Good news shopaholics! Roundabout has launched an online store, making shopping and giving back to the community easier than ever before.

Roundabout is a Beijing community favorite. They’re essentially Beijing’s Salvation Army, with clothes, furniture, new and pre-loved accessories, books, appliances, and basically any household stuff you can think of all under one giant roof. What’s more, profits from their sales go to fund good causes all over China. Think of it as guilt-free shopping.

Roundabout collects gently-used clothing and household items for redistribution to communities in need across the country. Their store in Shunyi houses paintings, sofas, and other secondhand treasures. Many of us who’ve moved houses in Beijing (or did any major seasonal cleaning) have found ourselves calling Roundabout to donate our beloved treasures knowing that they’ll find new homes with people who’ll appreciate them and help raise some money for worthy causes in the meantime.

While their giant warehouse store in Shunyi is still temporarily closed, their online store lets you keep up with the thrifting at home. You don’t even need to leave your bed or put on pants to shop. Scan the QR code below to start shopping.

The new online store’s interface is currently completely in Chinese, but there are enough graphics and photos that anyone with a basic understanding of online shopping can navigate the WeChat Mini-Program pretty easily.

Photos: Mina Yan, unsplash

One of the WeChat functions that you need to access right away is WeChat Wallet, as it can make your life in China easier in all sorts of ways. There’s information online about this function but unfortunately it gets outdated very quickly, as WeChat implements strings of updates to abide by new government regulations.

The Wallet function is readily available to WeChat accounts set up inside China (also if you downloaded the app here), but it’s hidden for accounts set up in the international version of the app. If you already have an account before moving to China, a quick way to activate WeChat Wallet is by asking someone who already has that function to transfer you a small amount of digital cash. When you try to receive that money, WeChat will prompt you to link a bank card or a mainland ID (exclusive to Chinese citizens) to verify your identity.

At the moment, WeChat Wallet allows linking of almost every local Chinese bank card, and a few foreign credit cards with MasterCard, Visa, or JCB. Linking your WeChat Wallet to your local Chinese bank card is easy, even if you set up your WeChat account overseas.

Step 1: To access WeChat Wallet, have someone transfer you any amount of money. It can be as little as RMB 0.01. Once you attempt to claim the money, you’ll be prompted to do a real name authentication. If you set up your WeChat account in China, you can skip this and move straight to Step 2.

Step 2: Select “Add New Card” to link your local Chinese bank card and you’ll be prompted to enter information, such as your full name, passport number, occupation, and region in China. Important note: Make sure you input your name the exact way as the bank inputted it into their system. The name field is case sensitive.

Step 3: WeChat sends a code to the phone number linked to your bank account. (This is a very common method of verification in China.) Enter the code in the appropriate box. Once you successfully linked your local bank card, the Wallet function will be available and should stay under the “Me” tab from now on.

At the time of writing, linking a foreign credit card to your WeChat Wallet is technically possible. However, several tech insiders who tried doing so have noted that the hassle of linking credit cards outweighs the benefits, since in many cases you cannot use the card to pay or transfer money outside of China. We recommend just using a local Chinese bank card.

Anyway, let’s have a run-through of the functions under the WeChat Wallet tab.

The first three icons, Money, Balance, and Cards are interlinked to one another.

Money is used when paying nearly every vendor in the country, from buying a laptop in a mall to buying leeks from a farmer at a wet market. Hold the QR code and bar code out to them, they’ll scan it, and the payment is made. Under this function are several items, but one that you’re likely to use is Receive Money, where people can scan a QR code to transfer you money.

Balance contains your digital money, including sums you received from digital red packets and transfers. Top Up withdraws money from your bank account ,and Withdraw sends money back to your bank account. On the top right side is Transactions that records the amount of money you received or released.

Cards is a list of connected bank cards.

The other functions are named in English but their separate pages are in Chinese. The one function that is in English all throughout is Mobile Top Up, which allows you to buy phone and data credits for your linked phone number.

This article appeared in the beijingkids June 2019 Home & Relocation Guide.

