UnionPay can mean the network on a physical bank card, the UnionPay App (云闪付), or a payment service in another wallet. Choose the route that fits the card and account you already have. Installing the app does not create a bank account or make every card eligible.
Start with the product you have
| Product | What it is | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Physical UnionPay card | A bank-issued card bearing the UnionPay logo. | China use, PIN, issuer fees and limits; the hospital’s card terminal. |
| UnionPay App / 云闪付 | An app for eligible cardholders, with QR-payment functions. | Your card’s issuing market, issuer and app registration eligibility. |
| Nihao China | A separate visitor app promoted by UnionPay International. | The current Tour Wallet, top-up or card-linking terms in the app. |
Use a physical UnionPay card
A physical card can be used through an accepting card terminal without first linking it to a mobile app. UnionPay International publishes mainland-China card-use guidance. For a hospital bill, ask the cashier about your card and check with your issuer before travel. UnionPay International: using a UnionPay card in mainland China.
- Check whether the card is enabled for use in China and whether a PIN or other verification is required.
- Ask your bank about purchase and cash-withdrawal limits, exchange rates and any fees. Do not assume all overseas UnionPay cards have identical terms.
- At the hospital, confirm the payment amount and currency before authorising. Keep the receipt and transaction reference.
1. Download the UnionPay App
- iPhone: open the UnionPay App Store listing from China Unionpay Co., Ltd. and tap Get.
- Android: use the UnionPay APP Google Play listing from China UnionPay and tap Install.
- If your store cannot provide it, use the download information on UnionPay International: UnionPay App activation. Avoid a similarly named payment app from a different publisher.
Shanghai’s current guide states that availability varies by market and card-linking depends on where the UnionPay card was issued and the issuer. A UnionPay logo alone does not prove that a card can be linked to your app account. Shanghai government: mobile payment instructions, September 2026.
2. Register and add an eligible card
- Open the app and select Me → Register.
- Choose the supported country code and enter your own phone number. Complete SMS verification and set a login password.
- In Cards, use + to enter or scan the eligible bank card.
- Complete the personal-information and real-name checks requested. Your cardholder and identity details must match the records used by the service.
- Enter the required SMS verification code and create the payment password when prompted. Activate the relevant payment function.
These steps follow UnionPay’s published activation guide. If your number, identity document or card is unsupported, ask UnionPay or the issuer about the correct route. Do not enter another person’s identity or assume a Visa/Mastercard can be linked through this UnionPay-card workflow. UnionPay International: UnionPay App activation.
3. Use the payment method the merchant accepts
For QR payments, either scan a supported merchant collection code or show the app’s payment code to the cashier. Check the selected card and final result. Ask the hospital which QR-payment service it accepts instead of assuming that every QR code works with every wallet.
A separate visitor option: Nihao China
UnionPay International’s visitor guide introduces Nihao China as a separate app. Its published quick start is: download it through your app store; register with an email address or mobile number; then open Tour Wallet. The guide shows a Tour Balance activation and top-up route, or a bank-card linking option using the + control. Follow the current prompts for eligibility and verification. UnionPay International: Nihao China quick-start guide.
A prepaid balance is different from charging a linked card for each purchase. Before adding money, read the available funding methods, fees, limits, expiry and remaining-balance refund terms. We have not verified that a particular overseas card can fund this wallet or that a hospital accepts it. Use the official visitor page to identify the app rather than an advertisement or reseller.
If the app does not work for you
You may still be able to use your physical card at an accepting terminal. Ask the hospital and issuer, or prepare Alipay, WeChat Pay or another confirmed option. For a larger bill, check the hospital payment checklist before the appointment.
Sources and last check
Checked on 31 October 2026 for mainland China. These instructions follow published official information; WellInChina has not completed a real passport verification, card-linking or payment test. Menus, eligibility, charges and promotions can change. Follow the current app prompts and confirm hospital arrangements separately.