Why is my Alipay not working?
Why is my Alipay not working?.
Symptom: You linked a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay but every transaction is rejected at the merchant.
Cause: The Tour Pass hasn't been topped up to the ¥150 minimum, or the merchant's terminal doesn't accept foreign-network cards.
Fix: Open Alipay → Tour Pass → Top Up with at least ¥150. If still rejected, ask the merchant to enable "international card" on the terminal.
Quick Answer
Why is my Alipay not working?
Cause: The Tour Pass hasn't been topped up to the ¥150 minimum, or the merchant's terminal doesn't accept foreign-network cards. — Solution: Open Alipay → Tour Pass → Top Up with at least ¥150. If still rejected, ask the merchant to enable "international card" on the terminal.
Severity
Critical
Fix time
<30 min
Last verified
Jun 16, 2026
Category
Payment
What you see
You linked a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay but every transaction is rejected at the merchant.
"You linked a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay but every transaction is rejected at the merchant."
Why it happens
The Tour Pass hasn't been topped up to the ¥150 minimum, or the merchant's terminal doesn't accept foreign-network cards.
"The Tour Pass hasn't been topped up to the ¥150 minimum, or the merchant's terminal doesn't accept foreign-network cards."
How to fix
Open Alipay → Tour Pass → Top Up with at least ¥150. If still rejected, ask the merchant to enable "international card" on the terminal.
"Open Alipay → Tour Pass → Top Up with at least ¥150. If still rejected, ask the merchant to enable "international card" on the terminal."
When to act fast vs. when you can wait
Act within the hour. Critical problems block core trip functionality (payment, transport, visa, or check-in) and do not self-resolve. Apply the fix before your next planned activity — most of these take less than 30 minutes once you stop to do them.
3
sources cited
2026-06-16
last verified
8
FAQs answered
critical
severity
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Alipay for Foreigners
Download Alipay, link a foreign Visa or Mastercard via the Tour Pass, and complete a $150 minimum top-up to pay at 90%+ of Chinese merchants.
Foreign Credit Cards
Foreign Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx cards work in hotels, airports, and chain restaurants but NOT in taxis, food stalls, or most shops.
ATM Cash Withdrawal
Bank of China, ICBC, and China Construction Bank ATMs accept foreign Visa/Mastercard with a ¥2,500 per-transaction limit and 1–3% fee.
Other Payment problems
Why can't I verify my passport on Alipay?
Alipay's identity verification step fails — passport photo upload rejected or OCR misread.
Can foreigners receive money on Alipay?
You want to receive a WeChat or bank transfer to your Alipay wallet but the app shows no Receive option.
Why does WeChat Pay keep declining my foreign card?
You linked a Visa or Mastercard in WeChat Pay but transactions show "card not supported" at checkout.
Can I pay cash in China in 2026?
You want to know if you need to carry RMB cash or if Alipay/WeChat Pay is enough for the entire trip.
How much does ATM withdrawal cost in China?
You withdrew RMB from a Chinese ATM and your home bank charged an unexpected foreign-transaction or ATM fee.
Related topics
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the symptom of Why is my Alipay not working?
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Where can I get more help?
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