Recharging a China Mobile number via the app, holding a China Mobile SIM card

China Mobile Top Up Guide: 5 Ways to Recharge Your China Number

Last updated: September 4, 2026

Written by Harry Cheng, founder of China-Mobile-Phones.com. We've helped travelers, expats and international students navigate China SIM cards and connectivity since 2003 — independently of any single carrier, so we point you to whichever recharge method genuinely fits your situation.

Short answer: you can top up a China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom number five ways — the carrier's own app, WeChat or Alipay wallet, in person at a branch or self-service kiosk, Alipay Tour Pass (best if you don't have a Chinese bank card), or a third-party service like Ding.com or Monito (best if you're outside China or recharging for someone else). See which fits your situation below.

Whether you're topping up your own China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom number, or recharging one for family back home, there are several ways to do it — some built into the carriers' own apps, some via WeChat or Alipay, and some through third-party services designed specifically for people outside China. Here's how each one works, and which is realistically the easiest if you're not living in China full-time.

Which method should I use if I don't have a Chinese bank card?

2026 update: WeChat Pay and Alipay now both let you link a foreign Visa, Mastercard or JCB card directly, no Chinese bank account required — so Methods 1–3 are more realistic for travelers than they used to be. If you'd rather not set anything up in advance, Methods 4 and 5 need nothing but a card or a passport.

MethodBest forSpeed
Carrier app (Method 1)Anyone with WeChat Pay, Alipay, or a Chinese bank card already linkedInstant
WeChat / Alipay wallet (Method 2)Travelers who've linked a foreign card, or already use WeChat/Alipay locallyInstant
Branch / self-service kiosk (Method 3)Cash payers, or anyone near a carrier storeInstant, in person
Alipay Tour Pass (Method 4)Short trips, no Chinese ID or bank account, passport-only setupSame day
Third-party recharge service (Method 5)Recharging from outside China, or for someone else, with a home-currency cardUsually instant–minutes
Method 1

Top Up via the Carrier's Official App

Each carrier has its own app that handles top-up directly, with no third-party fees: China Mobile's "中国移动APP" (also called 手机营业厅), China Unicom's "中国联通APP" (掌上营业厅), and China Telecom's "中国电信APP" (电信营业厅). All three let you check your balance and recharge in a few taps.

  1. Download your carrier's official app from the Chinese App Store or the carrier's site (10086.cn for China Mobile, 10010.com for China Unicom, 189.cn for China Telecom).
  2. Log in with your China mobile number and SMS verification code.
  3. Go to "充值缴费" (recharge/pay bill) in the app's main or "我的" (My) menu.
  4. Enter the number to top up and the amount, then pay with WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, or a linked Chinese bank card.

The apps themselves are Chinese-language only, and as of 2026 you can fund the payment through WeChat Pay or Alipay with a directly-linked foreign card — see Method 2 for how to set that up.

Method 2

Top Up via WeChat or Alipay Wallet

If you already use WeChat or Alipay in China, both apps have a built-in phone top-up feature that works for any of the three carriers, plus each carrier runs its own WeChat official account/mini-program (e.g. a provincial "XX移动营业厅" account) for the same purpose.

  1. In WeChat: go to "我" (Me) → "服务" (Services) → "钱包" (Wallet) → "手机充值" (Mobile top-up).
  2. In Alipay: go to "我的" (Mine) → "充值中心" (Recharge Center) → "手机充值" (Mobile top-up).
  3. Enter the number to recharge (defaults to your linked number, but you can top up someone else's) and choose an amount.
  4. Confirm payment with your WeChat Pay/Alipay balance or linked card.

For travelers: both apps now support linking a foreign Visa, Mastercard or JCB directly, via passport verification, without needing a Chinese bank account. A processing fee (commonly cited around 3% on larger transactions) may apply — check current terms in-app before relying on it.

