Yes — a bank wire (T/T) is the standard way to pay a Chinese supplier and needs no card at all. Alipay and WeChat Pay work if you have a mainland Chinese bank account. PayPal works only with sellers who accept it. Or a sourcing agent can pay the supplier in RMB for you.
Most factories in China have never expected you to have a credit card. The default payment for trade is a bank wire, usually called a T/T (telegraphic transfer). You send money from your bank to theirs; no card, no payment platform, no account to sign up for. For small orders the practical alternatives are Alipay, WeChat Pay, or having an agent pay on your behalf.
| Method | Best for | What you need | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank wire (T/T) | Orders of any size, especially larger ones | Supplier's company account name, account number, bank name, SWIFT/BIC | Slow (usually 1–5 working days); your bank and intermediary banks each take a fee |
| Alipay / WeChat Pay | Small orders, Taobao and some 1688 sellers | A mainland Chinese bank account to complete verification | Without a Chinese bank account you cannot fully verify, and the tourist versions have limits |
| PayPal | Sample orders and sellers who advertise it | A PayPal account | Most factories do not accept it; fees are usually added to your price |
| Sourcing agent pays for you | Multi-seller orders, 1688 and Taobao sellers who only take Chinese methods | One invoice from the agent | Choose an agent who shows you the supplier receipt |
| Western Union / MoneyGram | Tiny amounts when nothing else works | Recipient's name and ID details | High fees for the amount sent, and hard to dispute |
Fee and timing figures above are general ranges, not quotes. Your own bank's published charges and the receiving bank's charges decide the final number — check both before you send.
You will be given four details: the beneficiary name, the account number, the bank name and branch, and the SWIFT/BIC code. Take them from the supplier's official quotation or business licence, not from a chat message alone.
These two apps run almost all domestic payments in China, including Taobao and a growing share of 1688 orders. The catch is not the app — you can install it with a foreign phone number — but verification. To hold a balance, receive refunds or pay larger amounts you generally need a mainland Chinese bank card in your own name. Without one, you are limited to small tourist top-ups. For most overseas buyers this is the reason Alipay is not a real option on its own.
Some trading companies accept PayPal, and it is genuinely convenient for samples. But many factories refuse it: fees are charged to the seller, funds can be frozen while a dispute is open, and chargebacks are a risk for them. Where it is accepted, the cost is usually built into your price. Ask first — do not assume.
This is how most overseas buyers end up solving the problem. You pay one invoice covering goods, freight and the service fee, and the agent pays each supplier in RMB. Three things you gain:
Ask any agent for the supplier's actual receipt. If they will not show what the supplier charged, you cannot tell what you are really paying for.
Yes. A bank wire (T/T) is the standard method for orders of any size and needs no card at all. Alipay and WeChat Pay work if you have a mainland Chinese bank account linked. PayPal works only with sellers who accept it. Or a sourcing agent can pay the supplier in RMB on your behalf.
Some trading companies do, but most factories and many 1688 sellers do not, because PayPal fees are usually charged to the seller and funds can be frozen during a dispute. When a seller does accept it, the fee is often added to your price. Ask before you assume.
It is safe if the account is a company account whose name matches the business licence, and you confirm the details by a channel you already trust. It is not safe if the account is a personal one, or if the bank details were changed in an email. Always test with a small order first.
Yes. You pay one invoice for goods, freight and the service fee, and I pay each supplier in RMB. This also gives you access to sellers on 1688 and Taobao who only take Chinese payment methods, and the goods are inspected before they ship.
Buying from several sellers and not sure how to pay them? Send me the links and quantities. I reply with goods, freight and my service fee as one figure, in one payment.
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