随着微信支付的发展，中国正在迅速成为一个无现金社会。但是，对于许多没有中国身份证的美国人，微信支付并没有多大用处。在大多数情况下，你必须有一个中国身份证绑定的手机和银行账户才能使用微信支付。这好象是去年开始的一个新的规定。

我女儿整个夏天都会在中国做实习和观光遊游。她将前往许多大小城市，有时和朋友同游，也有时独行。如果能用微信支付，她就不必带太多现金。

我们在中文和英文网站都做了一些查询。据微信FAQ，可以用外国银行的 Visa 和 MasterCard 来绑定你的微信号。但有些人说，这样还是不能用来付款。也许此选项仅限于有中国身份证的人？

目前，用美国护照在中国旅行，下列付款方案应该行得通。

微信支付

这个最方便，尤其是用来付餐饮，出租车，购物等零杂费用。即使没有中国身份证，但如果你有一个值得信赖的朋友或亲戚（他们也信任你）你也许可以这样来用：

存些钱在您的朋友或亲戚那里，然后再

1. 请他们把钱转到你的微信账号。或

2. 请他们另开一个银行账户并买个手机(用他们的名字和身份证)给你用。

现金

带大笔现金旅行不大安全。还好现在可以在中国从自己的美国银行账户里取现金，人民币。中国几间大銀行都可以取款，挺方便的，出门不必带很多现金。

美国许多大银行，如花旗银行，让你使用中国各大银行的自动取款机。至于你的卡可以在哪一间中国银行的ATM上使用，要去问你的银行。取款的上限和费用各银行也不尽相同。有些地区性的小银行可能不会有这个选项。

信用卡

中国很多涉外酒店，火车和飞机订票都接受美国的MasterCard和Visa，但有些信用卡另收外汇交易费。

火车票可以提前在携程网（www.ctrip.com）上预定。火车站窗口凭护照取票。有手续费，不多。美国护照和信用卡要用英文版的携程。

中国境内的酒店和机票都可以在携程网上预订，中英文版都行。当然，其它旅游网站如 Expedia也行。但外国人的火车票只能在携程网上定。

这帖的信息汇总是根据我女儿两年前去中国留学的经验和最近网上的查询，包括昨天文学城网友的热心解答。近来不少华裔美国学生去中国留学或旅游，希望这贴对他们有些帮助。

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Travel to China,  how to pay for things without a Chinese ID card

China is fast becoming a cashless society with the recent proliferation of WeChat Pay.

But for many Chinese Americans, the wechat payment option is of little use.  In most cases, in order to use Wechat Pay, you must have a Chinese government issued ID card. This is a new restriction put in place sometimes last year.

My daughter will spend all summer in China, doing internship and sightseeing.  She will travel to cities large and small, sometimes with friends, other times by herself.  She was hoping to be able to use WeChat Pay so she doesn’t have to bring lots of  cash.

We did some online research in both Chinese and English language websites. According to Wechat FAQ, Visa and MasterCard issued by foreign banks can be tied to WeChat.  But some people said that you still can’t pay with it.  Maybe this option only works for people with a Chinese ID?

At present time, the following seem to be workable options for paying for things while traveling in China with an American passport.

WeChat Pay

This is the most convenient option by far, especially for miscellaneous expenses like food, taxi, and shopping.  Even without an Chinese ID, you may be able to use this option if you have a trusted friend or relative (and they trust you).  

Deposit some money with your friends or relatives first, then

1. Ask them to send the money to your WeChat account. or

2. Ask them to open an bank account and buy a cell phone under their name with your money.  Use this phone while in China and for WeChat Pay.

Cash

Traveling with  large sums of cash is never a safe option.  Fortunately, making withdraws from  your own bank account in the States while traveling in China is quite easy nowadays.  Most large national banks, such as Bank of America or CitiBank, let you use ATM of Chinese banks.  Check with your bank which Chinese bank’s ATM you can use. There may be a convenience fee, depending on which bank you use. Regional banks may or may not offer this option.

Credit Card

For lodging, train and air travel in China, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at most places servicing people with foreign passports. There maybe a foreign transaction fee, depending on the issuing bank of your credit card.

Foreigners are restricted to stay at certain hotels (3 stars or better, mostly).  Most of these places accepted American credit cards, as far as we know.

Train tickets can be booked in advance on Ctrip (www.ctrip.com), with a credit card and an American passport.  There is a small convenience fee.

You can also book hotels and air travel in China, just like other online travel sites such as Expedia.  But for foreigners, Ctrip is the only online site for train tickets.

This posting is based on my daughter's experience studying in China two years ago, and some online inquiries, including the helpful answers received from people on Wenxuecity.  There are many Chinese American youth traveling to China on their own in the summer.  Hope this posting is of some help to them.

博文自荐

去中国留学 ～～第四代华裔的漫漫回乡路 （一）

http://bbs.wenxuecity.com/travel/569140.html