隨著微信支付的發展,中國正在迅速成為一個無現金社會。但是,對於許多沒有中國身份證的美國人,微信支付並沒有多大用處。在大多數情況下,你必須有一個中國身份證綁定的手機和銀行賬戶才能使用微信支付。這好象是去年開始的一個新的規定。
我女兒整個夏天都會在中國做實習和觀光遊遊。她將前往許多大小城市,有時和朋友同遊,也有時獨行。如果能用微信支付,她就不必帶太多現金。
我們在中文和英文網站都做了一些查詢。據微信FAQ,可以用外國銀行的 Visa 和 MasterCard 來綁定你的微信號。但有些人說,這樣還是不能用來付款。也許此選項僅限於有中國身份證的人?
目前,用美國護照在中國旅行,下列付款方案應該行得通。
微信支付
這個最方便,尤其是用來付餐飲,出租車,購物等零雜費用。即使沒有中國身份證,但如果你有一個值得信賴的朋友或親戚(他們也信任你)你也許可以這樣來用:
存些錢在您的朋友或親戚那裏,然後再
請他們把錢轉到你的微信賬號。或
請他們另開一個銀行賬戶並買個手機(用他們的名字和身份證)給你用。
現金
帶大筆現金旅行不大安全。還好現在可以在中國從自己的美國銀行賬戶裏取現金,人民幣。中國幾間大銀行都可以取款,挺方便的,出門不必帶很多現金。
美國許多大銀行,如花旗銀行,讓你使用中國各大銀行的自動取款機。至於你的卡可以在哪一間中國銀行的ATM上使用,要去問你的銀行。取款的上限和費用各銀行也不盡相同。有些地區性的小銀行可能不會有這個選項。
信用卡
中國很多涉外酒店,火車和飛機訂票都接受美國的MasterCard和Visa,但有些信用卡另收外匯交易費。
火車票可以提前在攜程網(www.ctrip.com)上預定。火車站窗口憑護照取票。有手續費,不多。美國護照和信用卡要用英文版的攜程。
中國境內的酒店和機票都可以在攜程網上預訂,中英文版都行。當然,其它旅遊網站如 Expedia也行。但外國人的火車票隻能在攜程網上定。
這帖的信息匯總是根據我女兒兩年前去中國留學的經驗和最近網上的查詢,包括昨天文學城網友的熱心解答。近來不少華裔美國學生去中國留學或旅遊,希望這貼對他們有些幫助。
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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
Ask them to send the money to your WeChat account. or
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.
博文自薦
http://bbs.wenxuecity.com/travel/569140.html
以前沒有綁卡可以用微信紅包轉少許錢。但我親人上周試過,不能轉了。現在實名越來越緊。
我讓她帶了一疊現金,但她不肯放棄,還是想試試用中國新版微信綁美國卡。能不能成功我都會更新。