【Payment Apps】UnionPay is also highly recommended for expats in China

Alipay and WeChat Pay are the most well-known mobile payment methods in China.

However, for expats in China, installing the “UnionPay” app provided by China UnionPay is a smart move. Besides Alipay and WeChat Pay, it can be a real lifesaver in those “just-in-case” moments.

* Information as of March 2026.

Prerequisites: When expats use Alipay or WeChat Pay for payments

Payments in Mainland China

In daily life and work scenarios within Mainland China, as long as expats link a credit card or a local Chinese bank account to Alipay or WeChat Pay and verify their identity with a passport and phone number, they can use these apps for everyday QR code payments as well as public transportation, such as subways and buses.

Payments in Hong Kong & Macau, China

However, when expats travel to Hong Kong or Macau, China and try to use Alipay or WeChat Pay for QR code payments on public transport, they will encounter an “Error.”

This involves the “Cross-border Travel” (境外出行) or “Transport Code” (乘车码) features, which are currently restricted to accounts verified with a Mainland Chinese ID card.

As a result, expats without a Mainland Chinese ID are ineligible for these specific transit features.

When expats try to use public transport features via Alipay or WeChat Pay

Alipay Error Details

When attempting to set up “Cross-border Travel” (境外出行) in Alipay for travel to Hong Kong or Macau, China, the app automatically switches to “Alipay+,” but an error occurs, preventing the setup from completing.

WeChat Pay Error Details

Similarly, in the WeChat Pay mini-program “Transport Code” (乘车码), attempting to change the region to Hong Kong or Macau, China, will result in an error message.

This is Where the “UnionPay” (Yunshanfu) App Shines

This is where the “UnionPay” (Yunshanfu) app provided by China UnionPay steps in.

By using the QR code payment feature within the UnionPay app, expats can ride public transportation (such as subways and buses) in Hong Kong and Macau, China, without having to carry cash or physical transit cards.

Download via App Stores

The UnionPay app is available for download on major platforms, including Google Play, the Apple App Store, and the HUAWEI AppGallery.

In terms of verification, UnionPay allows you to link not only Mainland Chinese bank accounts but also international credit cards.

Additionally, the app supports multiple languages, including English and Japanese, making the interface and setup process very user-friendly for international travelers and expats.

Summary

For expats who want to travel across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, China, using only QR code payments on their smartphones, it is extremely convenient to have UnionPay installed in addition to Alipay and WeChat Pay for those “just-in-case” moments.

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