WeChat Pay Tutorial: How to Top-Up with a Credit Card

WeChat Pay Tutorial: How to Top-Up with a Credit Card

WeChat Pay in the Mainland China has joined the international credit card trend! They've made it possible for international users to link their Mastercard and Visa credit cards to WeChat Pay. Now, when you travel to Mainland China, you can shop, dine, book accommodations, and pay for transportation with WeChat Pay, and the payment will be charged to your Hong Kong credit cards. It's like having a magical money wand that works on both sides of the border!

So, if you're looking for a convenient way to pay in Mainland China, keep reading to find out how to link your credit cards to WeChat Pay!

Understanding the Difference: WeChat Pay vs. WeChat Pay HK

Before we dive in, let's clarify some important concepts:

  • WeChat Pay (Mainland version) is different from WeChat Pay HK.
  • There are several merchants in China that accept WeChat Pay HK, including Didi (Taxi service), MeiTuan (Food delivery), 12306 CHINA RAILWAY (Train ticket service), Hey Tea (Chinese tea drink), and HaiDiLao Hotpot, among others.
  • In China, some merchants exclusively accept WeChat Pay as a payment method. Therefore, it may be necessary to obtain your own WeChat Pay account in China.

How to link your Hong Kong credit card to WeChat Pay in 4 simple steps

To link your credit card to WeChat Pay, follow these steps:

  1. Open WeChat and switch the region of your wallet to Mainland China.
  2. Select the credit card/debit card option.
  3. Follow the instructions to add your card details, including credit card information and billing address.
  4. Agree to the terms and conditions to successfully add your Visa or Mastercard credit card.

Step 1: Switch the region of your wallet to Mainland China

Inside WeChat, switch the region of your wallet to Mainland China by clicking on "Me" - "Services" - tapping the three dots in the upper right corner - "Switch Region" - "Mainland China".

Step 2: Add a credit card

Click on "Service" - “Balance” - “Top-Up” - "Credit Card/Debit Card Top-up" - "Add Bank Card"

Step 3: Fill in credit card information.

Enter your credit card details, including card number, expiration date, security code, billing address, phone number, and email.

Step 4: Complete the linking process

After filling in the information, click "Next" and agree to the terms and conditions. The screen will show "Added" to indicate that your Visa or Mastercard credit card has been successfully added.

WeChat Pay Payment restrictions and fees

Using WeChat Pay for payments does not come without restrictions and fees. Before using it, take a look at the possible fees that may be incurred.

Payment Restrictions

Single Day Payment Limit

6,000 RMB

Monthly Accumulated Payment Limit

50,000 RMB

Yearly Accumulated Payment Limit

60,000 RMB

Fee Regulations

In general, there’s a 3% transaction fee charged for international credit card transactions exceeding HK$200. 

Single Transaction Amount ≤ 200 RMB

Free payment

Single Transaction Amount > 200 RMB

3% fee

Initiating a Refund

The refund fee will be returned in proportion to the refund amount

Which credit cards are perfect for WeChat Pay HK?

Citi Rewards Mastercard: WeChat Pay spending is now included in the welcome offer

Citibank logo
MoneySmart Exclusive
3% shopping rewards with no minimum spend
Minimum Income Requirements
HK$120,000
Rebate on Shopping & Entertainment Transactions
3% Points
Miles Conversion (Shopping and entertainment spending)
As low as $1.8 = 1 Mile
MoneySmart Exclusive:

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✈️ 8 x Plaza Premium Lounge APAC 3 hrs Access Pass (Total value: HK$5,200) or
✈️ 4 x Hong Kong Plaza Premium First with Infinity room 3 hrs Access Pass (Total value: HK$4,600) or
🎁 PHILIPS RO Water Dispenser ADD6920/90 (Value: HK$4,288, random color) or
🎁 Dyson Supersonic Nural™ Hair Dryer HD16 (Value: HK$3,990, random color) or
🎁 Medicube Age-R Booster Pro X2 9 in 1 Facial Beauty Device (Value: HK$3,000, random color) or
🎁 Insta360 GO 3S Retro Bundle Special Edition (Value: HK$2,449, random color) or
💳 HK$2,000 Apple Store Gift Card / HK$2,200 ParknShop e-Vouchers

 

Trip.com 8% OFF 🏨 Hotel Booking Promo Code + HK$100 Flights ✈️ Promo Code (upon claim submission)!T&Cs applied.

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Citi Rewards presents an exclusive offer worth up to HK$1,800 through MoneySmart. To get the welcome offer, all you need to do is spend over HK$2,000 within the first month of receiving the card. Don't worry, you can use WeChat Pay, Payme, or Alipay to top up your balance and still be eligible for the welcome offer.

