Does 
Apple Pay work in China?
Partly
A foreign card in Apple Pay works only at some terminals. The network you’re on makes no difference.
Alipay
and WeChat Pay are what shops expect. Both take foreign Visa and Mastercard.
Not tested yet.
Apple Pay with a foreign card works only at some terminals in China, and does nothing at the many small shops that only take QR codes. The network you’re on makes no difference. Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay, and carry some cash.
What to do: add your card to Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly, and treat Apple Pay as a bonus.
Expected results
Not yet tested by us. One row per network: what public reports lead you to expect, until a dated test replaces it.
| Network | Foreign card at a shop | Scan-a-QR-code shops |
|---|---|---|
| China Mobile SIMLocal, 4G/5G | Some terminals | Doesn’t work |
| China Unicom SIMLocal, 4G/5G | Some terminals | Doesn’t work |
| Hotel Wi-FiChinese fixed line | Some terminals | Doesn’t work |
| Roaming eSIMData exits abroad | Some terminals | Doesn’t work |
| Home SIM on roamingYour own carrier | Some terminals | Doesn’t work |
Why Apple Pay is a different kind of problem
Every other page on this site is about a blocked network. This one isn’t. Tapping to pay uses a chip in your phone and the shop’s terminal, so it makes no difference whether you’re on a Chinese SIM, hotel Wi-Fi or a roaming eSIM. An eSIM will not make Apple Pay work.
What decides it is the shop’s terminal and your card. Apple Pay inside China was built around UnionPay, the domestic card network, and small shops rarely have a terminal that takes Visa or Mastercard contactless at all.
Where it might work
Your best chances are the places used to foreign cards: international hotels, big-brand stores, large shopping malls, airports and some high-end restaurants. Even there it depends on the terminal and how it’s set up, so have a backup ready. You won’t often see an Apple Pay sign, and asking may not get a clear answer.
In January 2026, Apple opened Apple Pay in China to some Visa cards, but as reported that covers mainland-issued Visa cards used overseas, not foreign cards used in China. We haven’t found a source confirming that it changes things for visitors at Chinese terminals, and our test records whether it does.
Most of China pays by QR code
Street food stalls, small restaurants, taxis, markets and countless shops only show a QR code on a printed card, and there’s no terminal to tap. Apple Pay can’t help there. Alipay and WeChat Pay can: you scan their code and type the amount, or you show your code and they scan you.
Both apps take foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, and you don’t need a Chinese phone number or a Chinese bank account. Add your card before you fly, because the banks’ security checks are easier at home. Alipay and WeChat Pay also ask for your passport to raise your limits.
What Alipay and WeChat Pay cost
The payment apps themselves are free to install. The most consistent report is a 3% fee on foreign-card payments over ¥200, with small payments free, but limits and fees change and vary by provider. Check what the app shows you before you confirm a big payment. Your own bank may also add a foreign transaction fee.
Both apps need a data connection to pay, though neither is blocked, so a Chinese SIM, hotel Wi-Fi or a roaming eSIM will all do. Keep some battery as well: a dead phone means no money and no map.
Carry some cash
Cash is legal tender and shops must accept it, though a stallholder may be short of change. Take a few hundred yuan from an airport ATM in small notes. It’s your backup when an app freezes your card, when your phone dies, or when a tap on a terminal fails.
Hong Kong and Macau are different. Contactless cards and Apple Pay are far more common in Hong Kong, so you’ll use Apple Pay there much more than across the border.
What to use in China instead
AlipayWorksTakes foreign Visa and Mastercard. Scan the shop’s code or show yours. Set it up at home.
WeChat PayWorksThe other half of China’s payments. Some small shops prefer it, so set up both.
- CashWorks
A few hundred yuan in small notes covers the moments when an app or a battery fails you.
Trip.comBefore you fly
Do this at home, where your bank’s security checks can reach you.
Setup for Apple Pay
Screenshot this list. Times are rough estimates.
- Add your card to Alipay10 min
- Set up WeChat, add your card to WeChat Pay10 min
- Tell your bank you’re travelling5 min
- Add your card to Apple Pay as a bonus2 min
- Take out some yuan on arrival5 min
Asked often
Update history. No test published yet.
Can you use Apple Pay in China?
Sometimes, with a foreign card, at terminals that accept international contactless cards. Most small shops only take QR codes, so you can’t rely on it. Alipay and WeChat Pay are the ones to set up.
Can I use Apple Pay in China with a US card?
Only at terminals that accept foreign contactless cards, which you’ll mostly find at international hotels and big stores. We haven’t yet tested how often that works.
Does Apple Pay work on Chinese trains and the metro?
Don’t plan on it with a foreign card. Metro gates and ticket machines mostly use QR codes in Alipay or WeChat, or local transit cards. Check for your city before you go.
Will a roaming eSIM make Apple Pay work?
No. Tapping to pay depends on the terminal and your card, not on your mobile data. You do need data for Alipay and WeChat Pay, and any connection will do for those.
Does Apple Pay work in Hong Kong?
Generally yes. Hong Kong is far more used to contactless cards and Apple Pay than the mainland is, and the mainland’s QR-code habit doesn’t apply in the same way.
What’s the best way to pay in China as a tourist?
Alipay first, WeChat Pay second, with a foreign Visa or Mastercard added to both before you fly, plus a little cash. See the home page setup list.
Do I need a Chinese bank account for Alipay?
No. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign cards and foreign phone numbers. Passport verification may be needed to raise your limits.