Alternatively, there are also simplified options which require one application to offer the above - though at a slightly greater cost in terms of a higher transaction fee. There are several options available with regards to offering this, some of which require an application to each payment vendor directly (although bear in mind that this takes time and may require a native speaker to assist with getting set up). If you aren’t eligible for the above, this is where a third party payment gateway is the most viable option. For example, a Japan based Shopify store can offer AliPay though this requires an AliPay merchant account. More information for your region can be found here via Shopify. Shopify IntegrationsĪ direct integration with Shopify for China-based payment methods is possible, though this entirely depends on the origin of your Shopify store and banking entity location. This is where optimising for China is of increasing importance and offering localised payment methods is a great way to get started.

Typically, the Chinese firewall results in increased loading times on sites (due to Shopify CDN locations) meaning performance can take a hit, especially if your tech stack contains blocked technologies incompatible with China (for example, a cookie policy).

Whilst this is now an accessible means of going DTC in China, it’s still possible to sell direct via Shopify - despite China firewall restrictions. 'The Chinese Firewall'Īs a growing number of merchants look to China for expansion, you may be aware of the recent partnership between Shopify and JD.com (one of China’s leading online marketplaces) - making it easier to sell directly to China via a Shopify sales channel. For online merchants, not being able to offer a payment method such as these could certainly be make or break for your conversion rate and could lead to your store missing out on international customers.Transacting via AliPay and WeChat Pay is as easy as using your Apple or Google Wallet when purchasing a product, so it can easily transform your online checkout experience. This blog post has a specific focus on China with a more in-depth analysis and guidelines for offering Asian payment methods on a Shopify store.Īs of 2020, it’s estimated that UnionPay accounts for 45% of global card spending (second to Visa), whilst Tencent’s WeChat Pay has an estimated 900 million monthly users with AliPay sitting at approximately 600 million monthly users. Offering a broad range of payment options, particularly to cater for international markets is of growing importance for online merchants.

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