On this page 11 sections
China apps at a glance
Checked 4 November 2026- Pay
- Alipay / Weixin PayLink a foreign Visa, Mastercard or other card; no Chinese bank account needed
- Fees
- Free to ¥2003% of the whole payment above ¥200
- Foreign-card limits
- $5,000per payment; $50,000 a year
- Maps and rides
- Amap (English version), DiDi (English interface)
- Trains
- 12306 English site and app, registered with your passport
Sources: Shanghai and Beijing government guides and the National Immigration Administration, checked 4 November 2026. App features change; check each app store listing.
Why China is different
Your usual apps may not help. Mainland Wi-Fi and local SIMs are filtered, so services you rely on at home may not load. Some travel eSIMs route data abroad; our China eSIM guide explains which providers say what, and why you should install one before you fly.
Payments are mobile first. Cards are accepted at many hotels and larger shops, but day-to-day spending runs on QR codes. Shanghai’s government says foreign visitors can link an overseas bank card to Alipay or Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) without opening a Chinese bank account.
Set up at home, not at the airport. You’ll need to receive SMS codes on your home number, and your bank may need to approve the card link. Both are easier before you travel.
Quick picks: the core app stack
Alipay and/or WeChat
Install both if you can: some merchants show only one QR code. Link your card at home. Payments up to ¥200 carry no fee.
Amap
Amap has an English version with English place names and lane-level navigation, according to a Xiamen government notice. Shanghai’s guide says it supports 16 languages and international phone login.
DiDi
Shanghai’s guide says DiDi has an English interface and accepts Visa, Mastercard, Alipay and WeChat Pay.
12306
China Railway’s official ticketing site and app have an English version. Register by email and verify your passport online or at a station.
Paying: Alipay and WeChat Pay
Both wallets accept foreign cards. A Beijing district guide lists Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and Discover for Alipay, and Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and JCB for WeChat Pay. The National Immigration Administration’s visitor guide says you can register with a foreign mobile number.
| Rule | What the official guides say |
|---|---|
| Bank account | Not needed. Link an overseas card directly in the app. |
| Per payment | Up to US$5,000 |
| Per year | Up to US$50,000 |
| Fee | None on a single payment of ¥200 or less; above that, 3% of the full amount |
| Card approval | Your issuing bank must authorise the link; some banks reject it |
| Foreign wallets | AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, MPay, Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Toss Pay, Touch ’n Go, TrueMoney, Changi Pay, OCBC and HiPay can also pay in mainland China |
Shanghai Municipal Government (updated September 2026) and the National Immigration Administration’s Beijing visitor guide, checked 4 November 2026.
Install and register
Download Alipay and/or WeChat from your usual app store and sign up with your home mobile number. Keep that SIM active: you’ll get SMS codes.
Add your card
In Alipay, Shanghai’s step-by-step guide uses Me → Bank Cards to add a card. Enter your card details and complete any identity check the app asks for.
Warn your bank
If the link is declined, call your bank and ask it to allow the payment. The NIA guide notes some issuers reject these requests.
Test a small payment
Make one small payment early in the trip, under ¥200 so there’s no fee, to confirm everything works.
Your backup
Keep a physical card and some cash. Shanghai’s guide says POS terminals accept UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover, including in some taxis, and that ATMs generally allow up to ¥3,000 per withdrawal.
Maps and rides: Amap and DiDi
Amap (Gaode) launched an English version in January 2025 on the App Store and Google Play, with English place names and lane-level navigation, according to the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office. Shanghai’s government guide adds that it supports 16 languages, international phone numbers for login and international card payments.
DiDi is the main ride-hailing app. Shanghai’s guide says it has an English interface and supports Visa, Mastercard, Alipay and WeChat Pay.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese. Screenshot it so you can show a driver even if the app or your data fails.
- Turn on location for the app. Pickup points depend on it.
Trains: 12306
China Railway’s 12306 website and app have English versions for foreign passport holders. According to MTR, which sells cross-border high-speed rail tickets through it, you register with an email address and complete real-name verification of your passport either online or at a station. 12306 ticket sales run from 05:00 to 01:00.
- Register and verify your passport a few days before you need a ticket.
- Use the same passport to book and to board.
- Keep booking confirmations offline: stations are busy and signal can be slow.
- Allow time for security checks at large stations.
Food and everyday apps
Dianping is China’s main restaurant-review app; Shanghai’s guide notes an English “Must Eat” list. For menus and signs, a translation app with a camera mode helps. If your app supports downloadable languages, download Chinese before you fly so it works without a connection.
Connectivity checklist
- Install a travel eSIM at home. Several providers say you can’t buy a new plan once you’re in mainland China (compare China eSIMs).
- Keep your home SIM on for SMS codes from banks, Alipay and WeChat, with roaming off if you want to avoid charges.
- Register WhatsApp and other apps with your home number before you go.
- Download offline maps and languages for when you have no signal.
- Carry a power bank. Payments, tickets and maps all live on your phone.
- Check your entry rules. See our China visa-free entry guide.
Our take
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card, Amap, DiDi and 12306 at home, test one small payment, and land with a travel eSIM already installed. Keep a card and some cash as a backup.
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Open the checklistFrequently asked questions
Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay?
Yes. Shanghai’s government says you can link an overseas bank card without a Chinese bank account, and the NIA guide says you can register with a foreign phone number.
What does it cost to pay with a foreign card?
Nothing on a single payment of ¥200 or less. Above that, 3% of the whole payment, according to official Shanghai and Beijing guides.
Is there a spending limit?
For foreign cards, US$5,000 per payment and US$50,000 a year.
Does Amap work in English?
Yes. Amap launched an English version in January 2025, and Shanghai’s guide says it supports 16 languages.
Can I book Chinese trains in English?
Yes, on the 12306 English site or app. Register with an email address and verify your passport online or at a station.
Do I still need cash in China?
Carry a little. Mobile payment is the norm, but a card or cash is a useful backup if a link fails or your phone dies.
Sources and method
Last checked 4 November 2026
All prices and plan facts on this page were read from these official pages on 4 November 2026. We have not purchased or tested these plans ourselves; we summarize what the providers publish, in our own words. Read our method.
- Shanghai Municipal Government — Pay with overseas bank cards (updated September 2026)Checked 4 November 2026
- Shanghai Municipal Government — Payments in Shanghai: how to link a cardChecked 4 November 2026
- Beijing visitor guide (National Immigration Administration text) — Mobile payment for foreignersChecked 4 November 2026
- Shanghai Municipal Government — Apps for shopping and getting around (Amap, DiDi, Dianping)Checked 4 November 2026
- Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office — Amap launches an English version (January 2025)Checked 4 November 2026
- MTR High Speed Rail — Ticketing via 12306: account registrationChecked 4 November 2026
- SafetyWing: Nomad InsuranceChecked 4 November 2026