Payment setup
Set up WeChat & WeChat Pay
WeChat is China's everything-app. You'll use it for messaging locals, scanning QR codes, and payments. Set it up before you go.
TL;DR
- ✓WeChat is China's everything-app — messaging, QR codes and payments in one.
- ✓Register with your home number before you arrive; new accounts may need a friend to verify.
- ✓Add a card for WeChat Pay, but keep Alipay as the more reliable payment backup.
Download WeChat
Search WeChat in the App Store or Google Play. It's the green icon with two speech bubbles.
Download it before you leave — just like Alipay, you'll want it set up in advance.
WeChat works outside China too — you can use it to message the hotel, local guides, or anyone you meet in China.
Register with your phone number
Open WeChat → Sign Up → enter your phone number.
You'll receive an SMS code. Enter it to verify.
Set a WeChat ID — this is your permanent username. Choose carefully, it can only be changed once.
WeChat sometimes asks new accounts to be verified by an existing WeChat user. If this happens, ask a friend who has WeChat to scan a QR code and verify you. If you don't know anyone, some online communities help with this.
Add your card to WeChat Pay
Go to Me → Services → WeChat Pay → Cards → Add a Card
The process is similar to Alipay: enter your foreign card details (Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Diners Club) and complete a passport verification step. The same limits and fees apply as on Alipay.
Both Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely accepted. Having both means if one fails, you have a backup.
You don't need to add a card immediately — WeChat is useful even without Pay. But adding it before you go means you have a backup payment method alongside Alipay.
🚫 Merchant payments only
A foreign card on WeChat Pay can pay shops but can't send money to people or send red packets (红包) — those need a Chinese bank account. To test it before you travel, top up your own balance or buy something small.
Turn on notifications
Go to Settings → Notifications → WeChat and make sure notifications are enabled.
Also turn on Location access — WeChat uses your location to show nearby services and help you find things.
Many hotels, restaurants, and services in China communicate via WeChat. Having notifications on means you won't miss booking confirmations or check-in updates.
What else WeChat is used for in China
- → Messaging your hotel or Airbnb host
- → Accessing mini-programs (booking, ordering food)
- → Scanning QR codes to pay for anything
- → Sharing your location with travel companions
- → Translating conversations in real time