China Tips: 9 Ways to Make Payments in Beijing / Mainland China
- Rick
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Beijing is the capital of China and the world's most populous national capital, serving as the country's political, cultural, and scientific hub. As one of the world's oldest cities, it is rich in history, featuring ancient sites like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Great Wall of China, alongside a thriving modern and artistic side.
As a major tourist city that receives over 3 million foreign visitors a year in recent years, Beijing supports several cross-border payment methods for foreigners to make payments despite its strict currency control policies that limit the flow of money in and out of country.
Be it travelling in Beijing, or extending the trip to the rest of mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Macau, knowing applicable payment methods in Beijing and their capabilities will make payment for goods and services easier in China. Aside from the two traditional methods, cash and international credit / debit cards, at opposing ends of the payment spectrum, this article will include modern solutions — 3 Singapore-based and 4 local-based — to bridge the "cashless" gap.
In the context of this article, "China" refers to the whole of China, including Hong Kong and Macau. "Mainland China" refers to the rest of China excluding Hong Kong and Macau. This article will focus on payments at retailers and for public transports, which are more applicable for travellers.
1. Cash
The official currency of mainland China is the renminbi / Chinese Yuan (code: CNY, symbol: CN¥). Renminbi (RMB) means "people's currency" and is the name of the currency whereas Yuan is the basic unit.
Unlike many developed countries that are still significantly cash reliance, China has "leapfrogged" to become a predominantly cashless society via widespread adoption of mobile payments. Payment by cash is still legal and accepted in many places, though it may be inconvenient. It is best to carry enough small denominations to cover small purchases, like public transport, as many merchants may not be able to give change for large bills. For more convenient transactions, using mobile payment apps like WeChat Pay or Alipay are highly recommended.
2. International Credit / Debit Cards
International credit / debit cards have been the de facto means to make cashless payments when travelling overseas and cards like Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, etc, are widely accepted in mainland China. American Express (Amex) is accepted mainly through Alipay app.
Direct use of credit / debit cards is limited to larger or more established businesses due to high costs of implementation. Some merchants may require minimum purchase amounts before accepting such cards. Thus, credit / debit cards have limited use among smaller merchants, which form the vast majority in Beijing / China. However, they can be added to Alipay / WeChat Pay and be used via the apps.
Physical credit / debit cards, and contactless equivalent on NFC-enabled devices, can also be used to pay for fares at tap-and-go fare gates in Beijing Subway stations. Note that discounted fares are not applicable when using foreign credit / debit cards to pay for public transports in Beijing.
Key Points:
Cash withdrawals from local ATMs using credit cards are "cash advances" and subject to higher interest rates and applicable fees.
Cash withdrawals from local ATMs using debit cards deduct amounts from applicable accounts directly / via e-wallets and may subject to prevailing exchange rates (if conversions are required) and applicable fees.
Credit / debit card is susceptible to theft and misuse, so do enable PayWave for tap-to-pay and avoid letting the card out of sight.
For debit cards, top-up linked e-wallet with adequate amount for short-term use and avoid direct debits from bank accounts.
3. YouTrip (Debit Card)
YouTrip is a Singapore-based prepaid debit card service, tied to an e-wallet, that has became very popular. With a multi-currency e-wallet, and powered by Mastercard, YouTrip is useful for travel use and works like a credit card. As a debit-only service, the e-wallet needs to be topped up with funds before payments can be made. The key benefit of using YouTrip is its better exchange rates over banks, money changers and many other applications.
YouTrip does not have a currency conversion facility for exchanging Chinese Yuan and storing the converted amount in the e-wallet. Therefore, amounts paid in CNY will be converted to SGD, or any other currencies with available funds, at YouTrip's prevailing conversion rates at time of purchase.
Aside from paying at retailers that support international credit / debit cards, YouTrip's physical card and virtual card (via NFC-enabled mobile device) can also be used to pay for fares in Beijing Subway at tap-to-go fare gates.
