01 · BEFORE YOU START
What to prepare
- Your passportSome payment and transport services require identity verification.
- A working phone or emailKeep access to verification messages throughout the trip.
- An international bank cardUse a card in your own name and enable overseas and online transactions.
- A second payment methodBring another physical card and a small amount of RMB cash.
- A translation appSave important destinations in Chinese before you travel.
02 · REGISTRATION
Create your Alipay account
Open Alipay and choose Sign up
Select your country or region and use your own details. The tested flow included an email registration option; keep that mailbox accessible during the trip.
Creating an account does not automatically complete every identity check. Bank-card, risk-control and city-transport services may request passport details separately.
03 · PAYMENTS
Add a card, then learn the two QR Code payment methods
Open Bank Cards and add a card in your name
Follow the on-screen form and complete any issuer authentication. If a card is rejected, check the name, overseas-payment setting and bank verification before trying a second card.
Two ways to pay with a QR Code
The merchant will either display a QR Code for you to scan or ask to scan the payment QR Code on your phone. Check the merchant name and final amount before confirming.
Tap Scan, confirm the merchant name and amount, then pay.
Open Pay/Receive and let the cashier scan your QR Code.
Payments of about USD 30.00 (RMB 200) or less normally have no additional platform fee; transactions above about USD 30.00 (RMB 200) may incur a 3% fee. Check the confirmation screen.
Published caps for linked overseas cards are up to USD 5,000 (about RMB 33,350) per transaction and USD 50,000 (about RMB 333,500) per year; banks may set lower limits.
USD equivalents are approximate, using USD 1 ≈ RMB 6.67 on 29 Oct 2026. China fares and fee thresholds are set in RMB; your bank may use a different rate or charge fees. Rate reference.
OPTIONAL TRAVEL SERVICES
Alipay includes more than payment—but use only what your trip needs
Alipay may show ride-hailing, train tickets, flights, hotels, eSIMs and other travel services. Their presence does not mean every traveler needs them or that they are always the best booking channel.
DiDi and Amap Ride can be useful when public transport is inconvenient. Use them only when you need a car.
Train shortcuts can be convenient, but the official Railway 12306 app gives you the full account, passenger and order flow.
Open the full Railway 12306 guide →Alipay may open flight-booking services. Compare them with an international booking app or the airline’s official app before paying.
These are optional conveniences. Skip them if you already have preferred services.
04 · PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Use Alipay for buses and metro in many Chinese cities
Alipay shows the local transport cards available for your selected city. Coverage, card names and supported services vary, so confirm that both Bus and Metro appear before relying on Alipay. The Chengdu (成都) flow below has been tested in person.
Start from Transport and confirm your city
On the Alipay home screen, tap Transport, check the city at the top, then choose Bus or Metro. Once the local QR Code is activated, you can often skip the station ticket machine and scan your phone instead of buying a separate single-ride ticket.
Activate the Chengdu Electronic Transport Code
Select the Chengdu code and accept the service agreement. The same activated code can be used for Chengdu buses and metro.
Alipay transport QR Codes are available in many cities, including major systems such as Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), Nanjing (南京) and Hangzhou (杭州), but the supported mode and exact card can differ. Use the card shown inside Transport for your current city and keep cash or a physical card as backup.
Some Chengdu metro gates show contactless bank-card logos, but real-world card taps can occasionally fail. The activated Alipay transport QR Code is more dependable.
05 · RIDE-HAILING
Open DiDi inside Alipay—no separate ride-hailing app required
Tap DiDi Travel on the Alipay home screen
Open DiDi Travel, confirm the pickup point and enter your destination. This keeps the booking flow inside Alipay, so you do not need a separate app for a basic ride. For the dedicated English app, driver chat, and full setup steps, see the DiDi China guide →
DiDi is easier in English than Amap Ride
In our comparison, DiDi kept the core map, pickup and destination flow in English. Amap accepted an English search, but the selected pickup point could change to Chinese.
Install a translation app and save each destination as an English name followed by its Chinese name in parentheses—for example, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (成都天府国际机场)—plus the full Chinese address and telephone number. Confirm the terminal, exit or pickup zone. Text is usually easier than a voice call.
06 · TROUBLESHOOTING
Fix the problem by identifying the layer
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No verification message | Wrong country code, roaming or spam filtering | Check the address or number, wait before retrying and confirm international messaging. |
| Card will not link | Issuer rejection, overseas payments off or details mismatch | Check the cardholder name, bank settings and issuer authentication; then try your second card. |
| Linked card will not pay | Merchant type, risk control or bank rejection | Try a regular merchant payment, complete the prompt, then use another card or cash. |
| QR Code opens a transfer | The QR Code belongs to an individual, not a merchant | Ask for a merchant QR Code or another payment method. |
| Charge is higher | Platform fee, exchange rate or issuer fee | Review the confirmation screen and compare the Alipay record with your card statement. |
FAQ
Alipay questions from first-time visitors
Can foreign visitors use Alipay in China?
Yes. Eligible international bank cards can be linked for many merchant payments in mainland China.
Does Alipay charge a fee when I pay with an international bank card?
For QR Code payments funded by a linked international bank card, transactions of about USD 30.00 (RMB 200) or less generally have no additional Alipay service fee. Transactions above about USD 30.00 (RMB 200) may be charged a 3% service fee. Your card issuer may separately charge foreign-exchange or overseas-transaction fees, so check the confirmation screen and your card terms.
Can I use Alipay for buses and metro throughout China?
Alipay offers public-transport QR Codes in many Chinese cities, but availability, card names and covered services vary. Open Transport, confirm the city and check whether Bus, Metro or both are shown.
Can I use Alipay Transport for buses and metro in Chengdu?
Yes. Open Transport in Alipay, select Chengdu, choose Bus or Metro and activate the Chengdu Electronic Transport Code. After activation, use its QR Code at supported Chengdu bus readers and metro gates.
Can I tap Visa or Mastercard at Chengdu metro gates?
Some gates display support, but taps can fail. Use the Alipay Chengdu transport QR Code as the primary option.
Do I need to install the separate DiDi app?
No. You can tap DiDi Travel inside Alipay, then set the pickup point and destination there. The tested core flow was in English, but drivers usually communicate in Chinese.
Is Alipay enough for my whole trip?
No. Also install WeChat, keep a physical card and RMB cash, and use Railway 12306 or Trip.com for trains.