What is Nihao China?
Nihao China (你好中国) is UnionPay International’s super app for foreigners, launched December 2025.
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Launch Date | December 2025 |
| Operator | UnionPay International |
| Main Features | Payment, transport, tax refund, navigation |
| Supported QR | UnionPay + Alipay + WeChat Pay |
The Killer Feature: Unified QR Scanning
| Traditional | Nihao China |
|---|
| Alipay app + WeChat app + UnionPay app | One app scans all three |
💡 Scan Alipay, WeChat Pay, AND UnionPay QR codes—all with one app!
How to Sign Up
Registration Steps
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Download Nihao China from App Store or Google Play |
| 2 | Sign up with email or Apple ID |
| 3 | Add foreign-issued card (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay) |
| 4 | Complete card verification |
| 5 | Start using |
Requirements
| Requirement | Needed? |
|---|
| Email or Apple ID | ✅ Yes |
| Foreign-issued card | ✅ Yes |
| Chinese bank account | ❌ No |
| Chinese phone number | ❌ No |
| Passport upload | ❌ No |
💡 Advantage: Much simpler signup than Alipay/WeChat!
Set Up Before You Travel
✅ Download, sign up, and add cards from your home country—everything works.
Supported Cards
| Card | Supported |
|---|
| Visa | ✅ |
| Mastercard | ✅ |
| UnionPay (foreign-issued) | ✅ |
⚠️ Note: China-issued cards don’t work. Foreign-issued cards only.
Language Support
| Feature | Languages |
|---|
| App Interface | English, Chinese |
| Real-time Translation | English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian |
Transaction Limits & Fees
| Type | Amount |
|---|
| Per Transaction | $5,000 |
| Annual | $50,000 |
Fees
| Transaction Amount | Fee |
|---|
| Under ¥200 | Free |
| Over ¥200 | 3% |
Real-Time Exchange Rates
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Currencies | 160+ countries |
| Rate Display | Real-time rates shown in app |
How to Pay
QR Scan Payment
Nihao China’s biggest advantage: One app, three payment networks!
| QR Type | Scannable? |
|---|
| UnionPay QR | ✅ |
| Alipay QR | ✅ |
| WeChat Pay QR | ✅ |
How to pay:
- Open Nihao China app
- Open payment scanner
- Scan any QR code (UnionPay/Alipay/WeChat all OK)
- Enter amount (if needed)
- Confirm payment
Coverage
| Metric | Scale |
|---|
| Supported Services | 1,000+ scenarios |
| Connected Platforms | 300+ |
Transport Payment
Metro/Bus
| Feature | Support |
|---|
| Metro QR Top-up | ✅ 43 cities |
| Bus QR | ✅ 1,760+ county-level areas |
| Transport Card Top-up | ✅ Direct in-app |
💡 No separate transport card needed—ride directly with the app!
| Platform | Use |
|---|
| 12306 | Train tickets |
| Ctrip | Hotel booking |
| Meituan | Food delivery, restaurants |
| Eleme | Food delivery |
| JD.com | Shopping |
Tax Refund
| City | Support |
|---|
| Beijing | ✅ |
| Shanghai | ✅ |
| Other cities | Expanding |
Additional Features
English Maps & Navigation
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| English maps | ✅ Supported |
| ATM finder | ✅ Supported |
| Currency exchange finder | ✅ Supported |
| AI Assistant | Tourist spots, transport, restaurant recommendations + custom routes |
Coming Soon (Early 2026)
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Virtual SIM | Activate data instantly on arrival |
| Visa Services | Application guidance, booking, status tracking |
| Booking Services | One-tap museum/attraction reservations |
Troubleshooting
Card Verification Failed
| Cause | Solution |
|---|
| Card blocked by issuer | Enable international online payments |
| Name mismatch | App profile name must exactly match card name |
| Not foreign-issued | China-issued cards don’t work |
Verification Code Not Arriving
| Cause | Solution |
|---|
| Network issue | Toggle airplane mode to reset |
| Email issue | Try different email or Apple ID |
Payment Rejected
| Cause | Solution |
|---|
| International disabled | Enable in card issuer’s app |
| Limit exceeded | Check daily/monthly limits |
| Fraud protection | Contact issuer about China travel |
Refund Timing
| Card | Refund Time |
|---|
| Visa | ~90% within 1 day, ~99% within 3 days |
| Mastercard | ~95% within 3 days |
| Some EU cards | Up to 7 days |
Backup Payment Methods
| Priority | Method | Why |
|---|
| 1 | UnionPay physical card | Direct card payment |
| 2 | Cash (yuan) | Emergencies |
| 3 | Alipay/WeChat Pay | Same card, different app |
| 4 | Multiple cards | Backup if one fails |
Nihao China vs. Alipay
| Comparison | Nihao China | Alipay |
|---|
| Signup Difficulty | Easy (email only) | Medium (passport verification) |
| QR Compatibility | All three networks | Alipay only |
| Transport top-up | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tax refund | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch | Dec 2025 (new) | Long-established (stable) |
Supported Cards from Your Country
| Card Type | Works? |
|---|
| Foreign Visa | ✅ Yes |
| Foreign Mastercard | ✅ Yes |
| Foreign UnionPay | ✅ Yes |
Summary
Nihao China Advantages
| Advantage | Details |
|---|
| Unified QR | Scan UnionPay + Alipay + WeChat |
| Easy signup | Email/Apple ID only |
| Transport integration | 43 cities metro + bus |
| Tax refund | Beijing, Shanghai |
| 300+ platforms | Train, hotel, delivery, etc. |
Pre-Trip Checklist
Before departure:
After arriving in China:
