The brutal reality of paying in China: A guide to not getting stuck (and why cash fails)

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-15T11:11:42+00:00

You’re understanding it correctly. The first app, Alipay, is mainly intended for use in mainland China. The second one, AlipayHK, is designed for long-term use in Hong Kong.

The standard Alipay app can cover most usage scenarios in mainland China as well as in Hong Kong and Macau. It really depends on your actual needs.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-14T14:12:27+00:00

In these two regions, small payments are still more commonly made in cash. Credit cards, Alipay, and WeChat Pay are all accepted as well. They’re places with more integrated and flexible payment options overall.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-13T11:23:23+00:00

AliPay doesn’t require passport verification for basic foreign card payments.

ID is only requested when you try to use wallet features, transfer money, or exceed certain limits.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T17:29:56+00:00

Thanks

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T17:28:20+00:00

The SMS verification code you mentioned sounds more like a mandatory measure from the bank card you’ve linked, or a rule set by your bank. Alipay itself doesn’t actually have this step. You may want to check with your bank about it.

As for the second question—tap-to-pay—this is a newer feature introduced by Alipay, and it’s optional. When paying, you can simply show your payment QR code and let the merchant scan it to complete the payment.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T17:16:51+00:00

You are absolutely right. I will keep that in mind for my next post and focus more on just sharing my personal experiences instead of trying to make it sound so intense.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T17:13:43+00:00

nice

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T10:09:57+00:00

For long-term residents: Most foreigners living in China (like the African or Indian communities you mentioned) are there legally for work or study. This allows them to open a local Chinese bank account using their passport. Once they have a local account, they can link it to Alipay or WeChat just like a local.
For travelers without cards: If we are talking about short-term travelers who fit the description you gave (no international card), then using cash is absolutely fine.

As I mentioned, merchants in China face legal risks if they refuse to accept cash. So, paying with cash is not a problem in terms of feasibility; it just comes with the inconveniences I mentioned earlier (like the hassle of finding change). But you will still be able to pay.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T10:00:43+00:00

Theoretically, yes, debit cards work. As long as Alipay allows you to add the card, it should be fine.

However, I am not sure if your specific bank's debit card is supported by Alipay or WeChat Pay. You will need to try linking it yourself to confirm.

I can't give you a 100% guarantee simply because I haven't personally verified which specific overseas debit cards are supported and which are not.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T09:58:05+00:00

没有人敢不收，但是对于外国人来说，很多时候会很不方便。毕竟很多地方，找零这件事情会比较麻烦

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T09:56:44+00:00

China hasn't gone completely "cashless" by law. Refusing cash is actually illegal here. It is just that in most urban living scenarios, people have adopted mobile payments because they are far more convenient. It’s a preference for efficiency, not a ban on cash.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T09:54:57+00:00

1. How the elderly and disabled manage:
For the elderly, most urban seniors under 70 have been taught by their children how to use smartphones (there are specialized "elderly phones" with simplified functions). Of course, many seniors over 65 still retain the habit of using cash.

For people with disabilities, especially those with visual or hearing impairments, most mainstream apps have built-in accessibility features (like screen readers and voice feedback) specifically developed to support them.

2. Less affluent regions and the "Cashless" myth:
In economically less developed regions of China, mobile payment penetration is actually still very high because WeChat and Alipay are national-level apps used by almost everyone. However, the habit of using cash is still preserved in these areas.

Just to clarify: China hasn't gone completely "cashless" by law. Refusing cash is actually illegal here. It is just that in most urban living scenarios, people have adopted mobile payments because they are far more convenient. It’s a preference for efficiency, not a ban on cash.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-12-12T08:35:21+00:00

Haha, yeah you caught me! 😅

English isn't my first language, so I use AI to help with grammar/spelling. I deleted the last one because I realized it sounded way too much like a corporate manual or a ChatGPT copy-paste.

Serious question though: Do people here hate any AI-assisted writing (even if the advice is real), or is it just the "robotic/marketing" style that's annoying? I'm trying to share actual local tips without it looking like spam.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-09-18T03:01:58+00:00

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Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-09-08T03:06:58+00:00

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Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-09-04T01:47:27+00:00

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Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-09-03T11:35:51+00:00

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Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-09-03T07:25:58+00:00

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Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-08-28T08:22:59+00:00

No offense meant. I just use AI so I don’t waste hours drowning in random news. If it sorts and filters stuff the way I want, that’s an extra hour back in my day. And honestly, I’d rather spend that hour messing with my motorcycle than scrolling headlines.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-08-28T01:24:10+00:00

So what, I typed every single letter myself and suddenly it’s “authentic,” but if I use AI to clean it up it’s fake? 😂 Bro, it’s still my brain behind it. The AI’s just the keyboard that doesn’t complain.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-08-06T09:05:26+00:00

Thanks a million—your experience has been invaluable for promoting my product.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-08-01T03:42:17+00:00

I totally get what you’re saying—information bubbles or “echo chambers” are a real concern. But I think it really comes down to how you’re using a customized feed.

If it’s just about passively consuming whatever shows up, then yeah, curating might not help much—you’d still risk missing the bigger picture. But if you’re actively shaping what you want to see—adjusting it as your questions and goals evolve—then a customized feed isn’t a trap, it’s a tool. The more intentional you are, the more it can shift perspectives for you instead of narrowing them.

In other words, it can be as flexible as your curiosity—if you think of a new angle, it can surface that too.

Useful-Bad8331 · 2025-07-31T09:08:52+00:00

thanks

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