4. Changi Pay & EZ-Link Wallet
Integrated into Singapore's Changi App, Changi Pay is a digital wallet that facilitates cashless payment at Changi Airport and Jewel Changi, as well as globally via the Alipay+ payment network. The e-wallet allows Singapore residents to top-up funds via PayNow for seamless QR code payments in participating countries.
While EZ-Link cards are primarily used for public transport in Singapore, EZ-Link Wallet allows online and in-store payments using a virtual Mastercard or by scanning QR codes, including SGQR codes and Alipay+ codes, at participating merchants both in Singapore and overseas. The wallet enables easy top-ups from a linked credit / debit card.
Riding on the Alipay+ network, both Changi Pay and EZ-Link Wallet can be used to make payment at retailers that support Alipay+ but they cannot be used directly at fare gates of Beijing Subway and on public transports in mainland China. However, EZ-Link Wallet's virtual Mastercard can be used to pay directly at the fare gates of Beijing Subway.
5. Alipay & WeChat Pay
Alipay (支付宝) and WeChat Pay (微信支付) are mobile payment applications from China and ride on the Alipay+ mobile payment solution for cross-border payments. Alipay is a dedicated mobile payment app whereas WeChat Pay is a sub-feature in the WeChat app more for social interactions. Making payment at retailers and for public transports using Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely accepted in Beijing / mainland China over cash.
While EZ-Link and Changi Pay are available mainly to residents in Singapore, travellers from other regions can use the international versions of Alipay and WeChat Pay to make payments in China. Those with WeChat accounts can make use of WeChat Pay as a seamless payment option. Those without any of the two apps should get the Alipay app, which included a series of in-app mini-programs for booking hotels, flights, trains, Didi Travel, cross-border transportation, etc, in mainland China.
Both Alipay and WeChat Pay have a "Transport" function that is used to generate QR codes for scanning at Beijing Subway and onboard public buses. The fares will be charged to the linked credit / debit cards — or debit from respective e-wallet if applicable.
Key Points:
Download "Alipay" from authorised app stores. Search for "Alipay international" to find the correct app.
Setup account with a mobile number, upload identification documents and make sure to verify identity — don't wait until the first payment and have to perform verification with a queue behind.
For international users without Chinese bank cards, link an international credit / debit card to start making payments. All payments will be charged to the linked card. There is no need to top-up the e-wallet, which requires a China-issued bank card or fund transfer from another e-wallet.
Scan Alipay+ QR codes for payment in China or other supported countries.
Exchange rate is determined by Alipay+ at time of purchase and both the rate and converted amount in SGD (for Singapore residents) will be indicated on the app before confirming payment. The converted amount will be charged to the cards.
A transaction fee of 3% is charged for purchases above CN¥200 (or equivalent) using a linked international card.
More: Alipay+
6. Beijing Yikatong Card (One-Card Pass)
The Beijing Yikatong (北京一卡通) is a rechargeable smart card system for public transport in Beijing, valid on subways, buses, taxis, and the airport express train. It offers discounted fares and convenience, and can also be used at some retailers and restaurants. Purchasing and topping-up a physical card can be done at customer service counters in subway stations or use a mobile app with a NFC-enabled phone for a digital version.
There are 2 types of the transport cards: the standard Yikatong card for use in Beijing and the other is the Hutong card (互通卡), with a "China T-Union" logo, for use in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The Hutong card features an e-wallet that needs to be top-up with Chinese Yuan, enabling convenient payment for public transports in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. When used in Hong Kong / Macau, HK$ / MOP$ will be converted to CN¥ and the amount deducted from the e-wallet.
For the digital version, download "北京一卡通" (Beijing Yikatong) app and apply for a card without any deposit or service fee. Users can top up online with Apple Pay, Alipay and WeChat Pay. However, it is in Chinese language and requires a China-registered mobile number to setup an account and may not be of great use to short-term travellers.