DBS BlackWorld Mastercard: HK$6/mile with WeChat Pay spending

DBS logo
MoneySmart Exclusive
Redeem various mileage points without any fee
Welcome Offer
Up to 32,000 miles
Upon meeting overseas spending goal*
HK$2/mile
Local spending
HK$6/mile
MoneySmart Exclusive:

【⚡️Unleash Your Wanderlust: 5,000 SmartPoints for Rewards of Your Choice!】
From now until 20 July 2026, customers who successfully apply for DBS Black World Mastercard via MoneySmart, can enjoy 5,000 SmartPoints!
⠀⠀
With 5,000 SmartPoints can fully redeem HK$500 e-Vouchers (over 20+ brands, including Apple, PARKnSHOP, HKTVmall and more) - no spending required! Click here to explore limitless possibilities (T&C applied)! Including bank welcome offer, you can enjoy up to HK$500 rewards, up to 32,000 miles or DAYCROWN - 28" Front-Opening suitcase (fulfilled by DBS)!

Valid until 20 Jul 2026

If you bind DBS BlackWorld Mastercard with WeChat Pay, you can enjoy HK$6/mile when you make a spending through WeChat Pay. 

What should I pay attention to if I want to travel abroad/return to the Mainland?

First, you should check if your SAR passport/return certificate needs to be renewed and also keep an eye on the exchange rates of different currencies, including RMB to HKD, JPY to HKD, GBP to HKD, and so on.

To be more worry-free, consider getting travel insurance before you embark on your journey.

Dah Sing travel insurance: discount available when applying via MoneySmart

For a 9-day trip to China in December, the premium for the Dah Sing Gold travel insurance plan can be as low as HK$182.

Dah Sing Insurance logo

Premium

HK$224.25

25% OffPremiumHK$299
MoneySmart Exclusive
common.special_promotion
Medical Expenses
HK$500,000
Travel Cancellation
HK$20,000
Loss/Damage of Baggage
HK$15,000
Premium
PremiumHK$29925% Off
HK$224.25
MoneySmart Exclusive:

【🌴MoneySmart Summer exclusive 70,000 Asia Miles Giveaway】
From July 2 to August 2, customers who successfully purchase a designated Travel Insurance Plan via MoneySmart with a minimum premium of HK$150 per policy, and answer a creative question via the claim form. The 10 most creative entries will be selected as winners and stand a chance to win 7,000 Asia Miles, equivalent to a one-way flight ticket to Taiwan! (automatically converted from 14,000 SmartPoints and directly credited to the Cathay membership account)

 

🎁 [All Customers can choose]
- AIRSIM HK$20 Travel SIM Prepaid Card ^ OR
- AIRSIMe eSIM * OR
- Bowtie VHIS 40% off first-year premium + Comprehensive Dental Service 1 time^^

Valid until 02 Aug 2026
Dah Sing Insurance logo

Premium

HK$366.75

25% OffPremiumHK$489
MoneySmart Exclusive
common.special_promotion
Medical Expenses
HK$1,000,000
Trip Cancellation
HK$50,000
Loss/Damage of Baggage
HK$20,000
Premium
PremiumHK$48925% Off
HK$366.75
MoneySmart Exclusive:

【🌴MoneySmart Summer exclusive 70,000 Asia Miles Giveaway】
From July 2 to August 2, customers who successfully purchase a designated Travel Insurance Plan via MoneySmart with a minimum premium of HK$150 per policy, and answer a creative question via the claim form. The 10 most creative entries will be selected as winners and stand a chance to win 7,000 Asia Miles, equivalent to a one-way flight ticket to Taiwan! (automatically converted from 14,000 SmartPoints and directly credited to the Cathay membership account)

 

🎁 [All Customers can choose]
- AIRSIM HK$20 Travel SIM Prepaid Card ^ OR
- AIRSIMe eSIM * OR
- Bowtie VHIS 40% off first-year premium + Comprehensive Dental Service 1 time^^

Valid until 02 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions: Linking credit cards to WeChat Pay

Is WeChat Pay HK the same as WeChat Pay?

WeChat Pay HK is not the same as WeChatPay. They have different servers, and funds cannot be freely transferred between the apps.

If I want to travel abroad/return to the Mainland, what should I pay attention to?

First, check if your SAR passport/return certificate needs to be renewed. Additionally, keep an eye on the exchange rates of various currencies, such as RMB to HKD, JPY to HKD, GBP to HKD, and others.

How do I switch the region of my wallet to Mainland China?

To switch the region of your wallet to Mainland China, follow these steps:

  1. Open WeChat and go to the "Me" section.
  2. Tap on "Services" and then tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
  3. Select "Switch Region" and choose "Mainland China".

Once you have switched regions, you will be able to link your credit card to WeChat Pay in Mainland China.

Can I link my credit card to WeChat Pay HK?

No, WeChat Pay HK is not the same as WeChat Pay. They have different servers, and funds cannot be freely transferred between the apps. Therefore, you can only link your credit card to WeChat Pay in Mainland China.

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Are you wondering how to open a new account with WeChat Pay Hong Kong? Or how to top up your account balance? Perhaps you're interested in making p2p transfers with WeChat Pay Hong Kong? Don't worry, all these topics will be covered in the upcoming blog post.

WeChat and Alipay are two popular payment apps in China. If you are wondering which one to use, the following blog post provides a detailed explanation of both apps and a conclusion to help you decide which one is right for you.

 

Wanna stay ahead of the herd? Let's check out the MoneySmart blog for more financial tips!

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