China opens WeChat Pay, Alipay to foreign credit cards

[Ody_2004]

On 9/16/2024 at 9:24 PM, Volvobrick said:

Didi has 2 versions. The one without map background is for China HK Macau. Other countries use the one with map background. 

Oh din know this! Thanks

btw anyone know how they integrate the traffic light countdown timer to their GPS map? I veri impressed and at the same time puzzle..

[Heartlander]

On 9/16/2024 at 7:31 PM, Albeniz said:

Dear all, 

I need to go for a  business trip in China (Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai) in late October and would appreciate some advice.

1.       I am currently using the cheapo Heya $10,  I don’t think it could support autoroam in China.  Which is the best plan I should get in Singapore first before flying off?

2.       I need to have access to WhatsApp, Google etc while in China, what are the ways to get around?

3.       What are the important  China Apps I should pre-install in Singapore

4.       Is there a problem using VISA/mastercard in China?

5.       Can I buy a train ticket in advance (in Singapore) for traveling from Shenzhen to Guangzhou?  If yes, what is the best App to use?

6.        Other helpful advice.

Many thanks folk, noob here.  Last traveled to China was in year 2005, so a lot of things have changed.  Need to get refreshed.

1. If you want most hassle free way, just subscribe roaming plan from your telco in Singapore. For example Singtel got this 4GB data plan at $18 that should be enough unless  you plan to catch dramas while there. This will ensure all your traffic are routed through Singapore so you will will have access to all the google services including Whatsapp, chrome, Map, Facebook, etc, etc.

2. As above.

3. Within Alipay app, you will have access to all the essential payment modules for train, bus, bicycle, etc, etc. But you will need to activate the respective train module when you are in different cities though before you can use it. Maybe garode map would be enough. Google map can work but seriously outdated.

 4. Always bring along one of Visa and Mastercard as sometimes certain places cannot work so you will have fall back. For example during my Beijing trip a year ago, the hotel cannot accept Alipay  through Visa, but Mastercard ok, and Visa card hv no issues for the rest of the trip then. 

5. Paying through Alipay is easy: either you Scan the merchant's QR code and enter the amount yourself, or you press the Pay option to generate a QR code for the merchant to scan after which the exact amount will be deducted. The later is more common among convenient stores and shops.

6. Cash is still accepted but many places will tell you they never see cash for long time already, and worst case to happen is not to get the change back. Better have backup in case cash not accepted. To me Alipay is a must if you want to have hassle free trip. My MIL just left for Chengdu on a 10 day trip and I was surprised to hear that the tour operator advised her to carry alot of cash and no need for Alipay or Wechat during pre-trip briefing. I nearly fell off the chair but let it be as she quite confident of the tour operator haha.

[Tohto]

My last visit this year Mar did not use any single cents of cash.. all payments using Wechat pay.

CC can forget about it,  unless big hotel chain. 

Phone wise for best access data roam from telco here is the way to go. VPN sometime might be slow.

 

[RH1667]

If you have time, go get a local phone number, than go to one of the bank ( ICBC or CCB ) to open a local bank account, that will ensure you have no problem paying with Wechat or Alipay.

Yes, now even for short term visitor, we can open bank account in China.

Else, bring cash, get a local to transfer money to your Alipay / Wechat account, and you pay him/her in cash. 

For data, better to use data roaming than local data , even hotel Wifi , sometimes will have problem to get connected to WhatsApp. 

[Volvobrick]

On 9/17/2024 at 6:13 AM, Ody_2004 said:

Oh din know this! Thanks

btw anyone know how they integrate the traffic light countdown timer to their GPS map? I veri impressed and at the same time puzzle..

Me too. Reminds those handphone zombies yo get ready! 

[Volvobrick]

On 9/17/2024 at 8:51 AM, RH1667 said:

If you have time, go get a local phone number, than go to one of the bank ( ICBC or CCB ) to open a local bank account, that will ensure you have no problem paying with Wechat or Alipay.

Yes, now even for short term visitor, we can open bank account in China.

Else, bring cash, get a local to transfer money to your Alipay / Wechat account, and you pay him/her in cash. 

For data, better to use data roaming than local data , even hotel Wifi , sometimes will have problem to get connected to WhatsApp. 

Can open acct so easily now? Any particular bank? Recent years most banks won't open for you unless you can prove local residency/tax payer. 

[Tohto]

On 9/17/2024 at 8:51 AM, RH1667 said:

If you have time, go get a local phone number, than go to one of the bank ( ICBC or CCB ) to open a local bank account, that will ensure you have no problem paying with Wechat or Alipay.

Yes, now even for short term visitor, we can open bank account in China.

Else, bring cash, get a local to transfer money to your Alipay / Wechat account, and you pay him/her in cash. 

For data, better to use data roaming than local data , even hotel Wifi , sometimes will have problem to get connected to WhatsApp. 

Now Wechat pay or Alipay will settle all payment, just tight to a CC. Why bother to waste time open bank account.

Unlike previously these payment mode cannot be used by foreigners .

Hotel wifi not sometime cannot connect, is for sure cannot contact to WhatsApp, Telegram, IG, Youtube etc.... Even in a 5 Star hotel like Hayat.  Pre-Covid access is more easy, now is almost everything also cannot using local network without data roaming.

