ChinApps
Alipay
支付宝
Pay anywhere, and an English gateway to other services
Full English Foreign cards accepted No Chinese number needed
About
Alibaba's payment app, accepted in shops, taxis, vending machines and market stalls. Its English interface is the most complete of any Chinese super app, and it bundles Didi, metro tickets, train booking and food delivery as mini programs — often easier than the standalone apps.
Before you go
- Sign up with your home phone number — no Chinese SIM required — and switch the language to English on first launch.
- Add your Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB or Discover card under Me › Bank Cards. A small temporary verification charge may appear on your statement.
- Complete passport (real-name) verification to raise your spending limits and unlock more mini programs.
Tips
- Tap Scan on the home screen to pay any Chinese QR code.
- Transport › Metro generates a QR ticket for the subway in most large cities.
- If a card is refused, try the TourPass mini program, which works as a prepaid wallet.
Not available everywhere
Alipay is blocked or unpublished in some countries, so the store links below may not open for you. Where that happens, the official download page is usually the only route.
Get it
ChinApps is not affiliated with Alipay or its developer. These links go to the public store listing or the developer's own site.
Where this comes up
- Before You Fly — the things that are hard to fix once you have landed
- Paying for Things — how a cashless country actually works in practice
- Getting Around — metro, taxis, and the trains worth planning ahead for
- Eating — ordering, paying, and saying what you cannot eat