Comments on: Using WeChat or Alipay in China to Pay | Expat Guide

By: rebecca

rebecca — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 14:00:22 +0000

nope, didn’t work to accept transfer through web app — red packets don’t appear on web app, instead it says to view on phone.

By: alexis

alexis — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 04:00:36 +0000

In reply to Geoff.

Hello josh,
smart tip of doing that through wechat for windows !
I’m going to try it with wechat for mac.
however can you confirm if you did not have a wechat wallet activated (linked with china bank account) prior to accepting the red enveloppe through wechat windows ?
if yes, then it’s the only current way to have non ‘chinese bank account holder’ use mobile payment while in china (especially convenient for business or tourism short term traveller)

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 17:23:26 +0000

Hi Josh, the trick of getting a chinese friend to send money to your Wechat account using a red envelope does work, BUT you gotta use the windows desktop version of wechat to accept the funds. I have done this twice now in china and it works fine, just a bit awkward, but that’s china right? So i recommend people try that if they have a friend willing to help. I tried it around two weeks ago so hopefully still working, try it out.
Thanks, Geoff

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 01:17:32 +0000

In reply to titus. You can try to link it up, but based on my own experience and that of many other expats...it won't work. So I can't even answer your question because we don't know.

By: titus

titus — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 02:41:31 +0000

if i link up my foreign credit card with alipay, do u have idea what will the charge apply to my credit card when i use the alipay?

thanks

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:48:55 +0000

In reply to ABC. Unfortunately, that doesn't work well anymore. You can't accept a "hongbao" unless you've activated a WeChat Wallet. And you can't activate a Wallet unless you have a Chinese bank account. China has made it very difficult lately.

By: ABC

ABC — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 05:40:14 +0000

At this point, the easier way to add money to your Alipay or WeChat is to have a local send you a “red envelope”; give that person cash

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 01:27:43 +0000

In reply to FH. The sales clerk provides the total cost and then shows their QR code. The customer scans the QR code and then types in how much to pay. Whatever is typed is deducted from the customer's bank account and is deposited into the merchant's account.

By: FH

FH — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 14:21:36 +0000

Hi, I’m missing a bit of information in this article: How is the payment process actually conducted?

Yes, the QR code in the store or restaurant has to be scanned with (e.g.) your WeChat. We have been watching people do that all the time during our current stay here in China … and then, they seem to just walk away.

Where does the actual transaction information, i.e. the price to pay for a given purchase, enter the process? This has remained a complete mystery so far, not only to me, but also to my Chinese wife (who has been living abroad for the past decade).

Maybe you could clarify that in your article. Thanks 🙂

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:50:20 +0000

In reply to jimmy. Do you have a source for this information? I'd love to read it.