So.. can use ali pay app linked w local msian card or wise card right?

sharing my exp after back from biz trip in shanghai.

Must download Alipay app. I Link with my big pay card. Tried Gxbank card but failed payment. maybe my fault i dunno but i tried twice to pay by QR in Alipay link to GXBank card even with overseas transaction enabled but it failed. In the end use link with big pay card and it works.

within alipay app you can create metro card and scan easily to use their transport. plenty of example on youtube. no need queue for ticket at each station. you can also use didi app within alipay. the driver will usually ask last 4 digits of your hp number (in my case is my msia hp number since i'm on roaming) to verify.

I Didn't bother getting local number but used roaming instead. no need to bother with vpn since google whatsapp etc all works via roaming on celcom digi.

google maps might not be accurate for some locations. my hotel location totally different on google maps compared to actual location. use apple maps if lost from google maps lol.

if possible, prepay your hotel online via trip.com for example. at my hotel i tried paying by CC but failed. tried with visa and mastercard both also fail. I think the CC terminal doesn't accept. In the end paid via QR using Alipay app (link to my big pay card) but niama kena 3% charge. Any payment above 200 yuan kena extra 3% charge on Alipay. Try to split your payment if can.

Cash is still used widely for tourists but easier to pay via QR. they prob think i'm some kampung fella since pay by cash lol all the locals just pay via QR.

I didn't bother with wechat app but ok la still survived. most places accept alipay. the only time was at a vending machine which only accept wechat.

In the end use link with big pay card and it works.
Meanwhile, BigPay's exchange rate is not attractive anymore, and not "0% bank fees" anymore, so I wouldn't recommend to use it, unless for backup or emergency.
I suggest you use Wise card instead. The exchange rate is better. Getting a physical Wise card costs RM13.70, but that will be waived only if you sign up Wise using a referral link (from other existing Wise user). Virtual card is free.
Wise also supports overseas ATM withdrawals, so you can have additional cash to use in hand when needed. There'll be no additional fees from Wise as long you don't withdraw more than 2 times in a calendar month, or equivalent to RM1000 in a calendar month, whichever comes first.

I do have wise card. but when try to pump RMB and see the fees they charge, no thanks. Wise keeps adding commission fee here and there. bigpay just bakes it into their exchange rate, probably roughly around the same at the end of the day.

at my hotel i tried paying by CC but failed. tried with visa and mastercard both also fail. I think the CC terminal doesn't accept.
Did you ask them whether they support VISA or Mastercard card payment? In China, this is the question you should ask the merchant (unless you clearly see VISA and Mastercard logo there).
If they don't know what is Mastercard, use the Chinese name, it's called 万事达卡

yea they said accept visa and mastercard but after keep tapping multiple times all failed, i just gave up. it's an international hotel chain but still failed lol.

In the end paid via QR using Alipay app (link to my big pay card) but niama kena 3% charge. Any payment above 200 yuan kena extra 3% charge on Alipay. Try to split your payment if can.
Yes. It is true that 3% transaction fee will be charged by Alipay if you pay more than 200 RMB in a single transaction. The same rules applies to WeChat Pay.
But to pay for your hotel, assuming that it costs more than 200 RMB, how would you split it?
Example: If the hotel costs 550 RMB, so you tell the hotel staff that you want to pay in separate 200 + 200 + 150 RMB, like that? Would they accept that?

ouh no i didn't split my hotel payment. no choice have to accept 3% transaction fee. but for others like buying souvenirs or items, can separate out the items so it doesn't breach 200 lol.

Cash is still used widely for tourists but easier to pay via QR.
So far did you experience places or merchant that don't accept cash at all (means accept cashless only, like Alipay or WeChat Pay)?

got..at a damn luckin coffee where they didn't wanna accept cash. force me to scan their menu with alipay.

Yea using that option. Hv u done the account verification? Hv to add passport info and take selfie

Hsbc and cimb credit cards. All 3 failed. Overseas transaction enabled since i tried at other countries previously all ok. Credit limit way above hotel cost. Lol dunno la it is what it is.