Alipay - Simplify Your Life 4+

From my understanding, there were changes starting in July 2023 which is when I'm writing this to allow foreigners to use AliPay without a Chinese bank account and phone number.

I just downloaded the app, added my credit card, validated ID with passport and all appears to work. Was a bit more automated and easier than WeChat. WeChat seems to have a manual ID review which rejected my initial attempt. I tried again but awaiting approval.

I haven't paid for anything yet as I just set it up but assuming no issues, it was relatively easy. Only adjustment required is that some prompts were still in Chinese even in the international version but can fumble around or ask someone to help translate.

It's a must in this new cashless society which is different than my visit about 7 years ago. Even trying to use international credit card directly often fails.

Alipay let me submit all my personal information, verify my US passport, accrue a balance, let people send me money, and make transactions without a chinese bank account for about two weeks. After two weeks they locked my account with a remaining balance and told me a chinese bank account is required. No warning that my account would be locked. I’m not able to login at all, transfer the funds out, or make transactions. I’m pretty sure this is actually theft of both my money and my personal information. I now think Alipay is a complete scam for non-Chinese citizens. As a Foreigner, I’m not allowed to open a chinese bank account and without Alipay I’m also not allowed to do basic things like order a Taxi, or eat at restaurants. Does the government give them the right to steal my funds without warning, without giving me the opportunity to withdraw the funds? Awful experience for non-Chinese citizen

I loaded this app as a suggested way to be able to pay in stores and restaurants in China that no longer accept US credit cards. It failed to allow any US cards to be added, saying “network error try again later.”

Many of the selections and menu choices are in Chinese, even when English is selected as the language. Multiple times a White message box would open on the screen with two choices and the message all written in Chinese, forcing you to choose one of the buttons with no way to close the box without making a selection and no idea what you were choosing or potentially agreeing to or giving the app access to.

Don’t install this if you can’t read Chinese. It’s worthless to a US traveler. I guess we’re back to the days of needing paper traveler’s checks in order to be able to get cash in Chinese currency. So ridiculous!