Contactless ‘tap’ payments aren’t the universal default in China. QR wallets are typically more widely used in daily life.
What People Use in China
Alipay
A major QR wallet used widely for everyday payments, services, and in-app mini services.
WeChat Pay
A major QR payment method tightly integrated into WeChat and widely used for everyday spending.
UnionPay App
A widely used China wallet app for QR payments and card-linked payment flows, with features that overlap with Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Traveler Tips
- ✓Assume QR wallets are your main method for small merchants and everyday purchases.
- ✓If you plan to use Apple Pay anywhere, test it early and keep a backup method.
- ✓For transport and tickets, local apps and QR flows may be more common.
Things to Watch Out For
- ⚠Coverage can be uneven across merchants and cities.
- ⚠Some scenarios may require local apps even if contactless works elsewhere.