Tan Kin Lian - Perspectives Install Alipay to make mobile payment in China
I am touring Xinjiang for 10 days at the end of May.

I have to install an app to make mobile payment. I tried with Alipay and Wechat Pay (Weisin). As I do not have a China bank account, I have to link an international credit card (Visa or Mastercard).
I tried both apps and linked them to my credit card.

It was not possible for me to try out the AliPay and Weisin apps in Singapore. There is a restriction that that the app can only be used outside the country of residence.

I guess that this restriction is a protectionist measure imposed by the Singapore authority. It was troublesome, because I was not sure if the app would work.

I had to try out the payment in Johor. I found that Weisin did not work (as it does not recognize an international credit card). However, AliPay worked.

Earlier, I linked the apps to a debit card. It did not work. When I changed to a credit card, Alipay worked.

I used the international version of Alipay, as advised through online FAQs.
I do not know how Alipay charge for the payment. I suppose that they will use a conversion rate (from CNY to SGD) that has a good margin. Anyway, as the amounts are small, I would not bother about the charges.

I hope that our relevant authority is aware about the trouble that their regulations are giving to ordinary people.

Tan Kin Lian

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Mr Tan. Just came frm Chengdu & Xian on 24/4 for 2 weeks. China is cashless society. Good u hv yr Wechat, Wexin N Alipay ready. Apply for a Youtrip card n link to it. N make a transfer of say 2-3 K sgd should be more than enough for 10 days. More than sufficient for China trip as everything is low costs there. It’s only converted to rmb when u spend . N the exchange rate is much better than yr credit card. Also our credit card hv a much high credit limit. In case, if card later

joycee68@yahoo.com.sg  02 May 2024  

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