How to use Changi Pay in China - All you need to know

If you’re planning a trip to China, you’ll want to know you can pay for things while you’re there without hassle, and without extra fees. Mobile wallet payments are super common in China - and can be convenient and easy to use, as long as you have the right app, like Changi Pay¹. Join us as we explore how to use Changi Pay in China, including set up and payment types.

As part of this Changi Pay review, we will also touch on Wise, another handy companion that can help you pay seamlessly and save, in China and beyond. Use Wise to tap and pay in stores, or to send money to Weixin users - all with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees. More on that later.

What is Changi Pay?

Changi Pay is the wallet feature which is built into the Changi app and offers seamless payments in Changi airport and Jewel, elsewhere in Singapore and in a selection of countries including China. You can use your app to pay in Singapore conveniently, and then create a Liquid account - an ewallet holding facility - to pay in China through the Alipay+ network².

As well as making local and international QR code payments, you’ll earn rewards every time you spend with Changi Pay.

You can use Changi Pay overseas as long as you have a Singapore or Malaysian phone number and a Singpass account for verification. You must also be aged 18 or over. This Changi Pay China review looks at how to set up your account, how to add money, and how to pay for things in China with Changi Pay.

Can Changi Pay be used in China?

So - the most important question if you’re about to head off on a trip - can I use Changi Pay in China, and if so, how?

The good news is that Changi Pay can be used conveniently in China thanks to their Alipay+ collaboration which allows QR payments overseas in countries including China.

You can pay with Changi Pay in China as long as you have the app, with a Liquid account which you can top up from your bank in Singapore. We’ll look at how that works next.

Looking for easy ways to pay in China? Meet Wise

Before your next trip to China, consider Wise for low cost ways to hold, exchange, send and spend CNY.

You can open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, to add money in SGD and convert to CNY with just your phone. It’s then free to spend the CNY balance you hold in China - just tap to pay with your card, or use a wallet like Apple Pay. You can also use your Wise card to make renminbi cash withdrawals at ATMs in China if you ever find you need cash, and to transfer payments to bank accounts and Weixin users conveniently.

If you prefer QR payments through Alipay or WeChat, You could also link your Wise virtual card to these apps for an added layer of security. It has all the benefits of a regular Wise card, but it exists in your phone only. You can freeze the virtual card after every transaction.

Along with Changi Pay, why not bring along Wise to allow you to cover card payments and international transfers in CNY, and to get cash as and when you need it.

🚀 Get your Wise card today

How to use Changi Pay in China

To get you set up for your upcoming travels, here's a step by step guide on using Changi Pay in China - from downloading the app, to making your first payment.

Setting up Changi Pay

You’ll need to create a wallet in the Changi app, and then add in the Liquid account ewallet which lets you hold a balance. Here’s how to set up your Changi Pay app and start to pay:

1. Download the Changi app and tap Wallet
2. Verify your personal details and enter the OTP you’re sent for security
3. Create your wallet PIN and set up 2 factor authentication for extra security
4. Tap the + symbol in the Payment Methods section of the wallet
5. Follow the prompts to create your Liquid account for payments
6. Get verified using Singpass
7. Tap the Top Up button and add money to your wallet using the QR code or VPA
8. You’re ready to start to pay with your Changi Pay account

It’s helpful to know that the top up limit for your Liquid account are as follows³:

• 999 SGD maximum top up amount per load
• 5,000 SGD maximum wallet amount at any given time
• 30,000 SGD maximum spending limit on a rolling 12 month basis

As well as this, for payments in China there are Chinese regulatory limits as follows:

• 35,000 CNY maximum limit per transaction
• 350,000 CNY maximum limit in a year

Making payments in China using Changi Pay

You can make payments in 2 ways with Changi Pay China - either you’ll scan the merchant’s QR or show the merchant your own QR, which they can then scan. The process will depend on the merchant - but both are super easy. Here’s a summary of how to pay in China with Changi Pay:

1. Log in to your Changi Pay account within the Changi App
2. At the check out, tell the merchant you would like to pay via Alipay+ (支付宝/Zhi Fu Bao in China)
3. Either select "Show my QR code" in the "Pay" page to generate your QR to show the merchant, or scan the merchant’s own QR code using the camera in "Pay"

When you add money to your account it is held in SGD. This means that when you pay for things with Changi Pay in China, currency conversion is needed to pay the merchant in CNY. The currency conversion is carried out using an exchange rate provided by Alipay+, with no specific foreign transaction fee added.

Bear in mind that the Alipay+ rate changes all the time based on the market, and may include some fees added into the calculation. Take a look at the rate you’re offered in the Changi Pay app to see the rate - and compare it to alternative payment options like Wise to see which is best.

Things to note for spending in China

Let’s finish up with some further handy tips to make sure your trip to China goes off without a hitch:

• Spending with apps like Alipay is very popular in China, and often the preferred method of merchants
• As well as using Alipay through Changi Pay, you could also consider alternative payment apps like WeChat Pay
• Whichever app or card you use to pay, check the exchange rates and fees involved - paying for things overseas can often mean additional charges
• You can hold a CNY balance for easy card and mobile spending, with Wise, to access currency conversion with the mid-market rate and no foreign transaction fee
• If you ever find you need cash, or as a back up for payments when apps don’t work, bring along Wise card for some free ATM withdrawals each month

Summary - Review of Changi Pay in China

You’ll find that using Changi Pay in China is easy, and gives you instant access to QR payments wherever you see the Alipay sign. There are no specific Changi Pay fees to spend with your QR in China, but charges could still be built into the rate used to convert your SGD to CNY in the first place - compare the Alipay rate with alternatives like Wise before you spend.

With this Changi Pay China review, you’re all set for making in-app payments wherever you see the Alipay logo in China. Before you travel, take a look at Wise for a fuss-free simple way to send, hold and spend CNY and many other currencies, with low fees and mid-market rate, and also get a linked Wise card. You also get some free ATM withdrawals every month to make it easier and cheaper to get cash while you’re away from home.

🇨🇳 Send, hold and spend CNY and more currencies with low, transparent fees 🇨🇳

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