Beijing practical guides
Dated how-to pages for Alipay, WeChat Pay, the Beijing airports, hospital registration, hotel check-in, and a 72-hour layover.
Updated: 2026-10. Beijing only.
01
How to set up Alipay with a foreign card in 2026
Bind Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Amex, JCB, Diners, or Discover in the Alipay app. Above ¥200, 2026 product pages show a 3% fee. The payment screen is the charge that counts.
02
Beijing airport arrival guide: SIM, eSIM, transport, and the first night
PEK or PKX, data before you leave the hall, then the Airport Express (¥25 at Capital, ¥35 on the Daxing airport run) or a metered taxi. Check in with the passport the same night.
03
WeChat Pay vs Alipay for tourists: which works with foreign cards
Both apps take foreign cards for merchant QR codes. WeChat’s June 2026 doc caps unverified use harder, and Beijing publishes a 60-day WeChat fee waiver. The payment screen wins.
04
How foreigners register and get seen at a Beijing hospital
A non-emergency visit is a passport, a registration window, and a queue. Hospital Day escorts and translates for a $320 service fee. It is not medical care, and it does not promise a slot.
05
Foreigner's guide to Beijing hotel check-in: registration and passport scans
A licensed Beijing hotel scans the passport and files the stay with public security. A short-stay rental that cannot register a foreign guest is the wrong bed. The room rate is separate.
06
72-hour Beijing layover itinerary
Use 72 hours for one logistics block and two sites. Eligible passports may apply at the airport for up to 240 hours of visa-free transit. The officer decides, and this page does not promise entry.