice: Upgrades to Digital Payments are Here
It’s a new era of payment convenience for international residents in Beijing and visitors to the capital city. A series of updates to Weixin Pay (a payment feature within WeChat, commonly known as WeChat Pay) and Alipay services, as well as new currency exchange services at the airport, making payments considerably more accessible for foreign visitors.
That means you can breathe a sigh of relief when friends and family come to see the sights of the capital!
And just in time, too; these service improvements come just as China is easing visa requirements. Dozens of countries have been added to the country’s visa-free list for stays of up to 15 days, while in other cases, visitors no longer need to provide an invitation letter.
In other words, it's never been easier to convince loved ones and old pals overseas to come over and see the Summer Palace. And in terms of payment options, it’s never been easier for you to cover your expenses as an international Beijinger.
Spearheaded by government efforts, these updates send a clear message: as a resident or visitor, you are welcome! Here’s a quick update on what new services have popped up and how you can take advantage of them.
Foreign bank cards can now be linked with Alipay and Weixin Pay
Finally, your visiting friends and family won’t have to hit up the ATM or exchange cash every other day -- from the moment they get a cab from the airport, they can spend with Alipay or Weixin Pay using an international card like Visa or Mastercard.
Of course, residents can and should link a foreign card, too. After all, who among us hasn’t wanted to pay a large deposit from savings in an account back home? And even if that doesn’t sound like you, we still think you should consider linking one because you never know when emergency funds might be needed.
Can my friends and family link to their foreign cards before arriving in China?
Yes! -- That is, mostly. They can link their foreign bank card using their home mobile phone number before arriving in China and then pay nearly anywhere in the country upon arrival.
If a visitor is planning on using a temporary SIM card (not recommended), they should wait until they arrive in China to link their card. Keep in mind, however, that if a visitor links their real ID to an Alipay or Weixin Pay account, they may need to contact customer service if they want to use a different phone number with their verified account the next time they visit China.
Weixin Pay or Alipay – which to choose?
Chinese finance authorities have been working with both Tencent, the operator of WeChat, and Ant Group, the operator of Alipay, to ensure improved services. For most users -- visitor or resident -- there is no reason not to link both, just in case of the rare instance that a vendor only takes one or the other.
That said, there are a couple of minor differences:
Both Alipay and Weixin Pay support Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, and Discover. Weixin Pay also supports American Express, while Alipay also supports UnionPay International.
Ant Group also offers another mobile payment alternative for international visitors through Alipay+, which enables international visitors to pay with their home e-wallets across China.
Alipay+ is supported by the 12 leading e-wallets and payment apps in Asia for use across an 80-million-strong merchant network in China. Look for the Alipay+ logo in AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Kaspi.kz (Kazakhstan), MPay (Macao SAR, China), Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia), Hipay (Mongolia), NayaPay (Pakistan), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC Digital (Singapore), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay (South Korea), and TrueMoney (Thailand).
What about UnionPay?
If your visitors have a UnionPay account in a foreign country or non-mainland region, they can use the UnionPay app to purchase a Tour Card to spend RMB in the Chinese mainland. Find the Tour Card icon on the front page of the UnionPay App.
You can also use UnionPay International through Alipay.
Linking and paying with foreign bank cards -- a quick guide
Not sure how to add a foreign card to your preferred app? Use this guide below or share this article with your visiting friends or family to get them set up.
How to link a foreign card with Alipay
(1) Download the Alipay app in the app store.
(2) Open the app, and register with your phone number, email, or Apple ID.
(3) Add bank cards as shown below.
Note:
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club, Discover cards, and UnionPay International can all be added to Alipay.
Tap "Add Now" and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
(4) Pay by scanning QR code.
You can pay by scanning a merchant's QR code (method 1) or by having a merchant scan yours (method 2).
- Method 1：Tap "Scan", and scan the merchant's QR code.
- Method 2：Tap "Pay/Receive", and present your QR code to the merchant.
Follow the instructions in the app to complete the payment.
Run into trouble? No worries, there’s an English service hotline for Alipay!
- Call from a foreign phone number: +86 571 2688 6000
- Call from a Chinese phone number: 0571 2688 6000
How to link a foreign card with Weixin Pay
(1) Download the WeChat app in the app store.
(2) Open the WeChat app, and register with your phone number, or just sign in if you have already registered.
(3) Add bank cards as shown below.
Method 1
Method 2
Note:
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover cards can all be added to Weixin Pay.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process!
(4) Pay by scanning QR code.
You can pay by scanning a merchant's QR code (method 1) or by having a merchant scan yours (method 2).
Method 1: Tap the "+" sign at the upper right corner and then the "Scan" icon, and scan the merchant's QR code.
Method 2: Tap the "+" sign at the upper right corner and then the "Money" icon, and present your QR code to the merchant.
Follow the instructions in the app to complete the payment.
Run into trouble? No worries, there’s an English service hotline for Weixin Pay, too!
- Call from a foreign phone number: +86 571 95017
- Call from a Chinese phone number: 95017
Payment caps have been increased for verified Alipay and Weixin Pay users
Perhaps you’ve already heard about foreign cards being accepted and linked to your Weixin Pay and Alipay accounts. You’re ahead of the game! But you should also know this -- recent policy changes also lifted limitations on transactions! That is, as long as you verify your identity.
That’s great news whether you are keeping a foreign card linked for emergency spending, or if your visitors want to make the absolute most of their time in China.
For both Alipay and Weixin Pay, the single-transaction cap for spending has been increased to USD 5,000 -- that’s equivalent to around RMB 35,000! Both platforms have also increased the annual limit to USD 50,000, equivalent to around RMB 350,000.
To enable these higher caps, simply verify your identity using your passport inside the apps.
Beijing Airports offer new currency exchange options and sell transit cards
If you haven’t flown into Beijing for a while, you may notice something new on your next trip in: payment service centers have been opened in the arrival terminals of both Beijing Capital Airport and Daxing Airport.
For those flying into Daxing Airport, the service center includes a currency exchange machine. Compared to the markups and fees you would get hit with at the old currency exchange windows, these machines provide much better rates for swapping foreign currency in RMB, adding a lot of convenience for your visitors who might want to keep some cash, or for you when you return from your home country with a wad of bank notes.
The machine, which can swap at least 20 currencies into RMB, is located right next to ATMs where you can also retrieve RMB with a foreign card. You will also find ATMs at Beijing Capital Airport.
For those who would like to exchange large notes for smaller denominations, the service desk at both airports is happy to help.
ATM machines at the airports accept the above cards
And more convenience to come!
Although not all merchants are currently able to swipe foreign cards, that is fast changing! The city has already set up its first batch of merchants with the ability to accept foreign cards, even without using an e-pay platform.
Keep an eye out as more and more places around the capital begin to accept foreign cards -- and more convenient services come down the pipeline.
This article is under the guidance of 中国人民银行北京市分行 (THE PEOPLE’S BANK OF CHINA BEIJING MUNICIPAL BRANCH), 国家外汇管理局北京市分局 (Beijing office of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange), 北京市支付清算协会 (PAYMENT AND CLEARING ASSOCIATION OF BEIJING).
READ: Beijing Visitor's Guide: How to Ride the Bus
Images: tenor.com