There’s a new level of verification on WeChat before you can use its WeChat Pay function, Beijing-based expats have said so after receiving this message on March 18 (Monday):

Naturally, some of us are like, “What did we do wrong?”, “Wait, what’s this?”… and so on. Several foreigners have also reported having difficulties transferring money using the app, paying Didi fares, or using NFC (near field communications) -based transactions. One person reported the verification process happens in transactions that reach the RMB 51 mark.

In several WeChat groups, people said they believe this new move may be part of tighter control of digital payments and something about annual money transfer limits.

If you “refuse” verifying your account by pressing the OK button, WeChat will send this message:

Unofficial translation

WeChat Pay Account Restriction Notice

Your account is not allowed to use the WeChat Pay function. Please upload your ID information.

Restriction begins: (time when WeChat sends you the message)
Restriction reason: According to the regulation, you need more ID information.

After some reluctance, I’ve tried to verify my individual account and so far, it is a very straightforward process.

Step 1

Fill in your information, which includes your valid ID (in this case, your passport number) and mobile number.

Step 2

Upload photos. There isn’t a clear requirement for the “Photo of You” part, so I just sent a studio photo just to be safe.

Step 3

Tap “Submit”. That “Customer service can process your request” part took less than 5 seconds. Once you sent these details, you can use the WeChat Pay function as if nothing happened.

What are those local regulations?

So far, WeChat has not yet explained the details of those “local regulations”. However, at the beginning of this year, the People’s Bank of China implemented a new regulation that requires WeChat and Alipay’s large quota transactions to be turned over, citing “gray areas” in mobile transactions in the e-commerce industry.

The People’s Bank of China also issued a notice on requirements for non-bank payment institutions to report large transactions. If the amount of single transactions on WeChat and Alipay is too large, specifically, if they exceed RMB 50,000 (and the foreign exchange exceeds USD 10,000), they must be cleared by the authorities.

What does this mean for your data?

We’re still trying to find out. Our team has called WeChat’s service hotline but we received automated responses. But it is important to note that WeChat already has a chunk of our information since we need to verify our account using our mobile number (which is linked to your passport) and banking information.

One PR practitioner, who wished to stay anonymous, believes the move is related to “tax and legality purposes”, though it happened without any notice.

“It’s annoying because it was working fine for a long time and now you need to register, and it will probably take a few days. A few days without Wechat pay is annoying. I actually thought they had all that information already, either via the bank connected to my account, or my mobile account, or my WeChat account.”

For Mike Shaw, global communications strategist at PR Newswire Asia, spending 30 seconds of sending more details to WeChat is not a big inconvenience, though he highlighted another risk.

“With every new regulation or ministry/agency that has oversight over transactions or access to capital flows, that’s one more lever that the government can pull at any time to make life difficult for foreigners here.”

“That may not be something that they are likely to do, but who knows what future circumstances will be like, or if the incentives for the government change?”

We’re still checking out the effects this change will have on normal transactions. We’ll update you as more information comes in.

Additional reporting by Kyle Mullin. Translation by Grace Zhang
Screenshots: Andy Penafuerte III

Just a few years ago, conventional wisdom held that China was a cash society. However, that is rapidly changing with the growth of mobile payment platforms like Alipay, Baidu Wallet, and WeChat Wallet. These cashless payment methods are now accepted not only on e-commerce sites, but also the majority of brick-and-mortar stores, supermarkets, and restaurants, and even at streetside food stalls. That said, using them still requires setting up a good old-fashioned domestic bank account.

Setting Up a Bank Account

Opening a bank account requires only a passport, a proof of address, and a minimal deposit, though you will need to bring a Chinese-speaking friend or colleague since most banks still do not have customer service in English. You’ll also need a Chinese mobile phone, which is used to verify your identity across a whole range of services. Be sure to note the details as the bank records them, particularly your name: have they put your surname first? Used your middle name? Put it all in capitals? These details are vitally important when setting up mobile payments (see below).

Unless your employer issues salary payments through a specific bank, it is best to base your choice on convenience. Be sure to open your account at a branch near your home or office since you will need to return to this location to replace lost or stolen cards. If your work involves a lot of domestic travel, consider a bank with ATMs nationwide such as Bank of China or ICBC. Domestic accounts carry a single withdrawal limit of RMB 2,500 and a daily withdrawal limit of RMB 20,000.

