How to use AliPay in Touch ‘n Go - A guide to making AliPay QR payments with TnG ewallet in China

If you’ve got a TnG ewallet already, the good news is that you can use it to make QR payments in China when you travel. That’s handy because many merchants in China don’t support card payments, and cash isn’t widely used in many areas either.

This guide covers how to use AliPay in TnG to make spending easy when you’re in mainland China. We’ll also introduce Wise as a low fee, convenient way to make a transfer in CNY to someone’s bank or AliPay account.

Can I use the TnG (Touch 'n Go) ewallet in China?

Making cashless payments is pretty standard in China - with apps like WeChat Pay and AliPay being used by huge swathes of the population for QR payments. However, not all popular Chinese payment options are available to foreigners. While it’s becoming less common, you might still be asked to provide a local phone number, or prove you’re a resident in China to use some apps.

The good news is that you can use your TnG ewallet to make AliPay payments instead. That means there’s no need to download a new app, or to go through a complicated registration process.

This works because TnG is collaborating with AliPay to let users make cross border transactions in China¹ - we’ll look at the Touch n go - AliPay link, and how you go about making a payment in China in just a moment.

Where else can I use TnG abroad?

Touch ‘n Go’s latest collaboration with Alipay means you can use your TnG ewallet in China - but it’s not the only overseas market where TnG could come in handy. You can also pay with your TnG ewallet wherever the AliPay+ QR code is displayed in almost 50 countries including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Germany².

How to use AliPay in TnG (Touch 'n Go) app?

You can make an AliPay QR payment in China in 2 different ways. Either you’ll scan the merchant’s QR code and enter the payment amount - or, for a smoother ride, you can let the merchant scan your TnG QR instead.

Having the merchant scan your code is easiest because the amount you need to pay is automatically prepopulated - you’ll be able to see the cost in MYR and CNY, as well as the exchange rate offered, once the payment is confirmed.

To use AliPay in TnG just take the following simple steps:

1. Open up the TnG app
2. Tap the Pay icon
3. Hold up the QR code to the merchant’s QR reader
4. The payment will be deducted automatically from the TnG ewallet
5. You’ll get a notification on screen of the amount deducted and the rate used

The amount you’ve spent is deducted from your TnG ewallet balance in MYR. Make sure you have enough in your account to cover the cost of your spending - if you don’t, the transaction will be rejected.

Restrictions when making AliPay payments with Touch 'n Go (TnG)

There are a couple of restrictions to know about when making AliPay payments in China through your TnG app. The service is intended for merchant payments only. That means that the only QR type that’s accepted is a merchant QR. You can’t make personal QR payments, or send a peer to peer transfer with AliPay in China.

Touch 'n Go (TnG) exchange rates

The Touch 'n Go exchange rate used is provided by AliPay³. You’ll be able to see the rate applied in the TnG app after you’ve made your payment. The live rate changes all the time to reflect movements on global currency markets - note that the exchange rates for overseas QR payments includes a 1% overseas transaction conversion fee as well.

🤔 Need an e-wallet for local and overseas transactions? See our list of top e-wallets in Malaysia.

Want to send CNY abroad instead?

Need to send CNY to someone from Malaysia instead of making a QR payment? Try Wise instead, for low cost, fast and easy payments to China.

You can pay for your Wise transfer in MYR right from your phone, and you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with a low fee from from 0.43%. Transfers are deposited directly into your recipient’s bank account, or to Alipay - often instantly⁴, and you can compare your transfer options, including fees and rates before you compare. Here’s how it works:

Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Summary

The Touch ‘n Go ewallet offers some helpful payment solutions in Malaysia - and if you’re planning on travelling to Mainland China soon, it can also be super useful there. Just have the merchant scan your TnG QR to confirm a transaction, and you’ll instantly be shown the costs in both ringgit and yuan. The cost is deducted from your TnG MYR balance using the AliPay exchange rate. Easy.

On the other hand, if you want to send CNY to an account instead, consider using Wise to get the most out of your money transfers. With Wise, here’s what else you’ll be getting:

• Receive money for free in 10 currencies (ex. MYR, USD, SGD, GBP, EUR and more!)
• Hold and convert 40+ currencies in 1 single account
• Spend in 150+ countries with the Wise card

Sign up for a Wise account today!