How to Use Alipay in China

Last Updated: September 2024

If you’re planning to travel to China, then Alipay is an essential app. Alipay will be your main method to pay for things in China as a traveller. In this post, we will cover how to make an Alipay account from home, how pay with Alipay in China, and some other handy features of the Alipay app.

Planning a trip to China? Check out my other guides on booking hotels and getting around in China.

What is Alipay?

You may have heard that China now operates a cashless system, and most people pay via QR codes linked to either Alipay or WeChat Pay apps on their phones. This is the case even for small street food stalls.

How to Set Up Alipay

You can (and should) set up Alipay before you arrive in China. Setting it up beforehand at home means you already have a payment method on arrival in China.

You can use your Revolut or Monzo card to pay in China using Alipay, so you don’t need to worry about foreign transaction fees. Using Alipay also means you don’t need to withdraw cash while you’re in China, and will save on ATM fees as well.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up your Alipay account. You can set up Alipay before you get to China, so you’re ready to go once you arrive.

1. Download the Alipay App

The Alipay app is available to download for iOS and Android. There is an English version of the app, thankfully.

2. Register for an Alipay Account

You’ll need to register for an Alipay account using your phone number.

I used my UK phone number for this. You can always change the registered phone number later if you get a Chinese SIM card. You‘ll receive a text message verification code.

3. Link Your Bank Card

Link your bank card that you use for travel. You should use a card which doesn’t charge a foreign currency transaction fee such as Starling, Revolut or Monzo.

You will need to input the card number and security code on the back. Sometimes when paying, Alipay may ask you to input your security code for additional verification, so make a mental note of it.

I recommend also linking a second card as a back-up payment method. The cards are displayed in your wallet with the last 4 digits, and you can set a payment order preference in the app.

5. SIM Card

You will need an internet connection to pay with Alipay. Your own phone network will likely have extremely high roaming costs in China, so will not be a viable option.

You can get an eSIM (Airalo is a good option) or a local SIM card once you arrive in China, It’s easiest to get this from the airport when you arrive. Read more in my guide to getting a SIM card in China.

To access WhatsApp, Google, Instagram etc. from China, there are three options: a VPN, an eSIM, or a Hong Kong SIM card. A VPN allows you to access blocked websites if you’re using a China SIM card or local WiFI. An eSIM or Hong Kong SIM card will also allow you to bypass blocked websites. You can buy prepaid Hong Kong SIM cards online (I did this for a China trip a few years ago), but they tend to be quite expensive. An eSIM is a cheaper option for the same function.

Check out my recommended VPN providers in this article.

How to Pay with AliPay in China

Street food stalls and smaller eateries have set prices, which are often displayed, so you won’t be overcharged. But market stalls selling souvenirs and non-food items are another thing… We won’t cover haggling in China, but it will be helpful to know a few phrases and numbers in Chinese. Here we’ll go over how Alipay works.

When you pay with the app, you can either scan the vendor’s QR code or they can scan your payment code. The most common method will be for you to scan their QR code.

Scan the Vendor’s QR Code

1. When you open the Alipay app, there are four large icons across the top in blue. The top left icon is ‘Scan’. Click this and point it at the vendor’s QR code.
2. Next, input the agreed amount to pay.
3. Select the payment method. It will give you the option of ‘balance’ or your linked card(s). You should select your card.
4. Alipay may ask you to input your security code (the 3 digits on the back for your card) for further verification.

NB. Balance is a function where you have cash directly in the Alipay wallet. Unless you have a relative or friend living in China who can transfer you money, you won’t be able to use this function. You won’t be able to top-up your balance with a foreign bank card.

Once your payment has gone through, the vendor gets a notification and it will show as completed on your app. You can also check previous transactions under ‘Balance’ in the the ‘Me’ tab – these will be in Chinese, but there is a translate button on the page.

Vendor Scans Your QR Code

Some larger shops or hotels may ask to scan your QR code instead to take payment.

1. Select ‘Pay/Collect’, which is the second icon along the top, next to ‘Scan’.
2. You will see a screen with a barcode and QR code on a blue background (see screenshot). The vendor will scan this and take the payment.
3. A screen will pop up with the transaction amount. Check this is correct before leaving.

Other Features of Alipay

You can access lots of mini apps inside the Alipay app. Some of them can also be dowloaded separately from the Google Play or Apple Store, but having them within the Alipay app means you don’t need to download a shedload of new apps if you’re going for a shorter trip. Another advantage is that the Alipay app has a floating translate button, which is extremely helpful. It doesn’t always translate everything, however, so it’s not that reliable. iPhones have a useful in-built translate function when you take a screenshot.

DiDi Taxi

DiDi is a ride-hailing app that is basically Chinese Uber. There are a few other similar apps in China, but DiDi is the easiest to use for foreigners. It’s also quickest to hail a ride compared to others such as Gaode. The app is in English if you’re using the English version of Alipay. DiDi also has its own app, but it’s not available on the UK Apple App Store.

Using DiDi is quite simple if you’ve used Uber before. You need a Chinese SIM card to use it, as the driver (or sometimes the company) may call you. Usually the drivers don’t speak English.

I did have one occasion where DiDi got confused by my VPN. It still recognised my location, but when paying I had to turn VPN off to load the payment screen.

Public Transport

You can activate free virtual metro and bus cards within Alipay. This allows you to pay for public transport in China using your phone, without needing to buy a paper ticket. You need to activate this in each new city, as the transport systems are not linked.

Once activated, you simply need to scan your QR code on entry and exit.

Restaurant Menus

Lots of restaurants have their menus linked to a QR code printed on the table instead of a physical menu. Indeed, some restaurants don’t have any physical menus at all. You can scan the QR code with the Alipay app (in the same way you would scan a QR code to pay) to bring up the mini-app with the restaurant’s menu. You can order your food directly this way and also pay the bill without ever needing to speak to anyone – an introvert’s dream, right?

The menus are usually in Chinese, but you can use Alipay’s floating translate button to figure out what’s on the menu. QR code menus usually also have photographs of the food in case the translation was way off.

Takeout

You can order takeaway direct to your hotel room using Alipay. It’s labelled as ‘Takeout’ on the Alipay home screen under a blue letter ‘e’. In Chinese it’s called 饿了么 (or Ele.me), which means “are you hungry”. It’s basically the Chinese equivalent of Uber Eats or Deliveroo.

Train Tickets

You can check train availability and book train tickets through the Railway 12306 mini-app. This is the official China Railway booking platform. The app can also handle refunds and ticket changes if you booked through the app. The Alipay mini-app is in Chinese, if you download the app separately there is an English version.

Check out my guide on booking and taking the train in China.

Mobile Phone Top-Up

You can top up your Chinese SIM card using Alipay, as well as purchase data packages with existing credit on the account.

TaoBao

TaoBao is a popular platform for online shopping, and delivery is quick, like Amazon Prime next day delivery. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, you can’t use a foreign card to pay for purchases on here. A workaround is using cash in your ‘balance‘ if a local transfers you. Most of the mini-program is in Chinese, however. Although there is a translate button, the app is still quite cumbersome to use. You’re better off going to an actual shop than ordering something off TaoBao.

Messaging

Alipay does have a messaging function too, but the vast majority of people use WeChat, so it’s not that useful.

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Now that you’re all set up with paying, it’s time to go and explore China. If you found this guide to to using Alipay in China useful, let me know in the comments.

Check out my other guides to prepare you for your China trip:
How to Pay in China Like a Local
6 Essential Apps for Travelling China
Getting a SIM Card for China
Getting Around China
How to Book Hotels in China

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Photo credit: featured image by Markus Winkler on Unsplash