Take great care to avoid losing or damaging your card, as it is a hassle to get a new one. The replacement process can take up to a week – or longer if it is a national holiday. It is impossible to withdraw money during the waiting period, even if you present your passport in person to a bank clerk. Many people maintain a second bank account or open another one rather than wait for the replacement card, then wire money from the old account to the new one.

All the “Big Four” banks offer online banking in English: Bank of China (BOC), China Construction Bank (CCB), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and Agricultural Bank of China (ABC). Their usability varies, and you may run into problems using your passport number as ID with systems set up for an 18 digit Chinese ID number. The best online and mobile services are probably those of China Merchants Bank, but for everyday purposes, Alipay and WeChat Wallet are far more useful, if not essential. These payment platforms can also be used to make online transactions, find deals, buy movie tickets, pay utilities, give money to friends, and much, much more. See pages 12-16 for our guide to setting up your WeChat Wallet.

Transferring Money Overseas

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) severely restricts the outward flow of renminbi, so it can be difficult for expats to get money out of the country. The limit for overseas transfers is a paltry USD 500 per day for foreigners. Though both foreign and Chinese nationals are limited to USD 50,000 per year for accounts held in RMB, Chinese nationals can wire that amount in one transaction.

If you are an expat working for a foreign company and paying all your taxes, your company should be able to apply on your behalf for a wire transfer of over USD 50,000 without issue. If you do not work for a foreign company, the simplest way to transfer a considerable sum of money overseas is to go through a trusted Chinese friend or colleague. You will need your passport, domestic bank card, the details and address of your foreign bank account, its SWIFT code, and the permanent address tied to that account.

The bank will require you to convert the renminbi to the foreign currency in-house before making the transfer. Charges vary and include a basic commission fee, plus a small percentage of the amount being transferred (typically 0.01 percent). For reference, Bank of China has a basic commission fee of RMB 80 while China Merchants Bank charges RMB 100.

Alternatively, Alipay and the Bank of Shanghai offer an international transfer service that allows Chinese nationals to wire money for a reasonable commission fee. The transfer must be done from a Chinese national’s Alipay account, so again, choose someone you trust.

Another option is Western Union, which has higher transfer limits but only allows transfers in USD or EUR. In addition, someone has to receive the money transfer, which means you have to provide their name, address, city, state, country, phone number, and gender. Commission fees vary from USD 15-30 depending on the amount being wired. Western Union counters can be found in selected branches of Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Post, and more. For a list of locations, visit www.westernunion.cn/en or call 800 820 8668 (press 2 for service in English).

A Word of Caution

It can be tempting to use illegal methods to move money out of the country, but do not do it – it is simply not worth the risk. When in doubt, retain the services of a tax lawyer who is well-versed in Chinese capital control regulations. Keep in mind that you can carry the equivalent of up to USD 5,000 in cash when flying out of the country; anything between USD 5,000 and 10,000 must be declared and amounts of over USD 10,000 are prohibited.

On a lesser note, beware of fake bills. There is little incentive to turn them in, as banks will usually not replace money lost. As a result, people often try to shift fake bills onto others. For example, some taxi drivers have been known to surreptitiously replace a real RMB 100 bill with a fake one and make a big show of examining the money, only to claim the customer gave them a fake bill. Carry smaller denominations whenever possible and always be aware of your surroundings. Even ATM machines have been known to dispense fake bills, so count your money on the spot and go straight to the bank counter if you spot a fake.

Photos: Negative Space via Pexels.com
This article appeared on p46-47 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

As normal with the Beijing events cycle, we expect the summer to slow down, then pick up in August and beyond. Although we’ll keep this weekly post running over the summer, we encourage you to check out our events directory full of ongoing summer activities, from classes to camping trips. Only free, unique, and the best of next week will appear here. If you are a planner at heart, sign up for our Top Picks Newsletter, where we let you know the best of Beijing events significantly far into the future. You’ll never miss out on tickets!

