WeChat is a super social media, there are over a billion users worldwide. It came from China but is nowadays pretty much universal.
The cyber world in China is maniacal but (almost) all the devices you use in your country are different. There are no more Facebook, Instagram, Twitter WhatsApp or Messenger to send and receive messages with your friends. Instead in China, they have one specific app that they called WeChat. You can do all things there, chat, follow your favourite brands, restaurants and companies, and share your moments but you can PAY with WeChat.
It’s not just a place to make social connections, it also supports payment services with WeChat Pay Weixin Pay in China. If you’re visiting China, WeChat Pay might be your mobile and QR payment. And as WeChat does not fully support all its users outside Mainland China.
Downloading and Signing up in WeChat
To get started with WeChat Pay, you first have to download the WeChat app, available on all the major app stores:
Search App Store: Search your app store (such as Google Play or the Apple App Store) and type in the global version of WeChat.
Download and open WeChat App: Download and open WeChat app.
Create Account: Click “Sign Up” and type in your details when asked.
Setup an Account: Follow the on-screen steps to finish registering your WeChat account.
How to add a Payment channel to your WeChat wallet
Having a Chinese mobile payment is not yet convenient for you, so before you can use China mobile payments, you need to add a payment mode to your WeChat account:
Verification of Identity: To pay with WeChat Pay, you must confirm your identity. That includes a passport, a recent photograph and your full name.
Attachment of Credit Card: You can attach an international credit card to WeChat Pay if you do not have a Chinese bank account.
Link a foreign credit card to WeChat Pay
Here’s how you can link your foreign credit card to WeChat Pay for hassle-free payments:
- Accessing Wallet: In the WeChat app, tap “Me”, then “Wallet”.
- Add a Bank Card: Click on ‘Bank Card’ and click on ‘Add new bank card’.
- Card Details: Fill in your credit card information.
- Checking: Sign up for the check which includes checking the billing address
- Input an SMS verification code to your registered phone number.
In China, you can use WeChat Pay In 99.9% Of The Places You Travel To. It’s more common than credit cards and easier than cash (the shops might not carry change in cash sometimes). You don’t have to obsess about payment security or credit card fraud. WeChat Pay will not compromise your data or money. But do check and don’t read QR codes from random people on the street. Not only that, if you aren’t registered to run a business they might come to you and offer you “a university assignment” or “scan for a prize” – all these may be scams.
If you are going to China and have a question about how to plan your trip, where to get the best food, or which tourist cities in China are the most visited, then our blog may be just for you! Drop us a line in the comments below and we’ll try to clear your questions!
Conclusion
Being a foreigner and using WeChat Pay in China may be a little confusing but once installed, it is an easy and integrated payment method that facilitates your journey or living in China. Just follow this step-by-step guide and you can handle setting up, using mobile payments, and seeing China like a local.
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