China UnionPay's official payment app, settling over the UnionPay network with acceptance on par with WeChat Pay and Alipay; for visitors to China it is one of the three official "link your foreign card" channels.
!Not a bank. The UnionPay app is operated by China UnionPay, with settlement handled by partner banks and the UnionPay network; prepaid products such as the travel card inside the app are not bank deposits and are not covered by China's deposit insurance.
Yes. You can register with an international phone number and link Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Amex, JCB or Discover cards issued abroad; a prepaid "travel card" is also available inside the app for tourists who prefer not to link a card.
No minimum top-up; card-linked payments up to CNY 200 per transaction are fee-free｜Free to register. Foreign-card payments are free up to CNY 200 per transaction; above that a 3% service fee applies, with an annual cap of USD 50,000 and USD 5,000 per transaction.
With a foreign card: free up to CNY 200 per transaction, 3% fee above that; annual cap USD 50,000 and USD 5,000 per transaction. Prepaid and e-money balances are not deposit-insured.
Yes. You can register with an international phone number and link Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Amex, JCB or Discover cards issued abroad; a prepaid "travel card" is also available inside the app for tourists who prefer not to link a card.
Local bank account: Not required — you can link a foreign card or use the prepaid travel card. Items typically needed: Passport (may be needed for verification and card linking); An international phone number that can receive SMS; A foreign Visa/Mastercard card, or apply for the travel card.
Typically: Passport (may be needed for verification and card linking); An international phone number that can receive SMS; A foreign Visa/Mastercard card, or apply for the travel card.
How to sign up: Fully online — register in the app with an international number, then link a card or apply for the travel card (Registration and card linking take about 10-30 minutes). Steps: 1) Download the UnionPay app 2) Register with an international phone number 3) Add a bank card (foreign cards accepted) or apply for the travel card 4) Complete SMS and identity verification 5) Pay by scanning or showing your payment code Fees: Free to register. Foreign-card payments are free up to CNY 200 per transaction; above that a 3% service fee applies, with an annual cap of USD 50,000 and USD 5,000 per transaction.
With a foreign card: free up to CNY 200 per transaction, 3% fee above that; annual cap USD 50,000 and USD 5,000 per transaction. Prepaid and e-money balances are not deposit-insured.
E-wallet rules change often — always follow the latest instructions in the official app.