Free Events

PMM Women Community Dinner, July 5
Adults. Vanessa Jencks, current writer and managing editor of beijingkids magazine will share funny and sad experience through her trial by fire time, helping her to come to the definitive decision that family comes first, especially when life is going wrong. Free. 7.30-9pm. In and Out 一坐一忘丽江主题餐厅 (wechat: mariamski)

Dance: Set the Rueda World Record! Saturdays and Sundays in July
Ages 13+ and up. Rueda is a large, swirling dance originating in Cuba that has partners change with partners. The last world record was set in Greece in 2014, but in the most populous country in the world, surely this record can be beat! Free. Saturdays in Chaoyang Park 5-7pm, Sundays in Olympic Forrest Park 5-7pm (Call or WeChat: 18811191765)

Learn How to Use Wechat Pay, July 9
Ages 14+. Students will learn how to use Wechat Pay and also learn some basic relevant vocabulary. RSVP by July 8. Free. 11am-Noon. Sinology Institute (WeChat id: mmmichellecli)

The Schoolhouse Community Service Day, July 9
Ages 8+ Every year The Brickyard Inn has a community service day to give back to their community. The proceeds of the lunch service go to the elderly of their village and township. Participation by companies and organizations is welcome. Free. Noon-3.30pm. The Brickyard Inn and Retreat Center at Mutianyu Great Wall 瓦厂 (info@theschoolhouseatmutianyu.com)

Unique Events

3D Flying Symphony, July 8
All ages. This spellbinding, classical concert is designed for the young. It comprises of live performances by a full symphony orchestra, accompanied by an original 3D animated film created for the show. The first act, “Carnival of the Animals” is followed by an act inspired by the Nutcracker. RMB 20. 7.30pm – 9.00pm. Beijing Concert Hall (Buy tickets here).

Storytelling in Bookworm Café, Saturdays
Ages 5-12. This summer storytelling program runs from July 9 to August 6, and is an interactive English storytelling program that will include brunch, games, and music time. RMB 249 per session with discounts available. The Bookworm (sue@beijingbookworm.com)

Next week

Summer Day 2016, July 11-August 12
Ages 1.5 – 6. The Children’s House Summer Camp at its Kempinski Campus and China World campus will play in Chinese and English. Daily programs include nature arts and crafts, music, story tales and lots more. RMB 1,500 (half-day program per session) RMB 3,000 (full-day program per session) The Children’s House (info@montessoribeijing.com)

8th International Youth Summit on Energy and Climate Change (IYSECC), July 12-15
Ages 14+. IYSECC is a pioneering international youth meeting on energy and climate change in China. It aims to discuss youth how to accept opportunities and challenges better which bring by the global green revolution. RMB 488+ 8.30am – 5.30pm. Zhongguanyuan Global Village PKU (Register here)

Grug and the Rainbow In Beijing, July 14- July 31
Ages 5+. Featuring exquisite puppetry and more of the gentle storytelling that has delighted audiences around the world, this brand new show has been especially created for the next generation of our littlest theatre goers (and those who just love Grug and his quest for the rainbow). RMB 200+. 2.30pm-4.30pm. Multi-function Hall of Tianqiao Art Center (ponypiao@damai.cn)

Active Summer Camp at Kerry Hotel, July 18 – July 29
Ages 8+. Join Adventure Zone’s Active Summer Camp and energize your body and mind. Boost up your skills in this multi-sports program offering fun sports such gymnastics, karate, swimming, volleyball, fencing and more. RMB 2,750 (one week). RMB 4,500 (two weeks). Kerry Centre (adventurezonebeijing@thekerryhotels.com)

Photo Courtesy of DJ Wawa

China has over 150 online shopping retailers, some we’ve written about before, and others we will be writing about later (shopping for kids, groceries, etc.). When you’re tired of browsing Taobao, here’s nine legit websites that sell a wide variety of items for you to choose from. Don’t forget, if you get their apps, you’ll instantly save money!

