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Travelling in China, Wifi, Sim, e-payment
TSaussieMB
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Oct 18 2018, 03:05 PM, updated 6y ago
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New Member
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Hi All,
What epayment app do you recommend for China? Seems to be Alipay, Tencen (WeChat) or UnionPay, however I've read elsewhere that you need a China-based bank card to "connect" to your account before payments can be made. Is this true?
If anyone has successfully got an app and made payments, please share your experience here. Including ease of use, any security concerns, and language barrier (within the app itself, ie are all the screens and messages in English?)
I'll be using a Samsung phone, so Android app.
Thanks very much.
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oldies1950
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Oct 18 2018, 03:12 PM
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New Member
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You can use ALIPAY. But you neeed a FRIEND ...LOCAL who you can trust to transfer the Money into your Alipay ACCOUNT. Then you pay him/her the CASH.
Not sure if you your ALIPAY account open in MALAYSIA can be use in CHINA.
Many Places now use ALIPAY . So it is a MUST.
Some restaurants, stalls, etc may NOT use CASH. But better if you bring SMALL notes for PAyment as they may not have CHANGE for big Notes.
This post has been edited by oldies1950: Oct 18 2018, 03:15 PM
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scorgio
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Oct 18 2018, 03:13 PM
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UnionPay is China's equivalent of Visa/Mastercard. It's Govt owned.
Mobile payment is mainly WeChat Pay & AliPay. However, both you'll need a China based bank account to reload your e-wallet. Or reload thru 3rd party. Not to mention you'll need data (to scan the merchant's QR code).
For WeChat account registered in Msia, you'll need a 3rd party to send min RMB1 angpow to your WeChat Pay in order to activate the China wallet. Else you'd only have Malaysia wallet.
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TSaussieMB
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Oct 19 2018, 01:57 PM
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New Member
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ok, thanks for the info. Not so easy for foreigners in China for using phones to pay, it looks like!
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scorgio
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Oct 19 2018, 07:50 PM
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QUOTE(oldies1950 @ Oct 18 2018, 03:12 PM) Not sure if you your ALIPAY account open in MALAYSIA can be use in CHINA. Yes you can. As long as you have RMB inside the account. Buying groceries at supermarket, I just show my code to the cashier, no need data also the payment can be completed.
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 09:59 PM
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How can this work without a China SIM card. Cannot buy nowadays due to new security rules.
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 10:13 PM
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Are SIM cards still for sale at airports or anywhere?
Recent trip, I could not buy one from shops without a China ID. Foreign passport not eligible. Shenzhen airport zero, even asking staff.
Any solution (without asking someone else to register illegally)?
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matrix88
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Oct 24 2018, 10:15 PM
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can get from Pudong airport last month
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 10:26 PM
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QUOTE(matrix88 @ Oct 24 2018, 10:15 PM) can get from Pudong airport last month Maybe changed since Oct 1 ??? I was denied in every city for a week and two airports.
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 10:29 PM
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I asked a friend to send me angpow. Came through OK but cannot open wallet without China ID and bank account. Ringgit wallet not usable in China.
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knwong
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Oct 24 2018, 10:36 PM
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I bought WeFly SIM from Qoo10 Singapore before heading to China last month. Can use Whatsapp, YouTube in China without VPN. Just put in the SIM when landed there and straight away can use
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aspartame
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Oct 24 2018, 10:44 PM
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I have no problem using just Visa card in China.
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avantasia
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Oct 24 2018, 10:49 PM
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QUOTE(aussieMB @ Oct 18 2018, 03:05 PM) Hi All, What epayment app do you recommend for China? Seems to be Alipay, Tencen (WeChat) or UnionPay, however I've read elsewhere that you need a China-based bank card to "connect" to your account before payments can be made. Is this true? If anyone has successfully got an app and made payments, please share your experience here. Including ease of use, any security concerns, and language barrier (within the app itself, ie are all the screens and messages in English?) I'll be using a Samsung phone, so Android app. Thanks very much. I use to shop, dine, take public transport using rhb, hsbc, hong leong bank credit card when i'm at china. No problemo!!
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 11:20 PM
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QUOTE(aspartame @ Oct 24 2018, 10:44 PM) I have no problem using just Visa card in China. Maybe those 5/6 star international hotels, ok. Try hawker stalls in the street, parking lots, souvenir stalls, who happily accept WeChat Or supermarkets that say only China VISA.
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 11:24 PM
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@Avantasia
How did you use cards for public transport? Were local taxis, buses, DiDi, bus and train stations OK for foreign VISA?
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oneeleven
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Oct 24 2018, 11:37 PM
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QUOTE(knwong @ Oct 24 2018, 10:36 PM) I bought WeFly SIM from Qoo10 Singapore before heading to China last month. Can use Whatsapp, YouTube in China without VPN. Just put in the SIM when landed there and straight away can use Thanks for the tip! I found Sim2Fly on Lazada which looks like it will do the job too. My alternative was to ask a relative to bring along a HK dual card under his name, but that has its own problems like non renewable expiry, no top up outside of HK, etc.
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touristking
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Oct 25 2018, 05:32 AM
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QUOTE(oneeleven @ Oct 24 2018, 03:29 PM) I asked a friend to send me angpow. Came through OK but cannot open wallet without China ID and bank account. Ringgit wallet not usable in China. I did this. No guarantee. 1. I unlink my Public Bank debit card from my Ringgit wallet. 2. I get an angpow 3. I relink that same debit card to get a Yuan wallet.
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avantasia
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Oct 25 2018, 07:20 AM
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QUOTE(oneeleven @ Oct 24 2018, 11:24 PM) @Avantasia How did you use cards for public transport? Were local taxis, buses, DiDi, bus and train stations OK for foreign VISA? I did use when using subway and it is well accepted. But taxi i use cash.
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sweet_pez
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Oct 25 2018, 02:12 PM
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何を見ているの
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QUOTE(oneeleven @ Oct 24 2018, 11:37 PM) Thanks for the tip! I found Sim2Fly on Lazada which looks like it will do the job too. My alternative was to ask a relative to bring along a HK dual card under his name, but that has its own problems like non renewable expiry, no top up outside of HK, etc. Another SIM option is Hello1010. I bought the RM66 sim before I went to Shanghai early this year. Works like a charm. Since the SIM is riding on HK network, there's no need for VPN to surf Google, FB, Whatsapp etc. I won't recommend VPN because the apps may not be stable. My co-worker rented a WIFI router instead and used VPN; her connection breaks off so often that she gave up after 2 days and resigned to being blocked from social media  Hello1010: https://hello1010.my/country/asia/china.htmlThis post has been edited by sweet_pez: Oct 25 2018, 02:12 PM
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krayden
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Oct 25 2018, 02:44 PM
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Have a look at this https://www.mypokefi.com/productsA lot of ppl i know working in hk, use this in china. Vpn not required. Whatsapp youtube all jalan
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