01 · Set up first
Shanghai Connect Pick
Alipay 支付宝
Link an eligible overseas card, verify with your passport, and you can pay in shops, taxis, and on the metro the same day.
Payments in China
Pay in Shanghai without a Chinese bank account
Most day-to-day spending in Shanghai happens through Alipay and WeChat Pay — and both apps work with many eligible foreign bank cards. Here's how to get set up, what it costs, and what to carry as backup.
Updated July 2026 · Reviewed against official Shanghai guidance
Good to know: Payment rules, card support, and fees can change. Always check the final payment screen inside Alipay or WeChat Pay before confirming a transaction.
Shanghai Connect recommendation
The best payment setup for most foreigners
Three things to set up, in order. Everything else on this page is detail for when you need it.
02 · Set up second
WeChat Pay 微信支付
Add it once Alipay is working. Landlords, schools, and many local businesses run on WeChat, so you'll want it soon anyway.
03 · Keep as backup
Physical card + RMB cash
Keep one foreign bank card and a small amount of RMB on you for the moments an app payment fails.
The basics
How paying by phone actually works
Payment goes one of two directions — learn both and you're set for almost everywhere in Shanghai.
You scan them
The usual way to pay in shops, cafés, and restaurants.
Open Alipay / WeChat
Scan the merchant's QR code
Enter the amount
Confirm
They scan you
Common at the metro, supermarkets, and busier counters.
Open Pay in the app
Show your payment code
Merchant scans it
Done
Side by side
Alipay vs WeChat Pay for foreigners
Alipay 支付宝
The easiest first payment app for visitors and new arrivals — shops, taxis, the metro, and a wide range of travel services, without needing a Chinese bank account. Alipay+ publishes an overview of how international visitors can pay in the Chinese mainland with overseas cards.
- Best for
- First-time visitors, new arrivals, metro & taxis
- Foreign cards
- Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, and expanding Amex support since 2025
- English support
- Strong, built for international users
- Recommendation
- Set up first
WeChat Pay 微信支付
Matters because WeChat itself is how much of daily life in Shanghai runs — landlords, schools, group chats, and many local businesses expect it.
- Best for
- Local services, restaurants, communities
- Foreign cards
- Several networks supported, but some features stay Chinese-bank-account only
- English support
- Good, and improving
- Recommendation
- Set up second
Our recommendation
Short trip? Alipay may be enough on its own.
Living in Shanghai? Set up both — WeChat Pay becomes essential once landlords, schools, and everyday local life enter the picture.
Step by step
Setting up either app takes four steps
The process for Alipay and WeChat Pay is nearly identical.
1
Download
Get the app from your home app store before you fly — it's harder to do once you land.
2
Register
Sign up with a phone number that can reliably receive SMS verification codes.
3
Verify passport
Complete identity verification for higher limits and fewer payment interruptions.
4
Add overseas card
Link an eligible Visa, Mastercard, or other supported card to start paying.
Money matters
What foreign-card payments actually cost
Fees and limits can change — always check the confirmation screen before you pay. As a general guide:
Most everyday purchases — meals, coffee, groceries, metro top-ups — fall under this line.
On the portion of a single transaction above ¥200, depending on the merchant and payment method.
Check your bank's foreign transaction and currency conversion terms before relying on a card.
Worked example
A ¥350 dinner: no extra fee on the first ¥200, and a 3% fee (about ¥4.50) may apply to the remaining ¥150 — roughly ¥354.50 charged, before any fee your card issuer adds.
Good to know
Since a 2024 government update, the single-transaction limit for overseas visitors is around USD 5,000, with an annual cumulative cap near USD 50,000 — plenty for daily life. Confirm large payments such as deposits, tuition, or rent with the merchant in advance.
Set expectations
What a foreign card can — and can't — do
Works well
- Restaurants & cafés
- Metro & taxis
- Shopping & malls
- Hotels
- Tourist attractions
May not work
- Person-to-person transfers
- Red packets
- Receiving money from friends
- Subscriptions & auto-deductions
- Some mini-programs & merchant QR codes
Treat a foreign card in Alipay or WeChat Pay as a practical spending tool, not a full replacement for a local Chinese bank account.
