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How to pay with your smartphone in China using Alipay

Embrace China’s cashless society as a foreign visitor

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How to pay with your smartphone in China using Alipay
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

The moment you land in China, you’ll notice that people don’t seem to carry cash around anymore. Wherever you go, you’ll find them either scanning QR codes at the cashier or getting their phone scanned by a shopkeeper. Rarely do you see anyone pulling out a banknote or a credit card.

As a visitor to China, you’ve probably wondered if you can join in the cashless revolution as well. The short answer? Yes, but it’s not easy.

Mobile payments apps in China still cater mostly to Chinese nationals. Most functions require a registered Chinese bank account to work -- not ideal for tourists and visitors. If you’re determined enough, though, I’ve found a workaround to add funds to my Alipay account and shop. Here, I’ll show you how.

(Disclaimer: Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba, operator of Alipay. Alibaba had no input in this story.)

STEP 1

DOWNLOAD ALIPAY AND SIGN UP

Alipay is available on the App Store and Google Play. Sign up with your cell phone number and SMS verification code.
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