Free tool · fees
Payment fee comparison for foreigners in China
Side-by-side fee rates for foreign cards and tourist wallets in mainland China. Prefer ~3% direct bind when it works; use ~5% channels only as fallback. Rates change — confirm in-app.
Dataset last verified:
Fee & limit figures require periodic human re-verification — not in the auto-publish pipeline.
2 channel(s) still marked pending verification — treat those rows as provisional.
Quick answer: If Alipay or WeChat lets you bind Visa/Mastercard directly, expect about 3% (WeChat may run fee-free promos). If not, Tour Pass / Nihao / Tour Card style products often cost about 5%.
Channel fee table
This table is server-rendered for search and AI crawlers — no JavaScript required to read rates.
| Channel | Listed rate | When the fee applies | Needs top-up | Cards | Last verified | Review status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay — direct foreign card bindLimits and bank risk controls vary; if bind fails, switch to a ~5% channel. | 3% | About 3% when a single payment is over ¥200 (confirm the live Alipay fee prompt) | No | Visa, Mastercard | confirmed | |
| WeChat Pay — direct foreign card bindPromo: A limited fee-free promo may be active — confirm in WeChat before paying; otherwise expect ~3%.Fee-free campaigns follow in-app pages; after they end, the standard rate returns. | 3%Promo rate: 0% | Usually about 3%; fee-free promos may apply (confirm in WeChat Wallet) | No | Visa, Mastercard | confirmed | |
| Alipay foreign-card lane / Tour PassUse when direct bind fails; limits and merchants depend on the in-app product. | 5% | Foreign-card / Tour Pass products commonly about 5% (names and rates change) | No | Visa, Mastercard | confirmed | |
| Nihao China walletThird-party wallet — check licensing and support before large top-ups. | 5% | Top-up / spend often around 5% all-in (confirm on the product page) | Yes | Visa, Mastercard | pending | |
| Tour Card (UnionPay prepaid)Prepaid balance is capped; confirm airport / online purchase fees on the spot. | 5% | Purchase / top-up commonly about 5% (issuer-dependent) | Yes | UnionPay | pending |
Fee calculator
| Channel | Rate used | Est. fee | Face amount − fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay — direct foreign card bind | 3% | ¥15 | ¥485 |
| WeChat Pay — direct foreign card bindPromo rate applied (if still active) | 0% | ¥0 | ¥500 |
| Alipay foreign-card lane / Tour Pass | 5% | ¥25 | ¥475 |
| Nihao China wallet | 5% | ¥25 | ¥475 |
| Tour Card (UnionPay prepaid) | 5% | ¥25 | ¥475 |
Estimate only. Banks may add FX markup; merchants see the face CNY. Always read the wallet fee screen before paying.
Decision tree
Use this order before buying a 5% tourist product.
Start here
Can you bind Visa/Mastercard directly in Alipay or WeChat?
Yes
~3%
Direct-bind channels
Prefer the ~3% direct-bind channels. Check WeChat’s current fee-free promo before paying.
No
~5%
Fallback channels
Use a ~5% fallback: Alipay foreign-card / Tour Pass lane, Nihao China, or a Tour Card UnionPay prepaid card.
Still stuck after bind attempts?
Follow the payment guide failure ladder (bank unlock → mainland SMS → ATM cash float → hotel desk). Avoid informal cash networks.
FAQ
- What is the fee for paying with a foreign card in Alipay in China?
- Direct foreign-card bind often charges about 3% on transactions over ¥200 (confirm in Alipay). If you cannot bind directly, Tour Pass / foreign-card specialty products often charge about 5%.
- Is WeChat Pay free for foreign cards?
- WeChat sometimes runs limited fee-free promotions on foreign cards. Outside promos, expect roughly 3% for direct bind. Always check the fee line in WeChat before confirming payment.
- When should I use Tour Pass, Nihao China, or a Tour Card?
- Only after direct bind fails or is unavailable. Those channels commonly cost about 5% and may require top-up. Prefer Alipay/WeChat direct bind at ~3% when it works.
Honesty
ChinaCopilot does not process payments. Fee rates and promos change without notice. Rows marked pending are provisional. Reconfirm on the official app or issuer page before you rely on a number.
¿Sin solución? Pregunte al bot ChinaCopilot
Abra Telegram: usamos la página de origen para responder mejor (códigos, comisiones, alternativas).
Abrir bot de TelegramGratis. El enlace lleva una etiqueta de origen para medir qué páginas ayudan más.
Related: Payment guide (how to set up) · Places · Apps setup · Watch-outs