Getting around
Paying for transport in Shanghai
1
Metro
Shanghai Metro
Tap in with the Alipay or WeChat Pay transport QR code at most stations — no separate transit card needed for casual riders.
2
Taxi & DiDi
Taxi / DiDi
Pay the driver directly through Alipay or WeChat Pay, or book and pay in one flow through the DiDi app.
3
Bus
Bus
Most city buses accept the same transport QR code as the metro — tap it on the reader as you board.
4
Backup
Backup options
A physical Shanghai Public Transportation Card or a supported contactless bank card works at compatible readers if your phone fails.
For fares, transfers, and rush-hour tips, see our full Shanghai Metro guide.
Plan B
Backup payment methods worth keeping
Mobile payment is the default, but keep these ready for the moments it isn't.
RMB cash
Foreign bank card
UnionPay card
e-CNY (digital yuan)
If you're staying long-term, opening a local Chinese bank account can unlock more features and make transfers easier — see Shanghai's official banking services guide for what's required.
Quick reference
Your first 48 hours payment checklist
Check items off as you go — this device will remember your progress.
0 / 10 done
For the rest of your setup, see the full Shanghai arrival checklist.
When things go wrong
Common payment problems and fixes
My card won't link
Check that your card supports international online payments, and that the name on your card matches your registered name in the app. Try another card if one is available.
I can't receive the SMS code
Check roaming, mobile signal, country code, and SMS permissions. If your home number is unreliable in China, use a local SIM or a reliable travel eSIM.
The payment was declined
Try turning off your VPN, lowering the payment amount, switching from scan-to-pay to payment-code mode, or using another card.
The merchant QR code doesn't work
Ask the merchant if they can scan your payment code instead. Some personal or merchant-specific QR codes may not support foreign-card payments.
A large payment failed
Split the payment if the merchant allows it, use another card, pay with a physical card, or confirm whether the merchant accepts foreign-card mobile payments.
My app asks for passport verification
Upload your passport details clearly and make sure the information matches your account and card details.
Frequently asked questions
Mobile payment questions for foreigners
Can foreigners use Alipay in China?
Yes. Many foreigners can use Alipay by linking an eligible overseas bank card and completing identity verification. See our full Alipay guide for foreigners.
Can foreigners use WeChat Pay in China?
Yes. Many foreigners can use WeChat Pay with an eligible overseas card, but some features are limited compared with a local Chinese wallet. Our WeChat Pay guide covers the setup.
Do I need a Chinese bank account?
No, not for basic merchant payments. However, a Chinese bank account can make life easier if you live in China long term.
Do I need a Chinese phone number?
Not always. An international number can work if it receives SMS verification codes. A Chinese SIM or reliable eSIM is still helpful.
Which app should I set up first?
Set up Alipay first, then WeChat Pay. Alipay is usually easier for new arrivals, while WeChat Pay becomes more important once you start using local services.
Should I still carry cash?
Yes. Carry a small amount of RMB cash for emergencies.
Can I send money to friends with a foreign card?
Usually not. Person-to-person transfers and red packets are often limited or unavailable with foreign cards.
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay in Shanghai?
Do not rely on Apple Pay or Google Pay as your main payment method. Alipay and WeChat Pay are far more widely used for everyday QR-code payments.
Recent updates
China raised mobile payment limits for overseas visitors in 2024, and American Express joined Alipay's system in 2025 for eligible cardholders. PayPal also began connecting with WeChat Pay's merchant network in 2026 for U.S. users, with wider rollout expected — but Alipay and WeChat Pay should still be your main setup for now.
Related guides
Plan the rest of your Shanghai setup
Step by step
How to use Alipay
Link your card, verify your passport, and start paying in shops, taxis, and the metro.
Step by step
How to use WeChat Pay
Set it up second, and get ready for landlords, schools, and local services.
Starter guide
Essential apps
The apps to download before you fly — payments, messaging, maps, and translation.
Transport
Shanghai Metro guide
Fares, transfers, mobile payments, and rush-hour tips for getting around.
Next step
New to Shanghai? Get set up before you land.
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay, then work through the rest of your arrival checklist so the basics are handled before day one.