Using Alipay for Daily Life in China
Published: April 29, 2026
Short Answer
Alipay (Zhifubao) is China's other major payment platform and a powerful daily-life tool. While WeChat Pay handles social payments, Alipay excels at utilities, transport, government services, and financial management. Most expats use both apps interchangeably.
Smartphone showing payment QR code at a market
Deep Dive
Setting Up Alipay
Download Alipay from the App Store or Google Play. Register with your phone number -- Chinese or international numbers both work. You will need to complete real-name verification, which for foreigners means uploading a photo of your passport and sometimes a selfie. This process can take a few hours to a couple of days. Without verification, your transaction limits will be very low.
Once approved, link a Chinese bank card for full functionality. Alipay also supports foreign credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB) for limited use, primarily at merchants that accept international tourists.
Transport Cards and Ride-Hailing
Alipay's transport features are among its strongest:
- Metro QR codes -- generate a scannable code for most city metro systems. Open Alipay > Transport > select your city
- Bus payment -- scan the QR code when boarding
- Shared bikes -- unlock Hellobike and other bike-share services directly through Alipay
- Didi ride-hailing -- book taxis and private cars without leaving the app
- High-speed rail -- buy tickets and show your e-ticket at the station
- Airport transfers -- book airport shuttles and private cars
Paying Utility Bills
This is where Alipay really shines for long-term residents:
- Electricity -- pay your household electricity bill by entering your account number
- Water -- same process, select your water utility provider
- Gas -- pay gas bills and even top up smart gas meters
- Internet and phone -- pay your broadband and mobile phone bills
- Property management fees -- pay your wuye fei directly
Go to Alipay > Life Services > Utilities to find all these options. You can set up auto-pay so bills are deducted on the due date.
Food Delivery and Shopping
Alipay integrates with Ele.me (Shi'ele) for food delivery -- it is actually owned by Alibaba, Alipay's parent company. You can also access:
- Tmall and Taobao for online shopping
- Hema (Freshippo) for grocery delivery within 30 minutes
- Cainiao for package tracking
- Koubei for local restaurant deals and discounts
Mini Programs and Services
Like WeChat, Alipay has its own mini program ecosystem. Useful ones include:
- Social insurance -- check your shebao balance and records
- Tax services -- file and check personal income tax
- Hotel booking -- through Fliggy (Alibaba's travel platform)
- Movie tickets -- buy through Taopiaopiao
Scanning and Being Scanned
The core mechanic is simple: open Alipay and tap Pay to show your payment QR code (the merchant scans you), or tap Scan to scan the merchant's QR code (you scan them). Street vendors, small shops, and even beggars use QR codes. Always confirm the amount before authorizing.
Alipay vs WeChat Pay
| Feature | Alipay | WeChat Pay |
|---|-----|---|
| Utility bills | Excellent | Basic |
| Transport | Excellent | Good |
| Social payments | Basic | Excellent |
| Food delivery | Ele.me | Meituan |
| Shopping | Taobao/Tmall | JD |
| Government services | Excellent | Good |
Most Chinese people use both daily. As an expat, set up both and use whichever is more convenient for each situation.
Safety Tips
- Enable fingerprint or face verification for payments
- Do not save large balances -- link to your bank card instead
- Check transaction history regularly
- Be cautious scanning QR codes from strangers in tourist areas
- Set a daily spending limit in Security Settings