Travel Cashless in China: Pay Like a Local
Mobile payment in China is quite advanced and widely used, even more so than cash in big cities. The two most common platforms are Alipay and WeChat. While traveling in China, you will see QR codes for mobile payment everywhere from taxis to street food stalls, making it a very convenient way to pay. However, it's worth mentioning that certain establishments do not accept credit card payments directly and may not provide small changes for cash transactions.
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Alipay (which supports overseas bank cards issued by all major international card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club International, and Discover) offers international travelers a convenient way to make cashless payments in China.
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Wechat Pay also offers international travelers a similar way for cashless payments.
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Guide to Add and Use International Cards with Wechat Pay and Alipay
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We recommend registering WeChat upon your arrival in Beijing with help from an LOC member, as it turns out that you may need an immediate and prompt action from an existing WeChat user to help setup WeChat.