ETAO.COM 一淘

Etao is actually not an online shopping site, but an online-shopping search engine run by Alibaba.  For those unfamiliar with the service, an online-shopping search engine is basically a price and availability comparison tool. Etao includes items from foreign shopping websites as well as brick-and-mortar stores. It also finds you “special offers” on groupon type websites.

For example, if I want to find a pair of Adidas Los Angeles sneakers, I can type in the search box, narrow down my price range, and then I can even see how the price has changed over the past few weeks (to decide if I should wait longer before purchasing). From my search, I see that the price has dropped from RMB 550 to RMB 349 in less than a month!  All in all, a service worth testing out

DANGDANG.COM 当当

Dangdang started out in 1999 as the largest online bookstore in China, providing over 600,000 Chinese books.  As with most online retailers, DangDang has also branched out to sell other products, such as home appliances, clothing, tech, and anything a mother might want to buy (e.g. baby and kid stuff).

It should be noted that DangDang was in the news in 2014 for poor seller requirements, having been discovered by CCTV news.  A Beijinger had purchased all his Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, and other cosmetics from the local Beijing wholesale market, Tianzhaotian and made a small fortune.  Of course, DangDang took precautions and removed quite a few of its stores following the scandal, but perhaps the store is better suited for buying what it was originally meant to sell: books.

Specialties:

Books, audio (music) and visual (DVD) products

Payment methods:

Cash on delivery, money transfer, online payments (Union Pay online payment, 99bill, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Pay Ease, net banking), and gift cards

NEWEGG.CN

Newegg, the second-largest online-only retailer in the US, launched its Chinese e-commerce website in 2010. It advertises itself as “foreign direct purchase”, which means that goods are directly shipped from “foreign” warehouses. Newegg also advertises a superior shopping experience for consumers, rapid delivery, and stellar customer service.

Newegg is typically known for its “geeky” electronics in the US, selling PC components, hard-to-find PC, tech, and other gaming gear and accessories, and better-than-Best-Buy prices for electronics. In China, it also sells computer parts and accessories, electronics, cell phones, and other high-tech products. However, it has branched out to include more household appliances and baby gear.

Yes, baby gear, including products targeting mothers: baby clothes, children’s toys, car seats, strollers, and infant formula.

Specialties:

It features cell phones, computers, household appliance, and other high-tech products.

Payment methods:

Cash on delivery, online payment (bank payments, Unionpay, Alipay, Yeepay, Sumpay, Yingdian Life Card, Tenpay), quick payment, bank wire transfer.

YOU.163.COM 严选

Yan Xuan, which translates to “picks” or “selection”, is a NetEase lifestyle online retailer similar to its RMB1 groupon-like shopping platform.  It has a pleasant, clean design and only sells well-known foreign brands of a certain quality.  Certain products of a few well-known brands include: Carter’s (only the natural line), Muji, and Coach (only leather items). For said products, if they are available in China, they’re sold at a lower price.
Yan Xuan advertises itself as a filter that chooses high-quality products for the sake of the consumer. They select goods with high-quality raw materials, natural materials, low to no formaldehyde (toxic pollutant), made with imported technology (even if domestically made), and guaranteed authenticity. All the products sold on the site are approved by third-party testers: SGS, BV, ITS TOP.

Specialties:

Natural products under the categories of: home, clothing (including maternity), kids’ clothing, accessories (including pollution masks), and food (Muji-style snacks, teas, herbs).

Payment methods:

Credit cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Union Pay

YIHAODIAN.COM / SAM’S CLUB

Yihaodian (YHD) translates to “Number One Store”, and it truly strives to be the first with its comprehensive selection of, well, everything.  In addition to the typical items you might normally pick up at a grocery store, YHD also has mobile phones, cameras, computers, and other household electronics. Its selection is similar to Carrefour’s, just online, and ships free to your home with any purchase over RMB 68.

What makes YHD special is its cooperation with Sam’s Club (owned by Wal-Mart), the US wholesale/warehouse super store (similar to Costco).  For RMB 260 a year, you can buy a Sam’s Club Membership, which is valid in-store (Shijingshan, Yizhuang) and online. The YHD outlet for Sam’s Club has special offers for their 3,500 food import products, and is also accessible via the YHD app.

