How to use Alipay Tour Pass in China [2023]

Planning a trip to China? You’ll need to find a convenient and widely accepted way to spend.

The Alipay Tour Pass could be a good option, as Alipay is one of the biggest eWallet apps in China. But how does it work, and how do foreigners sign up?

We’ll cover everything you need to know here in this guide.

We’ll also show you a low-cost way to make payments and manage your money in Chinese Yuan, using Wise.

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What is the AliPay Tour Pass?

Alipay itself is only available to Chinese citizens with a Chinese bank account. However, the app also offers an option called the Alipay Tour Pass. This is a 90-day pass for foreigners to use Alipay while in China.

It means that you can use your ordinary bank card with the app, to spend on dining, shopping and everywhere else Alipay is accepted in China.

Use Wise to manage your money in Chinese yuan

If you’re traveling to China, have family there or are even thinking of moving there, check out Wise.

Wise is a great option for managing your money in USD, CNY and up to 50 currencies.

You can send money to and from China with low and transparent fees, all for great exchange rates. You can even send CNY instantly to Alipay users, thanks to a recent linkup between Wise and Alipay. Find out more about how it works here.

Wise also offers:

• A multi-currency account where you can hold 40+ currencies at once
• Bank details in 10 currencies
• Mid-market exchange rates on all transactions.
• Order a Wise card for a one time fee of just $9 - for use in 174 countries

With the Wise card, you can pay everywhere and use ATMs while visiting China.

This clever contactless card automatically converts your USD to CNY or whatever the local currency is, whenever you spend. This means you don’t have to worry about converting money or carrying cash around.

See how much you can save with Wise:

Get a Wise Account today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

How to set up Alipay

If you’d like to take advantage of the tour pass from Alipay for your upcoming trip to China, here’s how to get set up:

1. Download the Alipay app - it’s available for Android and Apple devices.
2. Sign up with your US phone number
3. Choose the Alipay International Version
4. Select ‘Tour Pass’
5. Enter load amount - this is the amount you’d initially like to load the app with
6. Add your bank card
7. Enter your ID information if asked. An important thing to remember here is that you’ll need to enter your ID details in exactly the same way that they’re registered at the bank.
8. Complete the load money process.
9. Once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to make Alipay payments in China wherever it’s accepted. Simply scan or show your QR code to pay at the checkout.

How do I use my Alipay tour pass?

All set up on Alipay? Now you’ll know how to use Alipay Tour pass for spending while in China.

It’s actually really simple. Once you’ve topped up your Alipay account (which is initially done as part of the signup process) you can start spending.

Here’s how it works. When you’re in a store, just tap the ‘pay’ button in your Alipay app. A personal QR code will pop up, which the merchant will scan at the checkout.

You’ll also spot that Alipay is one of the automatic payment apps within other apps. For example, when using ticketing app Taobao to buy cinema tickets, or using car hailing service Didi to get a ride.

How to contact AliPay Tour Pass customer services

Need help with the app, or find your Alipay Tour Pass is frozen and won’t work? Here’s how to get in touch with Alipay customer support in the US:

• Email consumerassistance@service.alipay.com
• Call 1-800-981-3590 (available Mon-Fri, 10am to 6pm).

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After reading this, you should be all set to download the Alipay app, get set up and start spending on your trip to China.

Just remember to shop around when looking for the best way to spend overseas. You could be hit with high fees and poor exchange rates when linking your US bank card to Alipay.

A cheaper option could be to use the Wise card, which works in 174 countries and always gives you the mid-market exchange rate.

Learn more about Wise

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FAQs

Can US citizens use Alipay?

Yes, but only inside China. You’ll need to be a Chinese citizen with a linked Chinese bank account to use it anywhere else.

How much does it cost to top up Alipay Tour Pass?

There isn't a fee to top up the app. However, you will be restricted by the Alipay Tour Pass limit for top-ups. You can top up a maximum of 2,000 CNY (around $285 USD) a time.

How do I reactivate my Alipay Tour Pass?

If your Alipay Tour Pass has expired and you have another trip to China planned, you might not be able to reactivate it. The maximum time foreigners can use Alipay is 90 days.

Alipay doesn’t make information available on whether or not you can use it multiple times. You may just have to download the app and see if it works.

Can I use Alipay Tour Pass without a passport?

You will need to verify your identity when you download the Alipay app. This usually means a passport, but you can try contacting Alipay to see if other forms of ID will be accepted.

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Sources used for this article:

1. AliPay Global - US Customer Service Information

Sources checked on 07-May-2023.