Alipay For Foreigners: How To Use Alipay In China (2026)

Heading to China? Here’s an all-rounder guide to using Alipay like a local.

If you’re travelling to China, there are two apps you absolutely need on your phone — WeChat and Alipay. While WeChat is the most widely used for everyday purchases, having both gives you maximum coverage.

Alipay is a secure, all-in-one payment platform that lets you pay, transfer money, and manage spending with ease. The best part? It’s now fully accessible to international travellers – no Chinese bank account required. Just add your YouTrip card to Alipay to get the best CNY exchange rates and enjoy smooth payments.

From key features and benefits to account setup and how to pay in-store, we’ve covered everything you need to know. Read on and travel smarter!

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Table of Contents: Alipay (2026)

1. What is Alipay?
2. Can Foreigners Use Alipay?
3. Is Alipay Free to Sign Up and Use?
4. Alipay Features
5. Alipay Transaction Fees & Surcharges
6. How to Set Up Alipay (Step-by-Step)
   • Installing & Setting Up Your Alipay Account
   • Verifying Your Identity
   • Linking YouTrip to Alipay Account
   • Alipay in Chinese: How to switch to English Support
7. Alipay Tour Card
   • How to use the Alipay Tour card
   • Limits and Fees of Alipay Tour Card
8. Paying by QR Code in Alipay
9. Alipay vs WeChat Pay: Which to use in China?
10. Is Alipay safe?
11. Alipay FAQs

What is Alipay? (支付宝是啥?)

Image credits: SmartShanghai

Alipay (支付宝) is China’s leading third-party mobile and online payment platform, widely used for everyday transactions — from buying your morning coffee to train tickets and late-night bubble tea runs. Owned by Ant Group (an affiliate of Alibaba), Alipay has grown from an e-commerce solution into a full digital lifestyle platform with over a billion users globally.

If you’re heading to China from Singapore (or anywhere else), chances are you’ll need Alipay to pay for almost everything — food, public transport, shopping, and even tips at your hostel.

The good news? Foreigners can now use Alipay without needing a Chinese bank account — simply link your YouTrip card for seamless payments and competitive CNY exchange rates.

Can YouTrip be used in China? Find out here.

Can Foreigners Use Alipay?

Yes! Singaporeans can use Alipay in China. Alipay has opened its doors to international users. All you need is a passport and an international credit/debit card like your YouTrip Mastercard.

Can You Use Alipay Without a Chinese Bank Account?

Yes, you can use Alipay without a Chinese bank account or local phone number. Just download the app, verify your identity, and like your card. You can also consider using the Alipay Tour Card — a prepaid option specifically made for tourists.

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Is Alipay Free to Sign Up and Use?

Creating an Alipay account is completely free, and there are no registration fees involved. However, do note that there are fees for transferring money to a bank card or withdrawing from your Alipay balance if you exceed a certain amount — but more on Alipay transaction fees and surcharges below

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Alipay Features

Alipay boasts a myriad of features designed to streamline financial transactions and your experience in China:

1. Mobile Payments: Pay seamlessly using the Alipay app on your smartphone — no more physical cash!
   
2. QR Code Payments: Pay by scanning the merchant QR code or allow merchants to scan your unique payment QR code.
   
3. Money Transfers: While primarily for domestic use, you can receive funds from others within the Alipay ecosystem. Direct international money transfers from Alipay for foreigners are limited, though.
   
4. Bill Payments: Settle various bills directly from your digital wallet, including:
   • Utility bills
   • Internet services
   • Credit card payments
   • Various other expenses (rent, insurance premiums, subscription services, etc).
   • Note that some may require a Chinese bank account.
     
5. Public Transport: Pay for buses and subways in over 50 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, by scanning QR codes within the app’s ‘Transport’ section.
   • Alipay is also integrated with China’s official train ticket booking system (12306) and supports ride-hailing services.

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Alipay Transaction Fees & Surcharges

While creating and using an Alipay account is free, here are the key fees to note:

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How to Set Up Alipay (Step-by-Step):

1. Installing & Setting Up Your Alipay Account

Image Credits: Alipay

Here’s how to get started with Alipay:

1. Download Alipay from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Tap ‘Sign Up’ > Select ‘International User’
3. Enter your passport and personal details > follow the screen instructions until your account is set up.

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2. Verifying Your Identity

To add your YouTrip card to Alipay, you need to first verify your identity. Here’s how:

1. Go to ‘Me’ > ‘Settings’ (top right corner)
2. Tap ‘Account and Security’ > ‘Identity Information’
3. Verify your identity by providing personal information like your full name, passport number, and a photo of your passport.
4. Alipay will review your information for verification.

