Tourist prepaid products change. Check before you load.
“A blog says I need a TourPass card, but I cannot find it.”
What to do now
Try these in order. Stop as soon as one works.
-
Check the official help centre
Open Alipay, go to Help, and search for the product name. Blog posts go stale fast.
About 5 min -
Bind your own card instead
Direct card binding covers most QR payments without a prepaid balance.
About 10 min -
Keep cash for the first day
Do not rely on a wallet product until one test payment succeeds.
About 2 min
Why this happens
Ranked by how often it is the cause.
The product was renamed, paused, or retired.
Search the official Alipay help centre for the current name.
Likelihood: high
The product is limited to certain regions or app versions.
Update the app and check the tourist section.
Likelihood: medium
Your passport verification is incomplete.
Finish identity verification before looking for wallet features.
Likelihood: medium
If that does not work
Get out of the queue first. Solve the payment later.
- Use Alipay with your own card
No top-up and no leftover balance.
- Use cash
Works before any app is set up.
- Try WeChat Pay
A second wallet gives you another route.
Setup guide: Prepaid Travel Cards for China: Do They Still Work? At this place: Paying at a Convenience Store in China as a Foreigner
Related problems
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or any card network. Rules checked 2026-10-26 (version 2026-10). Found a different error message? Send it to us.