[Update 1: It seems you may need to link a foreign passport to use this... It's unclear whether there is an age limit. You could consider registering an Alipay account using a child's U.S. nationality to test it. Alipay does support linking someone else's overseas credit card], H/T: reader kelvin

[Update 2: The exchange rate uses Alipay's real-time rate, and there is no fee], H/T: reader 佐々木悠

In the past few days, WeChat officially announced support for Visa, Master, AMEX, JCB, and Discover on WeChat's online "nine-grid" merchants, bill payments, top-ups, memberships, and other services. (In fact, full support had already been implemented as early as 2018.) To compete for inbound users, Alipay has launched Tour Pass, a prepaid program that allows overseas debit cards and credit cards to load funds onto a stored-value card issued in partnership with Bank of Shanghai, and then use that stored-value card balance to pay through Alipay.

  • Requirements: You need an Alipay account registered with an overseas phone number, and it apparently cannot be linked to a Mainland China ID. It also does not currently support users from Hong Kong or Macau; those users have separate Alipay apps.
  • Where to find it: Open Alipay and search for TourPass.
  • Top-up method: Top-ups currently support a minimum of 100RMB and a maximum of 2000RMB, with a validity period of 90 days. You can top up multiple times, and any unused balance after expiration will be refunded to your credit card. The cards accepted for top-up should be the same as Taobao, likely including Visa and Master. Fees are unknown, there does not appear to be a limit on the number of top-ups, and the current total cap is 2,000RMB. After topping up, your Alipay account will support QR-code payments!

By comparison, WeChat Pay is a bit more convenient, and Alipay still needs some improvement. Since Tour Pass supports offline QR-code payments, this should basically unlock domestic payments in China. Even if there is a 3% fee (unknown), it would still be an amazing deal. From what we can see now, Alibaba and Tencent will likely continue rolling out more payment options that support overseas credit cards. Where there is competition, there is opportunity. Looking forward to it!

I tested this with my own account registered with a U.S. phone number, and I could not open this mini program. I'm not sure whether that is because the account is linked to a Mainland China ID. Feel free to give it a try yourself (it may also simply not support U.S. users yet). Please share data points!