[2021.3 Update 2] Two updates:

1️ DP submission forms

We recently created two forms to make it easier for everyone to submit DPs. If you contribute more DPs, there may occasionally be small perks, such as us posting some credit card refers for you (targeted ones, etc.). We use Airtable (no login required) and Google Forms (requires Gmail). Both are simple and straightforward; once you click in, you’ll understand how they work. Screenshot attachments are optional, but it’s best if you can include them.

Airtable

Google Forms

Everyone is welcome to submit DPs and suggest improvements to the forms!

2️ New payment DP: Hainan duty-free shops

A WeChat reader traveling from afar shared a DP: Hainan duty-free shop CDF supports WeChat Pay + international credit cards. In fact, CDF basically supports almost every payment method, YMMV:

  • Direct in-store card swipe
  • In-store scan + WeChat (merchant scans your code)
  • Official account payment
  • CDF app redirect
  • Mini Program

This includes various CDF apps and official public accounts (such as member shopping, etc.). Note that CDF payment support varies by location; Hainan’s setup is somewhat easier to use. The image below is from CK:

[Original article below]

The author’s complete guide to WeChat Pay + US credit cards + risk control was so long that many people didn’t read it. So the supported merchants and limits section has been split out from the original article and made into a standalone post. We also welcome everyone to report payment DPs so this article can become more comprehensive.

WeChat now offers live online customer service [see this 101 Express]. Customer service explains the scope of WeChat Pay support, but after reviewing it, I found this article to be more comprehensive than the customer service response.

WeChat customer service

At present, the WeChat international card payment product is still in the pilot stage and is only open to certain WeChat Pay merchants. More use cases will gradually be opened up in an orderly manner in the future. Representative supported merchants include:
• Online e-commerce: JD, Suning, Missfresh, etc.
• Offline convenience stores and large supermarkets: Walmart, Yonghui, Carrefour, RT-Mart, Watsons, Meiyijia, FamilyMart, 7Eleven, etc.
• Offline dining and shopping: McDonald’s, KFC, Starbucks, etc.
• Ticketing and travel: 12306, Didi, Huazhu, Home Inn, Airbnb, Tujia, some subway and bus systems, long-distance bus stations, etc.
• Other essential services: Sinopec, PetroChina, China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, some hospitals 3. Limit details: RMB 6,000 per transaction, RMB 10,000 per day, and RMB 50,000 per month. In addition to these standard limits, WeChat Pay may also set additional transaction limits based on your account activity.


The summary below basically covers all aspects of daily life. In this respect, WeChat Pay does a much better job than Alipay.

Wallet page services and merchants

This used to be called the “9-grid” or “12-grid” merchants. More merchants may be added in the future, so let’s just call it “wallet page services and merchants.”

  • Location: WeChat Wallet page, pull down

Services provided directly by Tencent

  • Previously, this page could also be used to pay electricity bills, broadband bills, and cable TV bills, but those functions were later removed
  • Currently only mobile top-ups, QQ payments, and membership recharges still work with US cards

Services provided by third parties

There are quite a lot here, including major options such as Tongcheng Travel, Didi, JD, Meituan Waimai, Dianping, Pinduoduo, and Ctrip’s alternate brand Trips.com.

Also included are Mogujie, Maoyan Movies, Vipshop, Zhuanzhuan Used Marketplace, and Beike Housing, which often do not work.

Note: if merchants listed here offer offline scan payment, they should generally also support scan-to-pay, YMMV.

Paying through WeChat Official Accounts

There are not many at the moment. Examples:

  • You can also top up mobile service through the China Mobile official account (sometimes there are promotions, but it’s usually not very useful)
  • You can buy advance VOD access through the Tencent Video official account (if you buy directly inside the video app, payment must go through the China Apple Store, so US cards cannot be used)

Mini Programs and offline scan-code merchants

Notes:

  • Some merchants have geographic restrictions; support is usually broader in tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
  • If online payment works, then offline scan payment usually also works (mainly where the merchant scans your code). When paying in daily use, it’s recommended to bring up your WeChat QR code first and have the merchant scan you.
  • Unless marked with H/T, all results were personally tested by KUKU.

