In many countries, tap-to-pay is everywhere. In China, QR scanning wallets are often the more universal daily flow.
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 payments are the default; set up Alipay/WeChat Pay before you need them.
- ✓Keep your card for hotels and bigger chains, but don’t rely on it for everything.
- ✓Learn the basic QR flow: show-to-scan vs scan-to-pay.
Things to Watch Out For
- ⚠Merchant support can vary widely, especially for small shops.
- ⚠Some venues may expect QR even if they also accept cards.