We've posted an article about Alipay's Tour Pass, a mini-program that allows foreigners to use a prepaid card service. They don't have to bound a Chinese bank card.
International tourists can use Alipay after signing up with an overseas phone number, a visa and their bank card info.
Related article: Foreigners Can Use Alipay Without Chinese Bank Card Now!
WeChat's new service is even more convenient! The mini-program "Balance Top-up" allows users top up money to their WeChat Balance with cash. No bank card required.
Just like those who use Tour Pass of Alipay, visitors can now scan a QR code to pay for food, bus and metro tickets, sharing bikes...
HOW TO USE IT?
To access the service, users must download the WeChat app and register for an account, then search for "Balance Top-up" within the app.
After opening the mini-program, you can read a clear usage guide. There're four steps to load money to your balance account.
Generate your Top-up Pass
Bring cash and ID documents to offline outlets to finish the real-name authentication
Show the Top-up Pass to staff
Top-up money to WeChat Balance
Now the service is on trial in Hainan Province from Jan 20. All branches of China Everbright Bank (CEB) in Hainan can provide this.
AM I ELIGIBLE?
According to the media reports, inbound tourists from regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and foreigners from other countries can use it.
Now in Pilot period, however, the service temporarily only available for Hong Kong, Macao users who finished the real-name verification by using Home Visit Permits, without linking any bank card issued by mainland China's banks.
Users from other regions and contries and use the service in the second phase of the trial (probably in June). And more type of ID like passport will be supported soon.
HOW MUCH CAN I LOAD?
Currently, the maximum load amount is equivalent of 1,000 yuan (around $145). According to the local media reports, it will increase to 10,000 yuan (around $1446) in the second phase.
DOES A CHARGE APPLY?
The designated cooperative agencies (such as CEB) may charge a service fee for foreign currency exchange. But WeChat as a payment method, does not apply any fees.
WHICH CURRENCY SUPPORTED?
International tourists can deposit the carried cash to the WeChat Pay balance. But the type of cash currencies supported depends on the currency convertibility of the cooperative institutions.
Now, the CEB in Hainan supports:
CNY, HKD, USD, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD, EUR
CAN I TOP UP TO OTHER'S ACCOUNT?
Well, let's check the guide again. A real-name authentication is needed before you load the money and use it. Which means that you can't top up on behalf of someone else.
The person who comes to the offline outlets and present the ID must be the owner of the ID, and this ID must also be used in the WeChat Pay real-name authentication.
WHAT IF I BOUNDED CHINESE BANK CARD?
If you bounded a bank card issued by mainland China's bank, the maximum load amount can be enlarged to 200,000 yuan per year, there's no need to use this limited load amount channel to top up.
EVENT 
To celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, here's a great gift for you!
HACOS conduct a solicitation of the most festive scenario of Chinese New Year.
What do you think of Chinese New Year? What makes you feel the strongest festive atmosphere? Please take a photo or video, and send it to our official WeChat account!
We'll post the best 10 contributions on Jan 31, and the top 3 of those who get the highest number of votes will win a Starbucks Gift Card for each!
Share to let your friends know!
SOURCE | 海南日报 / WeChat
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