Also must download Baidu map. Google map is useless in China.

Edited September 17 by Tohto

[Heartlander]

On 9/17/2024 at 8:51 AM, RH1667 said:

Else, bring cash, get a local to transfer money to your Alipay / Wechat account, and you pay him/her in cash. 

For data, better to use data roaming than local data , even hotel Wifi , sometimes will have problem to get connected to WhatsApp. 

Yah forgot to add that Alipay also can pay using ewallet or credit cards like Visa or Mastercard. Some people suspicious of Alipay app but still want to use it, so one option is to get local people to top up the ewallet and pay that person in cash instead. What I know is that foreigners cannot top up ewallet though I know a few claim can be done. Ewallet is machiam our Paylah.

[Heartlander]

And even you subscribe apps like Viu for catching Chinese dramas, the app will not recognise your account if you not using roaming data plan. It took me awhile to understand the situation as I wanted to use hotel wifi to save my telco roaming data but my Viu app kept indicating no active account. So nowadays I will download whatever drama before leaving for the trip. Those downloaded contents are not affected.

And hotel wifi really useless as popular apps like Youtube, Chrome, Google services, all cannot work. 

Edited September 17 by Heartlander

[Jman888]

On 9/17/2024 at 9:35 AM, Heartlander said:

And even you subscribe apps like Viu for catching Chinese dramas, the app will not recognise your account if you not using roaming data plan. It took me awhile to understand the situation as I wanted to use hotel wifi to save my telco roaming data but my Viu app kept indicating no active account. So nowadays I will download whatever drama before leaving for the trip. Those downloaded contents are not affected.

And hotel wifi really useless as popular apps like Youtube, Chrome, Google services, all cannot work. 

Viu is very good in detect overseas or even using vpn back to sg while overseas also cannot, other platform like Netflix or Disney+ is ok to use overseas.

[Jman888]

On 9/17/2024 at 8:51 AM, RH1667 said:

If you have time, go get a local phone number, than go to one of the bank ( ICBC or CCB ) to open a local bank account, that will ensure you have no problem paying with Wechat or Alipay.

Yes, now even for short term visitor, we can open bank account in China.

Else, bring cash, get a local to transfer money to your Alipay / Wechat account, and you pay him/her in cash. 

For data, better to use data roaming than local data , even hotel Wifi , sometimes will have problem to get connected to WhatsApp. 

how to transfer money into china bank account when back in singapore?

[RH1667]

On 9/17/2024 at 9:06 AM, Volvobrick said:

Can open acct so easily now? Any particular bank? Recent years most banks won't open for you unless you can prove local residency/tax payer. 

Yes, when i was there in April this year, almost did it. but as i took more time than needed to locate a teleco that can allow short term visitor to register for local number, i gave up as needed to go to airport. I will do it next time.

I did all the registration and left the local number for the final verification.

Compared to pre-Covid, where the bank out right reject your application once they know you are not long term pass holder. 

[RH1667]

On 9/17/2024 at 9:23 AM, Tohto said:

Now Wechat pay or Alipay will settle all payment, just tight to a CC. Why bother to waste time open bank account.

Unlike previously these payment mode cannot be used by foreigners .

Hotel wifi not sometime cannot connect, is for sure cannot contact to WhatsApp, Telegram, IG, Youtube etc.... Even in a 5 Star hotel like Hayat.  Pre-Covid access is more easy, now is almost everything also cannot using local network without data roaming.

Also must download Baidu map. Google map is useless in China.

Local bank account is useful is someone is visiting China multiple time every year. No need to trouble other people to do the top up for Alipay / Wechat account, can do it using own china local bank account. 

Yes, Google map is useless in China. Baidu is required for China navigation.  

[RH1667]

On 9/17/2024 at 9:48 AM, Jman888 said:

how to transfer money into china bank account when back in singapore?

I have not tried this yet, but my intention is to being cash and deposit into the ATM first, than when needed, then will try to see if can deposit from Singapore before next trip. 

[Wt_know]

no scare no scare 

China Mobile got you covered in SG 

huat ah!

 

[Lala81]

Easy to search in english for baidu map? or all chinese

 

So from what you guys say. E-wallet is need bank account. like Paylah. 
But vendor to customer purchase/payment, Wechat/alipay with CC is no problem then 

[inlinesix]

On 9/17/2024 at 10:11 AM, Lala81 said:

Easy to search in english for baidu map? or all chinese

So from what you guys say. E-wallet is need bank account. like Paylah. 
But vendor to customer purchase/payment, Wechat/alipay with CC is no problem then 

For iphone, it is easy for fine.  The last I used is all Chinese.

 

[Davidklt]

On 9/17/2024 at 8:51 AM, RH1667 said:

If you have time, go get a local phone number, than go to one of the bank ( ICBC or CCB ) to open a local bank account, that will ensure you have no problem paying with Wechat or Alipay.

Yes, now even for short term visitor, we can open bank account in China.

Else, bring cash, get a local to transfer money to your Alipay / Wechat account, and you pay him/her in cash. 

For data, better to use data roaming than local data , even hotel Wifi , sometimes will have problem to get connected to WhatsApp. 

To be honest, all these are unnecessary.

You just need to know, adopt and use the right tech to overcome these.