What It's Like to Live in Cashless China

What does it take to integrate into Chinese society today?

Five years ago, it was learning to speak Mandarin without sounding like an ABC (American born Chinese). Today, it is whether you can keep up with the myriad of technology advances that include Wechat Pay, Alipay, and Didi (Uber equivalent). Getting stared at awkwardly for using cash at the local bun shop in Beijing, I started to feel out of touch with technology, in addition to being out of touch with modern Chinese society.

In the US, while brands are starting to experiment with the cashless experience, including AmazonGo, Starbucks and Sweetgreen, people are primarily using credit/debit cards and cash. The so-called 'Wild West' of China has made mobile payments ubiquitous and possible to pay for everything online and offline without carrying cash or a credit card. The question when you want to buy something is not cash or credit; rather, it is "你骚我还是我骚你", which means "Do you scan me or do I scan you?" Mobile payments are facilitated through two apps primarily, Alipay and Wechat Pay. Below is an example of a bakery, where you would open up your app of choice and scan the QR code to pay the vendor.

Left is for Alipay, right is for Wechat

Not setting up mobile payment is not just a nuisance for the vendors, but

even for your friends when you go out and try to split the bill. Because frankly, no one has change and no one wants to carry cash. In fact, I've come across several instances where I couldn't buy something because I only had cash, and not Alipay or Wechat Pay. If you think it's just when I try to buy food, think again. I tried to rent a coworking space in Sanlitun, Beijing at a top coworking space. Turns out, they only accept payment by Alipay.

After feeling like someone who time travelled from the 1800s, I finally cracked down and opened up a Chinese bank account, as mobile payment with Wechat Pay or Alipay cannot be set up with foreign bank accounts. Needless to say, having this set up has been such a life saver and has been one of the most life changing experiences of 2017. Returning to New York City and having to dish out my cash was, actually, kind of a hassle ironically.