Alipay and wechat. Tie bank card and problems with tour pass

Question

Hello! From Spain (I'm going to China in September), I've been able to link my bank card to Alipay and WeChat, but it does not accept the Tour Card or Tour Pass options on either. According to the AI, I have to do this when I'm in China using the airport Wi-Fi so it recognizes that I'm there. Is it really essential to use a Tour Pass, or can I simply pay by scanning tickets with the linked card? Honestly, this world of apps and reservations in China sometimes seems overly complicated instead of the opposite. Just like buying tickets. Complicated and counterintuitive.

Is it necessary to use a Tour Card or Tour Pass? Or will the apps simply allow me to pay by scanning a QR code, since I already have bank cards linked to them?

Answer

When using Alipay or WeChat Pay as a foreign visitor in China, the Tour Pass (or Tour Card) is essentially a temporary, prepaid option designed for travelers who do not have a local Chinese bank account. It allows you to top up a balance and use it to pay in stores, restaurants, public transport, and attractions that accept QR code payments.

Since you have already linked your Spanish bank card to both Alipay and WeChat, the situation is slightly different:

Some merchants and ticketing systems, particularly for domestic trains, theme parks, or certain attractions, may only accept payments from cards recognized as issued in China or via the Tour Pass system. In these cases, your foreign card might not be accepted directly.
For many other everyday payments, such as restaurants, convenience stores, taxis, and QR-based scanning at tourist attractions, your linked foreign card should work without needing the Tour Pass. You can simply scan the QR code and pay.

Regarding the AI recommendation about using the airport Wi-Fi: it is mainly for initial verification of your Tour Pass activation within China. Since your linked card already works, this step is not strictly necessary unless you want to use the Tour Pass option specifically.

Summary of options:

You can travel in China and pay for most things directly using your foreign card linked to Alipay or WeChat.
If you encounter specific attractions, trains, or services that require a China-recognized card or Tour Pass, only then would you need to activate the Tour Pass upon arrival.
The Tour Pass is useful as a backup, or if you prefer to have a prepaid balance to avoid potential declines from your foreign card.

In practical terms, for most tourists with a linked foreign card, the Tour Pass is optional. You should be able to pay by scanning QR codes at most locations, though keeping some cash in RMB or a small Tour Pass balance can help in exceptional cases.

Alipay and wechat. Tie bank card and problems with tour pass

More China Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions