Banking, mobile payments for expats in Hainan

en.hainan.gov.cn

Updated: 2026-09-03

Opening a bank account and getting a bank card
Foreign nationals can apply for a bank card at a commercial bank outlet by presenting their valid identification, such as a passport or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

Please keep your bank card secure to prevent loss or unauthorized use. If your card is lost, report it to the issuing bank as soon as possible.

Setting up mobile payments
Foreign nationals can download and install mobile payment apps such as WeChat, Alipay and UnionPay on your mobile phones. Follow the instructions in the app to register, enter a Chinese or overseas mobile phone number and other required information, and link your bank card as instructed.

Bank cards bearing the logos of Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Diners Club or Discover can be linked to these payment apps. Users of the UnionPay app can also apply for an E-Money Card, transfer money to it and use it for everyday payments.

To make a payment, open the relevant app and either scan the merchant's payment QR code or have the merchant scan your own payment QR code.

Adding overseas-issued bank cards
When you add a bank card to a payment app, the card may need to be verified by the issuing bank. If you are unable to link your card, contact the payment app's customer service or the issuing bank for assistance.

The scope of supported bank card brands, payment limits and fees may vary by payment app. For details, please refer to the information provided in the payment app and the applicable service agreement.

Paying directly with overseas e-wallets
Users can use these e-wallets or apps to pay directly in China by scanning QR codes:

AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China), MPay (Macao Special Administrative Region, China), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Touch'n Go eWallet (Malaysia), HiPay (Mongolia), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC (Singapore), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay (South Korea), TrueMoney (Thailand), GCash (the Philippines), Kaspi (Kazakhstan) and NayaPay (Pakistan).

Source: A Guide to Working and Living in China for Business Expatriates (2026 Edition)