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How Can I Use Alipay & WeChat Pay in Yiwu as a Short-Term Visitor?

Apr. 23 | Yiwu, China.

Open a bank account in Yiwu China to get mobile pay (Alipay / WeChat pay)

Hi, this is Jack Yang.

Today I want to share something very practical—especially if you're visiting Yiwu for a short business trip or as a tourist.

If you're holding a short-term visa (within 30 days), you might be wondering:

👉 How can you actually use Alipay or WeChat Pay in China?

Why Mobile Payment Is Essential in China?

You probably already know this, but it’s worth repeating:

In China, mobile payment is everywhere.

• Cash is rarely used
• Many places don’t even expect cash anymore
• Almost everything is paid through Alipay or WeChat Pay

So if you arrive in Yiwu with only cash, you’ll quickly realize:

• Paying is inconvenient
• Taking taxis (like Didi, China’s version of Uber) becomes difficult
• Daily activities become limited

👉 In short: Without mobile payment, it’s hard to move around freely in China.

Option 1: If You Stay Long-Term (More Than 30 Days)

If you’re staying in China for a longer period, things are quite straightforward:

• Open a local Chinese bank account
• Transfer USD into your account
• Exchange to RMB
• Link your bank card to:AlipayWeChat Pay

Once that’s done, you’re fully set.

Option 2: Short-Term Visitors (Most Important Part)

Now this is the key part for most of you.

Even if you're only in Yiwu for a short visit, you can still make it work.

✅ What you can do:

You can open a local bank account in Yiwu, even as a short-term visitor.

For example, I recently helped a client open an account at
Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank (a well-known local bank in Yiwu).

• Many branches in Yiwu
• Long service hours
• Experienced with foreign customers

🧾 What you need:

• Your passport
• Your valid visa
• Your China mobile number
• Your hotel address (temporary address is fine)

That’s it. The process is actually quite simple.

A Valid China Mobile Phone Number Is Required To Open Local Bank Account

Important Tip About the Bank Account

One thing to be clear:

• This is only a RMB account
• This type of account is not convenient for receiving international USD transfers
• The process can be complicated and slow

👉 But that’s NOT the main purpose here.

How to Actually Use the Account

Here’s the practical way to use it:

• Bring cash (RMB or foreign currency) with you
• Get it exchanged with money brokers (bank not recommended)
• After opening the account, deposit your cash directly at the bank
• Link your bank card to Alipay / WeChat Pay

Once linked, you’re good to go.

✅ You can pay anywhere
✅ You can take Didi (China uber)
✅ You can move around freely in Yiwu, and across China

What If You Don’t Have Enough Cash?

No problem—this is very common.

👍 Best solution:

• Ask a friend in China to help
• Transfer USD to them
• They convert it into RMB
• Then transfer RMB to: Your bank account Or directly to your Alipay / WeChat

If you’re doing business in China:

• Your suppliers or clients are usually willing to help with this

What Does NOT Work (Avoid Wasting Time)

Let me save you some time here.

You might hear about this option:

Go to the immigration office → get a registration form → open a bank account with it

❌ In reality, this does NOT work for short-term visas (within 30 days)

• You cannot complete the required registration(need to stay in Yiwu for more than 3 months)
• You cannot get the so-called “business friend bank card”

👉 We’ve tested this already—it doesn’t work.

Simple Summary

If you're visiting Yiwu short-term, here’s the easiest path:

• ✔ Get a China phone number ready
• ✔ Bring your passport
• ✔ Go to a local bank (like Chouzhou Bank)
• ✔ Open an RMB account
• ✔ Deposit your cash
• ✔ Link it to Alipay & WeChat Pay

And if needed:

• ✔ Ask a friend in China to help transfer RMB

Final Thoughts

Once your Alipay or WeChat Pay is working, everything becomes easy:

• Payments
• Transportation
• Daily life
• Business activities

👉 Honestly, in China today, mobile payment is not optional—it’s essential.

Related Links:

• How to get Alipay and Wechat pay as a short-term visitor (visa within 30 days)?
• How to start a new Import and Export trading business in Yiwu, FAST?
• 10 steps from registering a WFOE trading company to get working visa in Yiwu, China.
• How to give a good name to your company in China?
• How to rent an office to use as registration address for your company in Yiwu city, China?
• How to register a trading company in Yiwu, China?
• Costs for having a WFOE company in Yiwu City, China for 1 year, with 2 working permits/visas/shareholders.
• Common mistakes when renting office for company registration in Yiwu, China.

Contact Us:

*You can either email us at: YiwuMarketGuide@gmail.com;

Or leave us a message via below contact form;

Or WhatsApp us by the code at bottom of this page, or via mobile phone number +86 159 2428 6660, from 9am to 5pm(China time);

Or visit us at: F2, 2-7, Huan Qu Yi Da (Yiwu Global Reach) Supply Chain Park, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, China.

Call us when Urgent:

Phone/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86-15924286660
( 9:00 - 17:00, Working Days )

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