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> But I don't understand why so many restaurants still hang on to it. In some Chinese cities you can walk all day without finding a restaurant/shop that can gi

> But I don't understand why so many restaurants still hang on to it. In some Chinese cities you can walk all day without finding a restaurant/shop that can give you change if you try to pay with cash or that accepts your western credit card. Without Alipay/WeChat you will be stuck in your hotel unable to do anything. However unlike the crappy western solution, where each business wants to have their own app, the experience is extremely smooth: Scan a QR code with WeChat, the menu opens in the app, order, pay. Want a bottle of water in a small shop? Grab it from the cooler, scan the QR code on the cooler, type in 2 CNY and hit send money. Cashier gets a ding that you paid 2 CNY. Confirm with a nod and just leave. Ride hailing (Didi - which ate Uber's lunch here), airplane&train tickets, and much more is also done right through WeChat/Alipay.

paganel 3y ago
The problem comes when you become an enemy of the state (real of metaphorical, it doesn't matter) and you instantly get denied access to those apps.
nucleardog 3y ago
Do they let non-Chinese people use WeChat or Alipay’s payment services these days? Last time I was there (2019) you had to tie your account to a Chinese bank account. You can only get a Chinese bank account if you have a resident ID. You, for obvious reasons, cannot get a resident ID if you’re not a resident or there on a work visa. Effectively, I couldn’t even go down to the corner store and grab a snack without an escort because I had no ability to pay for anything.
- wkat4242 3y ago
  Escorts are usually hired for other things than a trip to the corner store. Saying for a friend :D But pretty creative solution!
- chmod775 3y ago
  > Do they let non-Chinese people use WeChat or Alipay’s payment services these days? Both Alipay and WeChat allow that now. I had no issues using my Visa with Alipay, and while WeChat was a bit confusing, it worked in the end. I recommend setting it up 2-3 days before you're going to need it because especially WeChat may want to do some manual verification.

paganel 3y ago

The problem comes when you become an enemy of the state (real of metaphorical, it doesn't matter) and you instantly get denied access to those apps.

nucleardog 3y ago

Do they let non-Chinese people use WeChat or Alipay’s payment services these days? Last time I was there (2019) you had to tie your account to a Chinese bank account. You can only get a Chinese bank account if you have a resident ID. You, for obvious reasons, cannot get a resident ID if you’re not a resident or there on a work visa. Effectively, I couldn’t even go down to the corner store and grab a snack without an escort because I had no ability to pay for anything.

wkat4242 3y ago
Escorts are usually hired for other things than a trip to the corner store. Saying for a friend :D But pretty creative solution!
chmod775 3y ago
> Do they let non-Chinese people use WeChat or Alipay’s payment services these days? Both Alipay and WeChat allow that now. I had no issues using my Visa with Alipay, and while WeChat was a bit confusing, it worked in the end. I recommend setting it up 2-3 days before you're going to need it because especially WeChat may want to do some manual verification.