Alipay step-by-step guide: How to travel and shop like a local in China 

Alipay is widely recognised as one of the most important payment platforms for locals in China, with more than a whopping 80 percent of transactions and payments made daily by Chinese nationals occurring through mobile apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay. But what about those traveling from overseas?

While it may have been challenging in the past to sort payments as a visitor to China, with a combination of cash, cards, and international currency exchanges, today things are very different. Now if you’re traveling China as a tourist on a small group tour, or staying for an extended period, life is much simpler.

As travel restrictions have relaxed, foreigners visiting China today can shop with Alipay, regardless of whether their travels take them to the busiest shopping mall in Shanghai, the stunning peaks of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, or the quiet country lanes that wrap around Yangshuo. 

In fact, traveling China with Alipay is almost essential, given that today it is quite literally used everywhere as a payment platform of choice by locals alongside WeChat Pay.

Just one day in China and you’ll soon discover that traveling in China is just easier when you leave cash behind. From luxury hotels and savouring Michelin star dining, to navigating high speed trains or sampling street food, virtually every payment scenario relies on Alipay. 

Like many places that have switched to digital only transactions, cash is now rarely used, even among street food and market vendors. Not surprisingly, many merchants no longer accept cash, and even if they do, getting change can be a challenge as most people don’t carry it.

With over a billion users globally, Alipay offers a safe and reliable payment option for visitors to China, ensuring a seamless and hassle free travel experience. 

If you’re about to make your way to China for that long awaited travel adventure, follow the steps below to make Alipay your payment partner on tour.

How to get started with Alipay: Three steps to easy payments in China

Getting started with Alipay is easy. International travelers can even download the Alipay app onto their smartphone before arriving in China.

Step 1: Download and register

The first thing to do is to have Alipay at your fingertips. To do that, simply:

1. Download the app to your phone from the App Store or Google Play. 
2. Use your cell phone number to register your account. You will receive a request to verify your account as shown in the screenshot below.

The good news is a Chinese mobile number is no longer required. That’s right, you can use your existing mobile number to register your Alipay account.

Step 2: Set up account and security in Alipay

The next steps involve setting up your account and security in Alipay, the key to ensuring your account remains safe. Follow these next steps to do that:

1. Navigate to “Account”. Tap the “Account” icon at the bottom right of the screen. Open Settings (tap the gear icon in the top right corner).
2. Go to “Account and Security”, then select “Account and Security” from the menu.
3. Email and Identity Information Setup. Then tap “Email Address” and follow the steps to add your email. Tap “Identity Information” and complete the verification. 

Note that if you are installing Alipay outside of China, the app automatically switches to the international version, with English as the default language.

Step 3: Add your bank card

This next step involves adding your bank card to Alipay. Follow these next steps to be able to make payments through Alipay:

1. Tap “Add now”. On the main page, find the “Bank Card” section in the middle and tap “Add Now”. 
2. Enter your card details, then enter your card number or tap “Scan Bank Card” to upload details.

Step 4: Pay with Alipay wherever you go

Now that you’re up and running, it’s time to start paying your way around China with ease. There are two ways to do this, so it’s a good idea to be familiar with both.

1. Option 1 – Tap “Scan”, then scan the merchant-presented QR code.
2. Option 2 – Tap “Pay/collect”, then present your QR code to the merchant.

How easy is that?! You are now good to go with Alipay while traveling in China.

International users should be mindful of a couple of things when it comes to payment limits. Changes announced in March 2024 means it is possible to spend up to 2,000 USD per year without registering your ID. For transactions with a cumulative value over 500 USD, however, you will be required to provide an ID to verify your Alipay account. That means having your passport or ID card handy.

Once your Alipay account is registered and verified with Alipay, your annual transaction limit is increased to 50,000USD. Single transactions are limited to 5,000 USD. If you do need to verify your account with Alipay, you will need to upload your passport and do a quick face verification.

Holiday hassle-free with Alipay

Traveling in China with Alipay really does simplify what was not so long ago a bit of a challenge. Today, you can enjoy China travel adventures without worrying about foreign exchanges, cash, and currency conversions. In fact, Alipay’s international version provides the convenience of online translation, currency conversion, as well as other services to make life easier for international travelers holidaying in China. Moreover, foreign visitors can travel as locals by using Alipay for public transport in China.  

So if it’s a seamless payment experience you’re after on tour in China, then Alipay is the way to go. Curious and want to learn more? Scan the code below and discover more options with Alipay.