Paying with WeChat Pay: how it works in China — first-hand
Short answer
Russian UnionPay cards can be linked to WeChat Pay for business QR payments by disabling VPNs during setup, though compatibility remains intermittent for POS terminals and ATM withdrawals. It is recommended to carry cash as a backup and use WeChat or Alipay mini-programs for city-specific public transport codes.
From real experience
RSCHB (Russian Agricultural Bank) UnionPay cards can now be linked directly to WeChat Pay for payments in China.
Users should navigate to the Wallet section in WeChat, add a bank card, and set the payment method. It is recommended to disable VPNs during the linking process. Note that payments for 'business' QR codes generally work well, while smaller 'personal' QR codes may have restrictions. Users should verify their own payment passwords set within the WeChat app.
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Russian-issued UnionPay cards (like RSHB) have limited acceptance in China.
They generally do not work for direct Alipay/WeChat wallet top-ups. However, they can be used for: 1) Withdrawing cash at ATMs. 2) Direct payments via terminal (if the shop has an old-fashioned POS terminal). 3) Sometimes as a payment method inside the WeChat/Alipay apps for specific merchants. Direct QR-code payment via Russian card QR is generally not supported.
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UnionPay cards issued by Russian banks (like RSHB) may intermittently fail in China for both POS payments and ATM withdrawals.
It is recommended to carry cash (yuan) as a backup and maintain active Alipay/WeChat accounts. Do not trust direct-message 'helpers' as they are often scammers.
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For public transport in China, users can generate city-specific QR codes within WeChat and Alipay.
In WeChat, search for '乘车码' (Transport Code) or use the app's transport mini-programs to activate a ride code. In Alipay, the 'Transport' section automatically detects the city and enables a scannable QR code. These codes are linked to the user's primary payment method.