Overview
- Effective today, Apple Pay accepts Visa credit cards issued by ICBC, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, China CITIC Bank, Ping An Bank, and Industrial Bank.
- Visa debit cards are initially supported from China CITIC Bank, with additional banks such as Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, China Minsheng Bank, and China Everbright Bank expected to join in the coming months.
- Mainland users can add eligible cards through participating bank apps or the Wallet app, then make contactless in‑store and online payments while traveling using iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.
- Transactions require Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode plus a one‑time dynamic security code, and device tokens replace actual card numbers to protect sensitive data.
- Apple notes that Mastercard is preparing comparable Apple Pay support for some issuers in the near future, expanding options beyond the prior UnionPay‑only limitation for locally issued cards.