Payment
Direct answer
Start several days before departure, not at the first checkout. Install the wallets, link the card, confirm SMS and bank approvals work, then keep one backup payment path ready for the first day.
Editorial check
This answer stays short so a traveler can act quickly, then points back to the fuller guide and the official checks that may change before departure.
Current Alipay and Weixin Pay app screens, card-linking rules, identity checks, bank SMS approvals, transaction limits, fees, and the issuing bank's travel controls.
Action path
A practical answer should leave the traveler with a few moves they can actually make before the trip or at the point of friction.
Install the wallets while home Wi-Fi, bank support, and SMS approvals are still easy to reach.
Link the card and confirm the payment screen opens before the flight.
Keep a second wallet, card, or small cash reserve ready for the first meal and airport transfer.
Current checks
Recheck before each high-travel season and after major wallet onboarding changes.
Answer hub
Cluster pages help travelers move through related questions without losing the thread.
Related guides
Use these pages when the traveler needs the longer context, product path, or supporting decision.
Related answers
These answers share the same practical intent and help search users move sideways without restarting.
Next move
Read enough to make the decision smaller, then open the checklist, search a specific question, choose a setup tool, or share the page with the person planning with you.
Use the checklist when the question has shifted from research to preparation.
Search by the actual problem: Alipay, eSIM, transit visa, first transfer, vegetarian food, or a city name.
Open recommendations when the task is clear enough for a short list to be useful.