Hainan InsiderHainan, China
English
2 weeks before · 3 of 8Essential

Test Alipay and WeChat Pay before your trip

Linking a card doesn't prove it can pay. Before you fly, pay ¥1 (one Chinese yuan) to each code below. Your bank charges the equivalent of ¥1 in your own currency.

How to scan

  • On a computerTap Show QR, then scan the screen with the Scan button in Alipay or WeChat on your phone.
  • On your phoneTap Show QR and take a screenshot. In Alipay or WeChat, tap Scan, then the photo/album icon, and pick the screenshot. Make sure the whole code is in the screenshot and sharp.

Each code is set to ¥1 (Chinese yuan), so you don't need to type an amount.

Alipay

¥1 CNY

Merchant QR Used by malls, hotels, restaurants and online platforms

  1. Open Alipay and tap Scan.
  2. Scan this code. The amount, ¥1 (Chinese yuan), fills in by itself. Just confirm.
  3. Check the payment shows Successful in the app and in your bank app.

How did it go?

Show the QR code first, then pick your result.

WeChat Pay

¥1 CNY

Merchant QR Used by malls, hotels, restaurants and online platforms

  1. Open WeChat and tap Scan.
  2. Scan this code. The amount, ¥1 (Chinese yuan), fills in by itself. Just confirm.
  3. Check the payment shows Successful in the app and in your bank app.

How did it go?

Show the QR code first, then pick your result.

Test a personal QR code too

Street stalls, small shops, homestays and private drivers often use personal QR codes, and foreign cards fail on them more often. To test one, message me.

Travel essentials

Apps and services worth setting up before you fly. You don't need all of them on day one.

  • Travel eSIM

    Data from the moment you land. Buy it online and install it at home; turn it on in China as the seller says.

    How to choose one

  • Alipay

    Foreign cards usually work most smoothly here, and malls and restaurants take it. Book DiDi taxis inside Alipay, in English, with no extra app.

    App StoreGoogle Play
    Setup guideTaxi guide

  • WeChat

    Order food delivery with the Meituan mini program inside WeChat (WeChat Pay only). Some small shops only take WeChat.

    App StoreGoogle Play
    Setup guide

  • Trip.com

    Book hotels, flights and trains (including Haikou to Sanya) in English and pay with a foreign card.

    App StoreGoogle Play

  • Maps

    Use AMap, China's most-used map, which has an English version. On iPhone, Apple Maps works too: in China it uses AMap's data. Google Maps can be off by hundreds of meters in China.

    App StoreGoogle Play

  • Microsoft Translator

    For ordering food, asking the way and talking to drivers. Download Chinese for offline use. Your phone's built-in translator works too.

    App StoreGoogle Play

You'll be fine in Hainan

You don't need everything perfect before you fly. If something doesn't work, hotel staff, shops and apps can usually help, and you can message me any time. Get three things ready and you're set: a payment app that works, mobile data, and your hotel's address in Chinese.

Questions

Do I pay ¥1 or $1?

¥1, one Chinese yuan. QR codes in China only take yuan. Your bank converts it and charges the equivalent in your own currency.

Is there a fee for the ¥1 test?

Alipay and WeChat Pay don't charge foreign cards a service fee on payments under ¥200. Your bank may add a small foreign transaction fee.

If it works, will every payment work?

Not always. It shows your account and card can pay this kind of merchant code today. Personal codes, other shops and bank checks can still differ, so bring a backup card and some cash.

What if it fails?

Usually your bank blocked an overseas payment. Call your bank to allow it and try again, or try another card. See payment failed: what to check.

Ask a local