China opens WeChat Pay, Alipay to foreign credit cards

[Yamapi]

Visiting China just got a whole lot easier for international travelers.

Starting Friday (July 21), visitors are able to link their Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) accounts to China’s most popular mobile payment platforms, allowing them to book taxis, ride the subway and pay for goods and services at millions of outlets across the near-cashless country.

The move marks a revival of efforts by Alipay and WeChat Pay to accept foreign credit cards after they provided some limited access in late 2019. The companies said previously that they were acting under the guidance of Chinese regulators, as Beijing seeks to attract foreign investment and international travelers to boost its flagging economy.

Alipay, China’s largest payment app operated by Ant Group, announced on Friday that overseas users can link cards issued by Visa and Mastercard, as well as Diners Club and Discover to their digital wallets. The change takes effect immediately.

“As the Chengdu [World University Games] and the Hangzhou Asian Games approach, more and more foreign tourists have come to China, and they may need to use mobile payments for basic necessities of life,” the Hangzhou-based fintech giant, an affiliate of Alibaba Group (BABA), said in a statement.

“Athletes and tourists from all over the world can use Alipay nationwide to enjoy various convenient services such as shopping, taking taxis, taking subways, and visiting scenic spots.”

A day earlier, Tencent (TCEHY), which owns the country’s second most popular payment app WeChat Pay, made a similar announcement. WeChat Pay is officially known as Weixin Pay in China.

WeChat users can now link credit or debit cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Discover for payment at tens of millions of merchants in China, the social media and gaming company said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/21/tech/china-alipay-wechat-pay-international-credit-cards-intl-hnk/index.html

[Ender]

I had problem with alipay and local credit sometime back to pay cainiao. Some members tried to help me but was unsuccessful. Maybe I can try again.

[Tohto]

Finally,  what a long wait..

[Inlinefour]

siao liao all my xmm will ask more WC angpao 🙈🙉🙊

[Tohto]

On 7/23/2023 at 10:12 PM, Ender said:

I had problem with alipay and local credit sometime back to pay cainiao. Some members tried to help me but was unsuccessful. Maybe I can try again.

It just doesn't work for me using wechat pay using Singapore CC. Can't even register.

Now it should work.

[Si4dr]

Good..... I have a hard time just buying bubble tea by cash at Shanghai b4 covid19 😂

[Jamesc]

Cash good in Japan

bad in China

[Silverkris]

On 7/23/2023 at 10:40 PM, Inlinefour said:

siao liao all my xmm will ask more WC angpao 🙈🙉🙊

still safe then. Angpao function not enabled for foreigners. lol.

edit: sorry, should be not able to receive angpao

Edited July 24, 2023 by Silverkris

[Lala81]

Is it easy and fast to get local esim or Sim? Otherwise also LPPL right. 

[Zxcvb]

Finally!! After so many many years. Last time wanted to open account in Bank of China in SG, bank assistant told me cannot also. Need to go China open China account then can use the pay function of WeChat. 

[Vidz]

been using alipay already long long with CC 

bigger news!! now china no need visa-free:: http://sg.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw_133374/zytz/202307/t20230723_11116724.htm

 

From 00:00 (Beijing time) on Wednesday July 26 2023, the Chinese government will resume the 15-day visa free policy for Singaporean citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes. Visas which have been issued to Singaporean citizens are still valid. Visa applications that have been lodged before will be processed normally.

[Inlinefour]

On 7/24/2023 at 9:55 AM, Silverkris said:

still safe then. Angpao function not enabled for foreigners. lol.

edit: sorry, should be not able to receive angpao

mine can but need tiong buddies top up for me 🤐🤐🤐

[Mustank]

中国万岁!

 

[inlinesix]

On 7/24/2023 at 10:47 AM, Inlinefour said:

mine can but need tiong buddies top up for me 🤐🤐🤐

That means got a UnionPay card attached to your wechat account lor

[DOBIEMKZ]

On 7/24/2023 at 11:39 AM, Mustank said:

中国万岁!

 

I shall chip in. 中国人民共和国万岁！🙌

😄
 

[inlinesix]

On 7/25/2023 at 2:17 PM, DOBIEMKZ said:

I shall chip in. 中国人民共和国万岁！🙌

😄
 

I also chip in 

 

[DOBIEMKZ]

On 7/25/2023 at 2:19 PM, inlinesix said:

I also chip in 

 

[DOBIEMKZ]

On 7/23/2023 at 8:54 PM, Yamapi said:

Visiting China just got a whole lot easier for international travelers.

Starting Friday (July 21), visitors are able to link their Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) accounts to China’s most popular mobile payment platforms, allowing them to book taxis, ride the subway and pay for goods and services at millions of outlets across the near-cashless country.

The move marks a revival of efforts by Alipay and WeChat Pay to accept foreign credit cards after they provided some limited access in late 2019. The companies said previously that they were acting under the guidance of Chinese regulators, as Beijing seeks to attract foreign investment and international travelers to boost its flagging economy.

Alipay, China’s largest payment app operated by Ant Group, announced on Friday that overseas users can link cards issued by Visa and Mastercard, as well as Diners Club and Discover to their digital wallets. The change takes effect immediately.

“As the Chengdu [World University Games] and the Hangzhou Asian Games approach, more and more foreign tourists have come to China, and they may need to use mobile payments for basic necessities of life,” the Hangzhou-based fintech giant, an affiliate of Alibaba Group (BABA), said in a statement.

“Athletes and tourists from all over the world can use Alipay nationwide to enjoy various convenient services such as shopping, taking taxis, taking subways, and visiting scenic spots.”

A day earlier, Tencent (TCEHY), which owns the country’s second most popular payment app WeChat Pay, made a similar announcement. WeChat Pay is officially known as Weixin Pay in China.

WeChat users can now link credit or debit cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Discover for payment at tens of millions of merchants in China, the social media and gaming company said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/21/tech/china-alipay-wechat-pay-international-credit-cards-intl-hnk/index.html

这一天终于到来了!   一个举国欢庆的日子！ 
🙌 ... 😄