Specialties:

Food, beverages, household products

Payment methods:

Cash on delivery, online payments (bank, union pay, 99bill, Alipay), bank transfer, gift cards, and other payments.

JUMEI.COM 聚美优品

Jumei literally translates to “super beauty” or “super beautiful”, and carries exactly what you would expect from its name. Primarily, Jumei is visited for its beauty products, including cosmetics and makeup. If you click on their beauty products drop down menu, you’ll find a really narrow categorization to help you instantly find what you’re looking for. For example, you can look under Skincare and click on “eyeliner pencil” without having to do a search or load any other pages.

In addition to beauty products, Jumei also features clothing, fitness products, shoes, bags, and accessories. Jumei also has a selection of men’s products.

Jumei trades publicly in the US market and is thus considered the most reliable online retailer for US beauty products.  They have a 30 day return policy, fast delivery (free if total purchase over RMB 159), and a guarantee that your order will leave its warehouse within 1.5 hours after order processing.

Specialties:

Foreign brands, such as: Lancome, Clarins, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, L’oreal, Laneige, SK-II, Avene, Innisfree

Payment methods:

Online banking, payment upon arrival of goods, and Alipay

AMAZON.CN

Before Amazon came to China, there was a Chinese version of Amazon called Joyo. Basically, Amazon in China is the same as Amazon in the rest of the world, with its major categories being: imported goods, fashion, books, electronics, gifts, household products, children’s stuff, and kindles.

The best thing about the Amazon website is that you can change the interface to English, but unfortunately the product titles and descriptions, the majority of links, and the details will all still be in Chinese.

Specialties:

Import goods, kindles, lightning deals

Payment methods:

Amazon pay, pay on delivery, Amazon account (prepaid, Paypal, credit/debit cards, gift cards), online payments (Alipay, Tenpay, net banking)

TMALL.COM天猫

If you’ve heard of Taobao, you’ve probably heard of Tmall (called “sky cat” since 2012) as well. Tmall is the more “legit” version of Taobao under Alibaba.  What this means is that in order to register a flagship store on Tmall, a company has to have either a unique brand or be an official brand representative (with proper documentation), meet the minimum requirements, and have enough investment (let’s just say it’s a lot more than Taobao vendor requirements).  It’s probably one of the largest B2C platforms in China, with about 70,000 brands from over 50,000 vendors, including international brands such as Nike, Dell, Ray-Ban, Uniqlo.

Tmall also has a Hong Kong based international website for its foreign import goods that are stored in China’s free-trade zones. As expected, this site mostly features import cosmetics, beauty products, and baby items (e.g. baby formula).

Specialties:

International brand flagship stores, independent brand products

Payment methods:

Cash on delivery, Alipay, net banking, bank transfer, credit cards.

JD.COM

If you’ve been in China for a while, you’ll remember that Jing Dong (JD) used to be called 360buy with its own merchandise line.  JD operates with a similar model to Amazon in that it delivers goods directly from its warehouses to customers and doesn’t have a middle man.  JD is most often complimented for its incredibly fast delivery service (can be within hours) and its product reliability (genuine products).

What makes JD the most convenient shopping site in this list?  JD can also be found in your WeChat application under Me – Wallet – Scroll down to “Powered by third party operator” – Specials.

In addition, JD has a Hong Kong based website called JD Worldwide, which features international brands stored in a different set of warehouses located in China’s free-trade zones. For customers outside China and Hong Kong, JD has an all-English (and Russian) website called JoyBuy, which only accepts Paypal.

Specialties:

JD has categorized its website like a department store with a total of 11 floors, with the most notable being their electronics section:

1. Clothing, Shoes, Bags; 2. Toiletries, Cosmetics, Beauty products; 3. Mobile Phones; 4. Household Appliances; 5. Computer products; 6. Sports and Fitness; 7. Home Life; 8. Maternity, Children, Toys; 9. Health, Food; 10. Books, Music; 11. Car accessories and supplies

Payment methods:

Cash on delivery, online payment (WangYin, Union Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay), installment, wire transfer, post office remittance

Photos: Jessica Suotmaa

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