Key Points:
Purchase the Yikatong / Hutong card at manned counters in any subway station, some bus and long-distance bus stations and also Yikatong service counters.
A refundable deposit of CN¥20 is applicable for both cards with initial balance for use.
Top-up the cards via SilkPass app or self-service vending machines using Alipay / WeChat Pay with a linked international credit / debit card.
Using the cards for Beijing Subway and bus fares within Beijing enjoy discounted fares compared to paying with cash.
Remaining balance on the cards can be refunded and only at the place of purchase. Remaining balance + deposit can be refunded after 30 days from the card's date of activation. Total refund amount should not exceed CN¥200.
7. Beijing Pass
The Beijing Pass (physical card) is a multi-purpose, rechargeable travel card designed for foreign visitors to use for payments for public transportation, tourist attractions, and certain shopping joints in Beijing. It provides a convenient, all-in-one payment solution without requiring local bank accounts or Chinese payment apps like WeChat Pay or Alipay.
The card also rides on the China T-Union network and can be used to pay for fares of public transports in over 300 other cities across China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
Key Points:
Purchase Beijing Pass at service counters or self-service machines at Capital / Daxing International Airports, major railway stations and numerous subway stations. A valid ID, such as a passport, is required for card purchase.
Each card has a non-refundable fee of CN¥20 and needs to be topped-up with cash before use.
Look for card readers with "China T-Union" logo at retailers or outside Beijing and simply tap with the card to use.
Topping up the card with cash may not be possible outside Beijing. Use SilkPass app to connect to the card via NFC and top-up with funds via WeChat Pay or Alipay. The card can also be added via SilkPass to Apple Wallet / Google Wallet for use using NFC.
The stored value of Beijing Pass is refundable at designated service centres in the airports, certain railway stations and subway stations.
More: Beijing Pass
8. Others
Notwithstanding the above methods, other e-wallet apps that ride on the Alipay+ network can also be used for payment in mainland China — such as Malaysia's Touch-n-Go eWallet. For these payment apps, look for Alipay+ logo and scan the corresponding QR codes at participating merchants. Exchange rate is determined by Alipay+ and transaction fees (if any) is determined by the applications.
DBS Paylah! can also be used in mainland China at participating merchants that support China UnionPay with QR code-enabled. Launch the app to scan UnionPay's QR code to pay or select the "Mainland China" region to generate a QR code and let the merchant scans it. There are no transaction fees and exchange rate is determined by DBS Bank.
Contactless payment apps, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc, can also be used for payment after linking a bank / credit / debit card and pay by presenting the NFC-enabled mobile device to contactless card readers. They work like credit / debit cards. Payments will be charged to the linked card or deducted from stored value in e-wallet (if applicable). Exchange rate and transaction fees (if any) varies depending on the applications.
For Singapore residents, YouTrip and Changi Pay / EZ-Link Wallet, with small amount of cash, should be adequate to meet basic travelling needs in Beijing. For payments of above CN¥200 at retailers, use Changi Pay with no transaction fees. For non-Singapore residents or those without Changi Pay / EZ-Link Wallet, use Alipay or any e-wallet apps that rides on the Alipay+ network for cross-border payments.
In China, Alipay and WeChat Pay provides additional features, including generating QR codes for use on public transports, hailing DiDi cabs, booking attraction tickets, etc, and are useful to have on hands. Be mindful that payment amounts more than CN¥200 may incur a 3% transaction fee when charged to a foreign credit / debit card.
The Beijing Pass is a convenient option for use on public transport to save transport costs and avoid hassles in handling cash and change, especially on public buses where exact fares are required. The pass is also easier to use without having to fumble with apps and related technological issues.
At a glance...
* Alipay+ includes Alipay, WeChat Pay, Changi Pay, EZ-Link Wallet, etc.
* Transport code is a sub-function in Alipay & WeChat apps.
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