I tried to pay with Apple Pay in China. It worked at 2 out of 20 places.

ChinaTravelMemo

My friend from the US is an Apple Pay evangelist. He uses it for everything back home. He assumed it would work in China.

He was wrong.

The reality of Apple Pay in China (2026):

Apple Pay does work in China. Technically. But merchant acceptance is extremely limited.

My friend tested it at 20 places in Shanghai:

Worked (2 places):
• Starbucks
• A luxury mall (Plaza 66)

Didn't work (18 places):
• Street food stall
• Local restaurant
• Convenience store (7-Eleven)
• Metro ticket machine
• Taxi (Didi)
• Supermarket
• Pharmacy
• Bakery
• Noodle shop
• Hotpot restaurant
• And 8 more

Why it doesn't work most places:

China runs on QR codes, not NFC (Near Field Communication).

• Alipay and WeChat Pay use QR codes
• Almost every merchant has a QR code scanner or display
• Very few merchants have NFC terminals that accept Apple Pay
• Even when they have NFC, it's often configured for Chinese bank cards only

The exception:

Some international chains and high-end malls accept Apple Pay:
• Starbucks, Costa Coffee
• Apple Store (obviously)
• Some luxury hotels
• International airports
• High-end shopping malls in Tier-1 cities

What to use instead:

Alipay or WeChat Pay.

As of 2026, you can bind your foreign Visa/Mastercard directly to both apps. No Chinese bank account needed.

Setup time: 5 minutes.
Acceptance rate: 95%+ of merchants in China.

If you really want to use Apple Pay:

• Add your Chinese bank card to Apple Wallet (if you have one)
• Look for the UnionPay QuickPass (云闪付) logo — that's the NFC system Apple Pay uses in China
• But honestly, just use Alipay. It's easier.

My friend's conclusion:

"I spent 3 days trying to make Apple Pay work in China. It worked twice. Then I set up Alipay in 5 minutes and never looked back. Apple Pay is great in the US. In China, it's a museum piece."

Anyone else tried Apple Pay in China? Where did it work for you?