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PayPal World Enables US Travelers to Pay Like a Local at Weixin Pay Merchants Across China

What happened
Based on PayPal Newsroom · Aug 11, 2026

PayPal announced US users can now pay at Weixin Pay merchants in China via the PayPal app using QR codes, eliminating the need for local wallets or bank accounts.

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PayPal World Enables US Travelers to Pay Like a Local at Weixin Pay Merchants Across China
PayPal Newsroom — PayPal
Key points
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New York, NY (August 11, 2026) — As international travel reaches its peak during the summer holidays, US PayPal users can now use the PayPal app to make in-store QR code payments at Weixin Pay merchants across China.
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No additional app, local wallet or Chinese bank account is required.
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China is home to one of the world’s most advanced QR payment ecosystems, where QR codes are the everyday way to pay for everything – from shopping malls and restaurants to convenience stores and tourist attractions.
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This comes as international travel to China continues to grow, with the country welcoming more than 68 million international visitors in 2025, up 15.5% year-over-year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
Key numbers
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5% year-over-year increase in international visitors to China in 2025, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

PayPal has launched a feature allowing US users to make in-store QR code payments at Weixin Pay merchants across China through the PayPal app, without requiring a local wallet or Chinese bank account. The service is powered by PayPal World, a cross-border network connecting major payment systems, and TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform. Travelers can scan merchant QR codes or present their own QR code for payment, using the familiar PayPal interface. The announcement coincides with a 15.5% year-over-year increase in international visitors to China in 2025, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

PayPal emphasized that the feature aims to simplify international payments by enabling US users to pay abroad as easily as at home. Alexander Bellabarba, Senior Vice President of Global Product Solutions at PayPal, stated that travel should focus on experiences rather than payment logistics. The company highlighted that PayPal World provides a familiar and trusted payment method for travelers, reducing friction in cross-border transactions.

TenPay Global, the cross-border arm of Tencent, expressed commitment to expanding interoperability in global payments. Wenhui Yang, CEO of TenPay Global (Singapore), noted that the collaboration with PayPal World will deepen ecosystem connections, allowing more international wallets to integrate with Weixin Pay’s merchant network. The goal is to offer travelers a convenient way to pay using their home wallets at tens of millions of Weixin Pay merchants in mainland China.

The in-store QR payment feature is available immediately for US PayPal users at Weixin Pay merchants across China. PayPal World operates as a cross-border payment network under PayPal Network Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based entity. More details are available on the PayPal World website.

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