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3. Linking YouTrip to an Alipay Account

Maximise your savings with YouTrip’s competitive FX rates by linking your card to Alipay:

1. Once your identity is verified, go to ‘Me’ > ‘Bank cards’ 
2. Tap the ‘+ Add Card’ symbol
3. Set up your 6-digit payment password
4. Enter your YouTrip Mastercard details
5. If your card appears on the screen, this means that it’s successfully linked 

Note: You’ll need to verify your full details & passport first before you can link your YouTrip card to Alipay!

Here’s a step-by-step video on how to add your YouTrip card to Alipay

4. Alipay in Chinese: How to Switch to English Support

The app generally allows you to set your preferred language upon initial setup or through ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘Multiple languages’ menu.

While Alipay offers an international version with English support, some prompts or specific functions, especially within mini-programs, might still appear in Chinese.

If you encounter Chinese text, you can try using your phone’s translation features or ask a local for assistance.

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Alipay Tour Card

Image Credits: The Shutterwhale

If linking your direct credit/debit card doesn’t work, try the Alipay Tour card. The Alipay Tourcard is a convenient alternative for foreigners. It’s essentially a 90-day prepaid card issued by the Bank of Shanghai via Alipay.

This is different from linking your YouTrip card directly to Alipay, as it requires an additional step of loading money before usage.

How to Use the Alipay Tour Card:

1. In Alipay, switch to the International Version
2. Search for ‘TOURCARD‘
3. Open the Tourcard mini-app
4. Tap ‘Enter’ > verify your personal information
5. Top up your desired amount (Add your YouTrip card to top up)
6. Follow the in-app instructions to complete the top-up

Alipay Tour Card: Limits & Fees

• Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard (including YouTrip!), JCB, Discover, Diners Club and UnionPay.
  
• Maximum top-up limit: 10,000 CNY (~S$1,780)
• Top-up fee: 5% fee on top-up amount
  
• Valid for 6 months.

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Alipay: Paying by QR Code

Image credits: Unsplash

Making payments with Alipay is straightforward:

1. Scan the merchant’s QR code: Tap the ‘Scan’ button on your ‘Home’ tab and scan the QR code displayed by the merchant.
   
2. Allow merchants to scan your QR code: Tap ‘Pay’ to generate your unique payment QR code for the merchant to scan.

Always confirm the denomination before authorising payment with your 6-digit payment password.

Check out how to top up your virtual Suica card with YouTrip here

Alipay vs WeChat Pay: Which to Use in China?

Both Alipay and WeChat Pay are dominant mobile payment platforms in China, and it’s highly recommended to have both for comprehensive coverage. However, they have slightly different focuses:

• Alipay: Often seen as more focused on financial services, e-commerce (especially for Alibaba-related platforms like Taobao and Tmall), and utilities.
  Its English interface is generally considered more robust and user-friendly for foreigners.
  
• WeChat Pay: Integrated with the WeChat social media app, it’s often preferred for daily expenses, person-to-person transfers, and social interactions.
  Many people already have WeChat installed, making it a natural choice for quick payments.

Alipay For Foreigners: How To Use Alipay In China — Find out how to use WeChat Pay in China here

Should I Use Alipay or WeChat in China?

For tourists, Alipay often provides a smoother initial setup and better English support. However, some smaller merchants or more local establishments might predominantly use WeChat Pay.

Having both ensures you’re covered for almost all payment scenarios across China.

Find out more about adding your YouTrip card to Alipay and WeChat here

Is Alipay Safe?

Yes. Alipay is one of the most secure fintech platforms in the world. It uses:

• End-to-end encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Secure SSL protocols
• Real-time fraud detection

Plus, your YouTrip card adds an extra layer of protection with no link to your main bank account.

Check out our guide to the best multi-currency cards in Singapore

Final Thoughts: Should You Use Alipay in China?

Yes — and preferably with your YouTrip card. Whether you’re hopping on a metro in Shanghai or grabbing hotpot in Chengdu, Alipay is your go-to for hassle-free cashless payments. YouTrip makes the experience even better by eliminating nasty exchange markups.

So before you fly, download Alipay, set it up, and link your YouTrip card. You’ll be tapping to pay in China like a local in no time.

Not a YouTrooper yet? Singapore’s go-to multi-currency wallet helps you save with great FX rates and zero fees. Skip the money changer and get a free YouTrip card + S$5 YouTrip credits with code <YTBLOG5>.

Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. Join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and Community Group (@YouTripSquad) for travel tips, event invites, and more!

Happy travels!

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