Enjoying life in China is going to be effortless and there is no better example of this than the fact that you can do basically everything from your phone! Let’s explore the topic how to use WeChat Pay to pay literally everything in China!
Using the app WeChat, you can order a taxi, pay your mobile phone bill, purchase things in store, chat with anyone and everyone, and engage with the app similar to social media channels such as Instagram or Twitter or Facebook in other countries in the world. It really does do everything that it’s one of the reasons that almost every Chinese person uses.
If you want to get in on the action — and enjoy a cashless experience while you’re at it — learn how to use WeChat Pay and enjoy the convenience.
What is WeChat Pay?
In the app of WeChat, there is a panel named “Wallet”. This is where you would enter your information (more on that in a moment) for payment.
To best understand WeChat in action, it’s similar to PayPal or Apple Pay on your phone in the Western world. Whether it’s sending money to your friends such s celebrating Chinese New Year with red envelopes, paying for an online or in-store purchase, ordering movie or plane tickets, ordering a taxi, and more; it’s all in one app.
It’s really convenient for those who enjoy the contact-free and cash-free experience of shopping. Plus you can connect a series of cards to make sure that you are using a method that feels right for you.
How to Set Up WeChat Pay
If you want to set up WeChat Pay, you’ll find that it’s going to be user-friendly for both the smartphone payment user as well as the true WeChat beginner. Here are the steps to expect to make this work for you.
1. Go to the “Me” tab on WeChat
When you are on your own tab, you’ll see “Wallet” listed on the top right side. You’ll want to click on that and then move to the next step of adding your card.
2. Add your card
You can choose from any of your popular Chinese cards as well as quite a selection of international cards. Options include Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Diner’s Club and more.
3. Fill in the required information
If you’re using a Chinese card, you’ll need to authenticate and verify your identity using the steps prompted on the screen. If you are using an oversea account such as MasterCard or AMEX, you’ll have to fill out complete billing information.
This will complete the set-up of your bank account. If you want, you can add a few cards, which can be helpful for those who use different cards for different purchases.
4. Set your password
After filling out your bank information, you will be asked to set your password to secure your Wechat paymentThis is done to make sure that your financial information stays safe.
5. Enable QR code
To help you enjoy more convenience, enable and test a QR code which will make for effortless payments when the time comes.
6. Try it out!
Now that you have your account set up and everything is confirmed with checkmarks and approvals, you will be ready to try it out with a selection of places and manners that are going to show you the true meaning of payment-based freedom!
How to Make Payments with WeChat Pay
If you’re ready to make your payment but want to know how to actually do it, you’ll be happy to know that it really is effortless (which is the whole reason WeChat is so popular). Here are the steps:
-
Open WeChat and go to WeChat Pay
If you’re nervous about where it is on the “Me” tab, practice doing these steps beforehand so your fingers and eyes know where to go!
-
Open WeChat Wallet
After finding WeChat Pay, you’ll be able to open up the WeChat Wallet. If you are doing a pay at a checkout, you should select “Quick Pay” up in the left corner.
-
Pay using a QR code
This is where your options vary depending on what the employee has available. The first is to have your QR code come up and they’ll be able to scan it and it completes the transaction. The second is to scan the merchant’s QR code which they will display to you. This is activated by selecting “Scan QR code” within the WeChat wallet.
WeChat is Truly Used for Everything
(image from boxcryptor)
As mentioned, you’ll find a lot of comfort once you get used to relying on WeChat. From taxis to sending money to booking plane tickets to paying for a fancy meal, it’s all there in one central app and it’s so convenient, you’ll never want to go back.
Best of all, you can share photos of your time out and about in the same app, too! Easy and efficient organization. It’s one of the best things about modern life in China and it’s definitely something you’ll want to take seriously, especially if you want to minimize figuring out the foreign money (and other common stressors when travelling).
While a lot of Western cultures may not have many stores that offer smart payment options with phones, China will be very different. Most will take WeChat payments and it is so common that it is actually the main method of payment especially amongst those who spend any amount of time in China as travellers or workers!
Conclusion:
Safe and reliable, using WeChat wallet to make payments for anything and everything is going to be effective and convenient as well as protective of your financial information above all else.
So, skip the cash and enjoy the modern world of virtual payments and the added benefit of enjoying China-wide payment that will minimize the stress and open up the convenience for travellers of all kinds. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on, but for the moment, WeChat is the best example of modern payment that keeps everything in one central point. Make sure that you are ready for it and for the perks it’ll offer you and your sense of comfort when going into a store or ordering a taxi.
