Quick Summary: TourPass — Alipay’s 2020-era mini-program that let tourists top up a capped balance with an international card — is no longer offered to new users, and you do not need anything like it. Since 2023, the regular Alipay app accepts international Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB and other foreign cards directly, with passport verification, no top-up caps and no TourPass-style fees. If a guide tells you to install TourPass, it is outdated — set up standard Alipay instead (15 minutes, links below). Information verified September 2026.
What TourPass Was
TourPass was a workaround product Alipay launched in 2020 for short-term foreign visitors. At the time, Alipay’s main wallet required a Chinese bank account, so tourists had no way in. TourPass bridged the gap:
- You topped up a prepaid balance inside a TourPass mini-program using an international card
- The balance was capped by tier (reported tiers around ¥1,000 and ¥2,000) and expired after roughly 90 days
- Unused balances were refundable, and Alipay charged a small service fee on the arrangement
- It unlocked the same QR payments as a regular Alipay wallet
It solved a real 2020–2022 problem. It is also the reason search results are still full of “How to set up Alipay Tour Pass” articles — those guides rank well but describe a product you can no longer use.
Why It’s Gone
TourPass became obsolete the moment Alipay removed the problem it was designed around:
- July 2023: Alipay (and WeChat Pay) officially opened full wallet registration to foreigners with international cards linked directly — no Chinese bank account, no top-up intermediary
- March 2024: the People’s Bank of China raised foreign-card transaction caps substantially (on the order of $5,000 per transaction and $50,000 per year after passport verification), removing the tight limits that made capped tourist products necessary
- Alipay’s own international onboarding now directs every new foreign user through the standard wallet flow; TourPass no longer appears as an option for new users, and only its legacy service-agreement page remains online
In short: TourPass was a temporary bridge, the bridge was replaced by a highway, and Alipay stopped issuing new passes. We keep this page updated precisely because the stale setup guides still ranking make it look otherwise.
What to Use Instead: Standard Alipay
Everything TourPass did, the regular app now does better:
| TourPass (old) | Standard Alipay (current) | |
|---|---|---|
| International card | Yes, via top-up | Yes, linked directly |
| Balance cap | ~¥1,000–2,000 tiers | No tourist cap; standard foreign-card limits after passport verification |
| Expiry | ~90 days | None |
| Extra fees | Small service fee | None (standard card network charges may apply from your bank) |
| Setup time | Extra mini-program + top-up | One-time setup, then permanent |
Setup in one paragraph: download Alipay → register with your international phone number → verify your passport (photo page) → link your Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB card → pay anywhere QR payments are taken. Our How to Pay in China guide walks through each step, card-decline troubleshooting included. WeChat Pay works the same way and is worth setting up in parallel — see the WeChat guide.
Two practical notes from travelers using the current system: carry a backup payment method (a second card, or small cash) for the rare terminal that rejects a foreign card, and keep a power bank charged — a dead phone means no QR, no payment, no metro.
If You Already Have a TourPass Balance
TourPass balances were refundable through the mini-program while the service operated. If you find a residual balance on an old account, check Alipay → Bills / TourPass mini-program for the refund entry, or contact Alipay in-app support. New top-ups are not possible.
FAQ
Is Alipay TourPass discontinued? Yes — it is no longer offered to new users. It was a 2020–2022 era workaround; since Alipay opened direct international card support in 2023 (with caps raised in 2024), there is nothing TourPass did that the standard app doesn’t do better.
Can I still set up TourPass in 2026? No. You cannot install or top it up as a new user. Guides describing the setup are outdated — follow the standard Alipay setup instead.
What replaced Alipay TourPass? Nothing needs to “replace” it: the standard Alipay app now accepts international cards directly, without TourPass’s caps, expiry or fees. WeChat Pay is the equivalent second option.
Did TourPass charge a fee? Yes, a small service fee on the top-up arrangement, plus tiered balance caps around ¥1,000–2,000 and ~90-day expiry. All of that disappears with the standard wallet.
I’m visiting China for one week — do I still need to verify my passport in Alipay? Yes, and it is quick: passport verification unlocks meaningful spending limits and features like transit codes. Without it you are capped at low “unverified” limits that a week of normal spending can exhaust.
Does TourPass still work for users who had it before? The product is wound down; don’t build a trip around it. Every current payment scenario — shops, metro, food delivery, taxis — runs on the standard wallet, and setup takes minutes.
Information verified September 2026. Alipay’s legacy TourPass service agreement remains online as the official reference for the historical product; current wallet rules come from Alipay’s international onboarding and the PBOC payment-facilitation measures of March 2024.
Related: How to Pay in China — complete setup · Alipay for Metro & Bike Share · Chinese Internet Survival Guide