Paying in China with a foreign bank card

Set it up before you need it

1. Download Alipay or WeChat from your app store. Register with your own phone number, including its country code. Keep that number able to receive verification messages.
2. In Alipay, look for Bank Cards / 银行卡; in WeChat, start with Me → Services → Wallet → Cards. Labels can vary by language and version. Follow the card and passport prompts you actually see.
3. Use your own eligible card. If the bank asks you to approve the link or payment, complete that check through its official app or SMS channel.
4. Try a small shop purchase. Check the app receipt before relying on it for a hotel bill or a long journey.

At the counter

If you scan the shop’s QR code, enter the bill amount only when asked, then check the recipient and total. If the cashier scans you, open your payment code. The next guide explains the two actions.

A personal receive-money code may request a transfer. Alipay’s overseas-card service covers eligible merchant purchases, not person-to-person transfers. Ask for another payment method if the card cannot fund that code.

Fees and a useful Guangzhou shortcut

Guangzhou’s official guidance says international-card mobile payments up to RMB 200 have no platform service fee. Above that, check the fee shown before paying; promotions and card terms can differ. Your bank may still charge conversion or foreign-transaction fees.

On Guangzhou Metro, supported contactless overseas Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards can be tapped at gates showing the card-network logo. You can try that without setting up a transit code. If rejected, ask the metro customer-service centre for a ticket.