Payment in China through WeChat is known as one of the most common payment methods. If you’re traveling to China, you can pay for transportation and other expenses with cash, but there is also an easier way to pay using WeChat! In this article, we will discuss remitting yuan to WeChat.

Remitting Yuan to WeChat

As we previously discussed in the article about remitting yuan to China, one of the ways to send money to China is by using the WeChat app. Using mobile payment apps as a foreigner in China can be very challenging, and in some respects, it is still widely used. However, after discovering how simple and convenient WeChat is, you will understand why everyone uses it. Over the past few years, WeChat has become one of the main methods of payment! However, the biggest challenge is figuring out how to add money to WeChat if you’re a tourist or a short-term visitor. Is it possible?

WeChat has changed its policies so much in the past year that sometimes continuing with these policies is difficult. Unfortunately, most of these changes are not in favor of foreign tourists. To start using WeChat, you need to ensure that you can open an account in WeChat Wallet. Once that’s done, we will share a step-by-step guide on how to creatively add money to your WeChat Wallet.

One more thing: you might read this and realize that WeChat Wallet will not work for you. If that’s the case, I recommend looking for another option called ECARD. This is only for U.S. residents, but it’s almost as accepted in China as WeChat.

Open a WeChat Wallet account to send and receive money.

The most important thing to understand about WeChat (and Alipay) is that you cannot add or receive Chinese currency unless you have a valid WeChat Wallet. You need to activate the wallet feature, as it is not enabled by default. This feature is what excites most people, so pay attention.

Are you eligible to open a WeChat Wallet?

In the past, you could open a WeChat Wallet by having someone send you a hongbao. There was also the idea that when you added a foreign credit card to WeChat, your WeChat Wallet would be activated. Unfortunately, neither of these methods seems to be useful anymore.

Chinese government regulations require an official ID to be linked to every WeChat or Alipay wallet, and currently, the only way to do this is with a Chinese bank account. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality.

Although the process of opening a bank account in China is simple, it may not always be the case. Opening an account with a short-term tourist visa is very difficult, so if you plan to stay in China for six months or less, you likely won’t be able to use mobile payments in China.

Therefore, if you’re one of those people who are not eligible to open a WeChat Wallet, I recommend looking for another payment solution like ECARD as an alternative to WeChat and Alipay. This wallet is not as simple and excellent as WeChat, but it’s better than using Visa and MasterCard.

How to create a WeChat Wallet account

If you have a Chinese bank account, the process of opening a WeChat Wallet or Alipay Wallet is very simple. First, make sure you’ve downloaded the WeChat app in China! It may sound strange, but depending on where the app is downloaded from, there are different features. The Chinese version of the app (even in English) allows the wallet function. Then, in the bottom menu, find and click on “Me.” There should be a section called “Wallet,” where you can click to add your Chinese bank card. You can add a foreign credit card here, although it might connect, it will not activate your wallet.

To add a Chinese bank account, you’ll need the following:

  • Your UnionPay Chinese card: This card has a 19-digit code that you need to enter in WeChat.
  • A linked Chinese phone number: To open a bank account in China, you need a Chinese phone number associated with the account. You’ll also need this number to verify your WeChat Wallet. Due to the requirement for a Chinese phone number, opening a WeChat Wallet from outside China is practically impossible. Once your UnionPay card and Chinese phone number are verified, your WeChat Wallet will be activated.

How to Add Money to WeChat in the Simplest Way

Now that you’ve activated your WeChat Wallet, there are only two ways to add money to your WeChat on your phone.

Chinese Bank Transfer: If you have money in your Chinese bank account, you can transfer it to your WeChat Wallet or use WeChat Pay for direct withdrawals from your card. You can even use a Chinese ATM to withdraw cash from your foreign account and directly deposit it into your Chinese bank account.

WeChat Balance Transfer: Similar to Venmo or PayPal, WeChat allows free money transfers between users. This can be done either as a direct transfer within the chat function or as a hongbao (red envelope), which is essentially a money gift. But what if you don’t know anyone in China to transfer money from your home country or add balance?

This is where a creative solution comes into play.

Introducing Swapsy | Currency Exchange Solution for WeChat

Recently, a process for exchanging currency to add money to WeChat has been tested, and it can work well. This service, called Swapsy, can be described as the “Uber for currency exchange.”

How the Free Exchange Works with Peer-to-Peer Platforms

Swapsy functions as a platform where people who need foreign currency (US dollars, British pounds) can directly connect with people who need Chinese yuan. Swapsy facilitates the connection and theoretically eliminates the risks of such exchanges. On the Asan Tejarat website, we will guide you step-by-step on how we can convert US dollars in your bank account in the U.S. to Chinese renminbi and add money to WeChat in less than 24 hours for immediate use.

Swapsy Membership Process

Here’s how to join Swapsy:

Step 1: Start ID Verification

To begin, Swapsy requires ID verification for security purposes. You’ll need to create a Swapsy account (using this link, you’ll get a bonus) and then click “Verify Identity.” By uploading a copy of your passport and taking a selfie with your phone camera, you can complete your verification within a few minutes.

Step 2: Select and Request the Exchange Amount

Once your account is set up and you’ve added payment methods for US dollars (via PayPal or Zelle) and Chinese yuan (via WeChat), you can proceed with the exchange. The exchange rate will be based on the current market rate. This seems fair, though you can check currency rates with online exchanges.

Swapsy lets you choose an existing exchange request, which is quicker (instant match) and cheaper (0.6% service fee), or you can initiate your own exchange request (1.5% fee). Users have a monthly exchange limit of $12,000, which is much more than you would likely want to transfer.

Step 3: Select Payment Accounts

Swapsy allows you to make the transfer through PayPal (USD & GBP) or via direct bank transfer through Zelle (USD). Select WeChat as your payment method, indicating you are willing to pay yuan through WeChat. At this point, after selecting an exchange with one of Swapsy’s 10,000 users, you’ll make an agreement to pay $100 via PayPal.

Step 4: Wait for a Match and Exchange via WeChat

According to Swapsy, the average time for payment and receiving Chinese yuan is 5 hours. You’ll receive an email that another user has been found who needs US dollars and is interested in exchanging. People who have used this method report that every time they use this service, they find someone to exchange with in under an hour.

Since you start the exchange, you pay $100 via PayPal (or whatever payment method you choose), then wait for your exchange partner to receive the payment, connect with you on WeChat, and transfer the funds in yuan to your account.

This step requires some trust. Swapsy offers a full guarantee of the amount, meaning if your exchange partner doesn’t complete the payment, Swapsy will cover the exchange amount.

Step 5: Confirm Payment Receipt and Spend Your Money!

Your exchange partner confirms receiving $100 and then connects with you via WeChat. Once you confirm them as a “friend,” they will transfer the agreed amount as a balance transfer to you. The funds will then be added to your WeChat Wallet balance and will be available for use. Now, you can use WeChat to pay for items while traveling in China.

In Summary

Adding money to a WeChat Wallet is not a solution for those living in China. However, it can be very useful to avoid bank fees and high exchange rates when trying to send money across borders. This process is similar to the method needed to send money abroad using Alipay, which we reviewed in the “Yuan Transfer to Alipay” article. The exchange service does this for you. This simple process allows you to perform currency conversion using peer-to-peer technology, making the job much easier. Try Swapsy for yourself and add money to WeChat! You can also seek help from the experts at Asan Tejarat for yuan transfer to China, air, sea, and land transportation, imports from China, and customs clearance. We make it easy and safe to transfer your remittances.