Dining

  • Almost all KFC locations: both online purchases and offline scan payment work
  • McDonald’s (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, etc.): both online purchases and offline scan payment work
  • Yoshinoya (works both online and offline), [H/T: reader persona]
  • HEYTEA (throughout Guangdong province, Beijing, Shanghai, etc.): both online purchases and offline scan payment work, [H/T: reader illusionwing]
  • Pizza Hut (works both online and offline, for dine-in and takeout)
  • K.O.I (works both online and offline)
  • 85°C (works both online and offline)
  • Nayuki (works both online and offline)
  • Starbucks (already supports direct foreign card payment)
  • Haidilao (already supports direct foreign card payment)
  • Ele.me [see this 101 Express]

Convenience stores

  • 7-11 (offline scan payment) H/T: reader shutiao
  • Meiyijia (offline scan payment)
  • FamilyMart (offline scan payment, not nationwide), [H/T: reader illusionwing]

Supermarkets

  • Walmart (offline shopping, online checkout), or direct in-store scan payment also works [see this 101 Express]
  • Carrefour
  • RT-Mart [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Yonghui [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • China Resources Vanguard (works both online and offline) [H/T: reader justso2p]
  • Renrenle Supermarket
  • Dmall app [a supermarket checkout app]

Vending machines

  • Nongfu Spring vending machines [not supported again now, YMMV]

Ticketing, travel, and transportation

  • 12306
  • Ctrip
  • Huazhu [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Home Inn [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Tujia [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Some subway, bus, and long-distance bus stations [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Liandong Cloud Car Rental [H/T: blog reader shutiao]
  • Airline apps (the Big Three, XiamenAir, Hainan Airlines, etc.)
  • Airbnb (it already accepted foreign cards directly) [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Various car rental companies
  • Dida Chuxing (rideshare/carpool service)

EV Charging and Gas Stations

  • PetroChina
  • Sinopec
  • e Charging app [HT: blog reader CK]
  • Guangzhou Petrochemical app [HT: WeChat reader Henry]

Wireless and Broadband Services

  • China Mobile (including bill payments through its WeChat official account)
  • China Unicom [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • China Telecom [HT: WeChat customer service]

Malls and Shopping

  • Wanda Plaza (including parking fees): currently only through the online mini program
  • Suning: the mini program works fine; offline QR-code payment is also likely to work
  • Rainbow Shopping Center
  • Watsons
  • Yangshengtang Nongfu Spring Smart Life
  • Xiaomi Youpin - Xiaomi Mall [H/T: blog reader Blake Cai]
  • Huawei Experience Store
  • Yaofangwang Mall, register and get ¥20
  • NetEase Yanxuan [HT: WeChat reader CK]
  • CDF [HT: WeChat reader 远道而来]

Clothing

  • Uniqlo (already supports paying directly with foreign cards)
  • Zara (already supports paying directly with foreign cards)

Payments for Tencent-Affiliated Products

If there is a scan-to-pay option, you can scan and then pay with WeChat Pay plus an overseas credit card.

Streaming Services and Subscriptions

  • iQIYI
  • Mango TV
  • Tencent Video VIP
  • etc.

Other Categories

  • Some hospitals (hospital transactions do not require the card processing fee—nice job, Tencent) [HT: WeChat customer service]
  • Xunlei

There are many, many more. Feel free to report DPs.

  • More...

You can also try the merchants on the list below [the few the author tested all worked]. They may also support offline QR-code payments with foreign cards. YMMV. H/T: reader S2M-824E

WeChat Pay Limits

There are two kinds of limits: new cards and old cards.

Old Card Limits

Official explanation:

  • Limit details: ¥6,000 per transaction, ¥10,000 per day, and ¥50,000 per month.
  • In addition to the standard limits above, WeChat Pay may also set additional transaction limits based on your account activity.

That is the official wording for old-card limits. In practice, based on testing by the author and reader CK, the limits above appear to be per credit card. Since you can add three overseas credit cards, the effective limit should be x3.

  • Online, the per-transaction limit for each card should be ¥6,000, especially at e-commerce merchants such as JD.
  • YMMV: for tickets and travel, the limit is ¥2,000 [it varies by person, and some people can exceed ¥2,000; HT: WeChat reader 夕阳下的奔跑]. Offline payments likely also have a limit, probably ¥2,000 as well.
  • Also, this higher limit usually needs to be manually unlocked; you generally will not get it right away.

New Card Limits

New cards can easily trigger risk controls, so the limits are much lower. Inside WeChat, the payment limit is ¥500 or ¥800. Outside WeChat (when an app redirects to WeChat Pay) or for offline QR-code payments, it is about ¥200.

Restrictions vary by account, and you can proactively apply to have them lifted. You may need to upload a photo of yourself holding your ID, card-face information, statements, and other documents. After frequent use, the limit may gradually increase.

Related Articles

KUKU enjoys researching how to use US credit cards in mainland China. You may also want to check out these other articles: