Alipay — International Setup, Scan/Show to Pay, Transfers & Safety
Alipay (支付宝) is one of China’s two major mobile wallets. It works for cafés, taxis, online shopping, tickets, and more. This guide shows au pairs and students how to set it up, pay in stores, split bills, keep records, and stay safe. Features and supported cards can vary by region—start with a small test purchase.
Account Setup (Step by Step)
1) Install & Language
- Download the Alipay app on iOS/Android.
- Register with your mobile number (receive SMS code).
- In Settings → General, switch app language to English if needed.
2) Identity & Security
- Complete any requested real-name checks (passport details) if prompted.
- Set your payment PIN and enable Face/Touch ID.
- Turn on login alerts and payment notifications.
If verification isn’t offered yet in your region, you may still be able to pay at many shops via supported international options.
Adding a Way to Pay
International Options (Vary by Region)
- Link a bank card (credit/debit) inside Alipay when available.
- Some users add funds via local accounts after arrival. Others use Alipay’s international flow to charge directly to a card.
- Start with a small purchase (bottle of water) to test.
Keep a little cash for day one and ask your coordinator which method works best for your nationality.
Manage Cards & Limits
- Me → Bank Cards to add/remove cards.
- Set transaction limits where available.
- Enable SMS/Push for every payment.
How to Pay in Stores (Two Flows)
A) Scan-to-Pay (扫商家码)
- Tap Scan in Alipay and point at the shop’s QR.
- If asked, enter the amount; confirm with PIN/biometrics.
- Show the success screen if the cashier asks.
B) Show-to-Pay (出示付款码)
- Tap Pay/收款码 to display your dynamic QR.
- The cashier scans; you confirm if prompted.
- Payment result appears with a tick.
Street stalls often use static QRs—you type the amount. Confirm the merchant name and the amount before paying.
Transfers, Splitting Bills & Red Packets
Transfer (转账)
- Search the contact → enter amount → add a note → confirm.
- Use this after a friend pays the whole bill.
Red Packet (红包)
- Send small amounts in a fun “envelope”.
- Great for quick reimbursements or group chats.
Useful Mini-Programs in Alipay
- Transit/Metro QR in many cities (create a city transit card; rules vary).
- Food delivery, taxis, tickets via partner services.
- Utility bills and phone/data top-ups where supported.
Receipts, Records & Fapiao
Bills/History
- Find past payments in Bills / 交易记录.
- Screenshot the details page for reimbursements.
Fapiao (Invoice)
- Ask the merchant if they offer e-fapiao (发票) and provide your tax info if needed.
- Some stores issue via a mini-program after purchase.
Safety & Best Practices
- Verify merchant name after scanning a QR; if it looks wrong, stop.
- Never pay via links/QRs sent by strangers outside the app.
- Confirm the amount before tapping Pay (say it aloud with the cashier).
- Use PIN/biometrics and consider a modest per-payment limit.
- Refunds should go back to the original channel—avoid “personal code” refunds.
Troubleshooting
Payment Failed
- Switch Wi-Fi/data and retry.
- Try a smaller amount or different method (WeChat/cash).
- Re-add card or check region/card support.
Scan Works, No Charge
- Static code: you must enter the amount.
- Reduce screen glare; clean your camera.
- Ask for the cashier’s scan-gun to read your code.
Account/Name Check
- Complete any real-name prompts with your passport.
- Ensure your profile name matches your passport spelling.
Glossary (EN ↔ ZH ↔ Pinyin)
- Pay — 支付 — zhīfù
- Scan — 扫码 — sǎomǎ
- Payment code — 付款码 — fùkuǎn mǎ
- Transfer — 转账 — zhuǎnzhàng
- Bill/History — 交易记录 — jiāoyì jìlù
- Red packet — 红包 — hóngbāo
- Invoice — 发票 — fāpiào
- Real-name verification — 实名认证 — shímíng rènzhèng
- Password/PIN — 支付密码 — zhīfù mìmǎ
First-Week Checklist
- Install Alipay → set language, login alerts, and payment PIN.
- Add a card or supported method; make a small test purchase.
- Practice both: Scan a merchant and Show your code.
- Enable notifications; keep a small cash backup.
Get Confident with Alipay
Masons Au Pair will walk you through setup, a live test payment, and safety habits—plus share Chinese phrases for counters, taxis, and returns—so paying in China feels easy from day one.
Join Our Au Pair Program