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💳 Paying in China
Alipay
As of September 2026 · app interfaces and menu names may change
Goal: you set up Alipay on your own at home — without any Chinese and without help from hotel staff. Foreign visitors can link an international credit card to Alipay and pay with it at a great many places in China.
⚠ Not everyone sees exactly the same menus. The interface can differ depending on app version, country, account and verification status. This guide describes the typical sequence and gives alternative labels.
What you need
- Smartphone with Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone)
- Your mobile number on which you can receive texts
- Your passport
- An international Visa or Mastercard (other cards depending on current support)
- Your bank's banking app — to approve the card
- Stable Wi-Fi
Step by step
Step 1 — Install Alipay
- Open Google Play Store (iPhone: App Store).
- Type “Alipay” in the search field.
- Choose the right entry: app name “Alipay”, developer “Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co. Ltd”. Don't confuse it with AlipayHK or similar-sounding apps.
- Tap “Install”.
- After installation, open Alipay.
SCREENSHOT 01 — Play Store – Alipay with developer namePlaceholder — real screenshot to follow
Step 2 — Create an account and confirm your phone number
- Tap the button to register (roughly “Sign up” / “Register”).
- As the region choose your country's dialling code, e.g. Germany +49.
- Enter your mobile number.
- Wait for the text with the confirmation code and enter the code.
- Set up a secure password or the sign-in method Alipay requires.
SCREENSHOT 02 — Registration with country code +49Placeholder — real screenshot to follow
Step 3 — Confirm your identity with your passport
- Open the identity check section. It's called roughly “Identity Verification”, “Verify identity” or “Real-name verification”.
- Choose “Passport” as the document, if offered.
- Photograph or scan the passport's photo page cleanly in the app.
- Check that everything is legible and the passport is valid.
- If the app asks for a selfie or face check: do it only within the official Alipay app.
- Enter all details exactly as in the passport — no nicknames, no different spelling.
- Submit and wait for confirmation.
The prompt for the passport check doesn't appear in the same place for every account. It can depend on account and service status.
SCREENSHOT 03 — Identity check – document PassportPlaceholder — real screenshot to follow
Step 4 — Add a credit card
- Open the personal section (roughly “Me” or “Account”).
- Open “Bank Cards” or “Cards”.
- Tap “Add card” or “+”.
- Enter the card number or capture the card with the camera, if offered.
- Enter name, expiry date and security code — only in the official app.
- If Alipay asks for an address, use the address of your card account.
- Your bank may ask for approval (3-D Secure) or a one-time code: confirm it in your banking app.
- Wait until the card is shown as added.
Menu names may differ slightly in the current app version.
SCREENSHOT 04 — Add cardPlaceholder — real screenshot to follow
Step 5 — Test before departure
- Is the identity check complete?
- Does your card appear under “Cards / Bank Cards”?
- Do phone number, text reception and banking app work?
- Update Alipay to the latest version.
- Keep a second card ready as a backup.
SCREENSHOT 05 — Card added successfullyPlaceholder — real screenshot to follow
Typical pitfalls
| Card is declined | Don't panic — it doesn't mean Alipay won't work for you. First check your banking app for an approval request or security notice, then check whether the card is enabled for foreign and online payments. Then try a second card. |
| Verification doesn't work | Check that your name and passport details match exactly. Don't re-register ten times in a row — repeated failed attempts can trigger extra security checks. |
| No text arrives | Check reception, wait a few minutes, check the country code. |
| Looking for help | Only use the official support in the app or on official Alipay pages. Never send passport or card details via WhatsApp, Telegram or to unknown websites. |
Video
🎬 Video to follow — a tested tutorial video will appear here.
Quick checklist before departure
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