Payments · 6 min read
Setting up AliPay with a foreign card
Visa and Mastercard now link directly. A short walkthrough so you can pay for tea, taxis, and trains from the moment you land.
Install AliPay from the App Store and select English in the language picker.
Verify your phone number. Use your home country number — no Chinese SIM is required.
Tap 'Add card' and link your home Visa or Mastercard. AliPay handles foreign exchange in the background.
Up to ¥200 per transaction has zero foreign-card surcharge; above that, a small percentage fee applies.
Top tip: pre-load the 'Tour Pass' inside AliPay before arrival; it issues a temporary virtual prepaid card with lower fees for small spending.
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