Method 3

Top Up in Person at a Branch or Self-Service Kiosk

Every China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom branch (营业厅) can recharge your number over the counter for cash or card, and larger branches usually have a self-service terminal (自助终端机) for the same thing without waiting in line.

  1. Find your nearest branch — search "中国移动营业厅" (or 联通/电信) on Baidu Maps or WeChat's built-in location search.
  2. At the counter or self-service terminal, give your phone number (or scan your SIM/ID if asked).
  3. Choose the top-up amount and pay by cash, UnionPay card, or by scanning WeChat Pay/Alipay at the terminal.

The most reliable option if you're paying cash and don't want to set up any app — useful for a short trip where it's not worth linking a payment method in advance.

Method 4

Alipay Tour Pass

Tour Pass is Alipay's dedicated prepaid RMB wallet for international visitors — built specifically so you don't need a Chinese bank account or ID to use mobile payments in China.

  1. Open the Alipay app (the international version) and search "Tour Pass" (旅行通) in the search bar.
  2. Verify your identity with your passport — takes a few minutes.
  3. Top up the wallet using a foreign Visa or Mastercard (typical top-up amounts run ¥200–¥2,000; a top-up fee, commonly cited around 5%, applies).
  4. The Tour Pass balance is used automatically for QR-code payments across mainland China, and may also support Alipay's phone top-up feature — worth testing with a small amount first to confirm.

Unused balance is typically refunded automatically after the pass's validity period (around 90 days) — check current terms in-app, as Alipay has adjusted Tour Pass limits and fees more than once.

Method 5

Third-Party Recharge Services (Ding.com, Monito)

If you're outside China, recharging for someone else, or just want to pay with a familiar card in your own currency, dedicated international top-up platforms handle the conversion and delivery for you — no China account, app, or ID verification needed.

  1. Go to your chosen provider (Ding.com [confirm this is your actual affiliate URL] or Monito).
  2. Enter the recipient's China mobile number and select their carrier.
  3. Choose an amount (common presets run 50–500 CNY, sometimes up to 2,000 CNY).
  4. Pay by credit/debit card; the recharge is typically applied within minutes.

Good for gifting or supporting family in China from abroad, or for a quick top-up before you land, since it doesn't require the recipient's phone to do anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I top up my China number myself through the carrier's app or WeChat?

Yes — China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom all have official apps and WeChat/Alipay wallet top-up features that recharge instantly. As of 2026, both WeChat Pay and Alipay support linking a foreign Visa, Mastercard or JCB directly, so this is realistically usable by travelers now, not just residents.

I don't have a Chinese bank card — can I still top up?

Yes. Alipay Tour Pass (Method 4) is designed exactly for this — passport-only setup, no Chinese bank account needed. Third-party services like Ding.com or Monito (Method 5) work too, using a card in your home currency. Cash in person at any carrier branch (Method 3) is also an option.

Does China-Mobile-Phones.com process the top-up itself?

No — we no longer offer a direct top-up order service. This page is a guide comparing the methods above; recharges are processed by the carrier, WeChat/Alipay, or the third-party provider you choose, not by us.

What if the carrier app or website loads in Chinese only?

The official carrier apps and WeChat mini-programs are Chinese-language only. Third-party services like Ding.com and Monito offer full English interfaces if you'd rather avoid that.

Can I recharge someone else's number, like a family member's, from abroad?

Yes — third-party recharge services (Method 5) are built for exactly this: enter their number, pick their carrier, and pay with your own card. No access to their phone or accounts is required.

Can I recharge an expired SIM card?

No — none of the methods above can recharge a number that's already expired or been recycled by the carrier. You'd need a new SIM in that case.

More Services for Your China Trip

Recharge methods above are operated by the respective carriers, WeChat, Alipay, or independent third-party services — China-Mobile-Phones.com is not responsible for outcomes or disputes arising from those systems. Fees, limits and app features change frequently; details here were accurate at time of writing but should be confirmed in-app before you rely on them.




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