Alipay

Paying

Foreign visitors can register with a non-mainland number and bind an international card. A mainland bank account is not required.

Before you fly, install both Alipay and WeChat Pay and bind a real international card in each. Some merchant codes take only one wallet — having both ready avoids a stuck checkout. This is practical prep, not a legal requirement.

Install Alipay (Ant Group) from your home store, not AlipayHK, unless you already use an Alipay+ home wallet.

Official path in 2026 is direct card bind in the main app. Do not treat Tour Pass as the default — new applications were not verified as open.

Ant Group list (5 Sep 2024): Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners, UnionPay International. Amex can bind, but Amex cards issued by third parties outside the mainland are currently not eligible.

Regulatory ceiling still cited in July 2026: USD 5,000 per transaction / USD 50,000 a year. That is an institutional ceiling, not a guarantee.

Municipal pages republish a fee waived under RMB 200 and 3% above. Read the confirmation screen. It changes often.

Foreign-card wallets: merchant payments yes; person-to-person transfers no. Alipay English hotline +86-571-2688-6000.

Shanghai government, updated 21 Jul 2026 · 2026-09-04

FAQ

Can tourists use Alipay without a Chinese bank account?

Foreign visitors can register with a non-mainland number and bind an international card. A mainland bank account is not required. The official path in 2026 is a direct card bind in the main Alipay app; do not treat Tour Pass as the default. Official: Shanghai government, updated 21 Jul 2026. Last checked: 2026-09-04.

Should I set up Alipay before I fly?

Yes. Install Alipay (Ant Group) from your home store — not AlipayHK, unless you already use an Alipay+ home wallet — and bind a real international card before you fly. Also bind WeChat Pay. This is practical prep, not a legal requirement.

Is Alipay alone enough?

No. Some merchant codes take only one wallet. Install both Alipay and WeChat Pay and bind a real international card in each so a WeChat-only or Alipay-only QR does not stop checkout.

Which card can I bind to Alipay?

Ant Group’s list (5 Sep 2024) names Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners, and UnionPay International. Amex can bind, but Amex cards issued by third parties outside the mainland are currently not eligible. This page does not add issuer names beyond that list. Official: Shanghai government, updated 21 Jul 2026. Last checked: 2026-09-04.

What if a shop QR is WeChat-only?

Some merchant codes take only one wallet. Having WeChat Pay ready as well avoids a stuck checkout. That is practical prep, not a legal requirement.