Do this before you fly
- Install Alipay and WeChat from your home app store while you still have reliable SMS.
- Register with your international phone number.
- Complete passport identity verification (photo page + live face check). In Alipay this is under Me → Settings / Account & Security → Identity Verification — choose Passport.
- Add an international Visa or Mastercard (enable overseas / e-commerce spend with your bank first).
- Make a tiny test payment or top-up attempt at home so declines show up before you land.
What replaced Tour Pass
Older blogs still push Alipay Tour Pass. That prepaid tourist wallet is no longer the path for new users. In 2026 the standard flow is: verify passport in the main app → link the foreign card directly. Confirm any per-payment service fee inside the app on the day you pay (rules change).
Booking angle — when the wallet matters
- Lingyin / Feilai Peak — free but timed; official path is the Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak mini-program in Alipay or WeChat.
- Shaanxi History Museum — free main museum is WeChat-only reservation.
- Beijing municipal parks — walk-up with passport when online apps want a Chinese phone.
- English-first tickets (Forbidden City, Mutianyu, Disney, Trip.com overseas buttons) still work without WeChat Pay — but day-to-day spend is easier with QR pay.
Practical summary based on Alipay/WeChat foreigner onboarding patterns documented across 2026 travel guides and our attraction booking captures (Lingyin Alipay mini-program; Shaanxi WeChat). Always re-check in-app screens — UI labels move. We do not invent affiliate payment links.
Related: booking without a Chinese phone · WeChat vs English web.
WeChat mini-program vs English web →
FAQ
Do I still need Alipay Tour Pass?
No for new travellers. Tour Pass / TourCard-style prepaid products have been discontinued or closed to new users. Use the main Alipay app: passport verification + link a foreign card.
Do I need a Chinese phone number?
Usually not for Alipay or WeChat Pay signup — use your home number that can receive SMS. Some attraction mini-programs still demand +86 later; keep English web / Trip.com paths as backup.
Visa or Mastercard?
Both are the reliable default on Alipay and WeChat Pay. JCB / Discover / Diners often work; Amex support varies — bring a Visa or Mastercard as primary.
How does this help with tickets?
Many parks only open inventory in Alipay or WeChat mini-programs (e.g. Lingyin). Payment apps also cover metro, taxis, and shops when cards are declined.