If you're living abroad and often shop from China, you've probably used CAINIAO's consolidation shipping, a convenient way to bundle multiple packages into one international shipment and save money.
But here's the tricky part: paying for the shipping fee when you don't have a Chinese bank card or Alipay balance.
Good news here! Now you can now pay directly using Apple Pay! In this article, I'll show you exactly how to do it, step by step, and how to save up to ¥300+ (about $50) in the process.
If you want to see this guide in video format, please check the following video:
🧭 What You'll Learn in This Guide
- How to merge multiple packages in the CAINIAO app
- How to apply discount codes for up to 15% off
- How to use Apple Pay for Taobao's foreign currency payment
- How to enable “Unpack product packaging” to reduce weight and cost
- What to check after payment and before shipment
0. Clip the 15% OFF Coupon
1. Start with Order Merge
Open the CAINIAO app and go to your Order Merge page.
In my example, I'm shipping a few small toys I bought for my kid — they're much cheaper to buy in China.
I selected the Eco General shipping method, which is CAINIAO's most cost-effective international option. Before applying any discounts, the total cost was ¥1008 RMB (around $140 USD).
2. Apply Discounts and Coupon Codes
CAINIAO often offers monthly promotions, such as a 15% OFF coupon on the homepage. You can clip it before checkout.
Then, during the checkout process, enter the discount code “USAVE.”
Once both are applied, you'll see the total drop significantly — in my case, from ¥1008 to ¥856 RMB (about $120 USD).
That's already a nice saving, but there's another trick coming up that saves even more.
3. Unpack Product Packaging to Reduce Shipping Weight
Before confirming your order, look for the option labeled:
“Unpack product packaging.”
This option allows CAINIAO staff to remove unnecessary boxes, fillers, and wrapping from your items before repackaging. It's particularly useful if you're shipping toys, clothes, or everyday goods — basically anything that doesn't need the original retail box.
By doing this, CAINIAO recalculates your shipping weight after removing all that excess packaging. In my case, this step reduced the fee by another ¥357 RMB (about $50 USD)!
After all the discounts and unpacking adjustments, I ended up paying only ¥500 RMB (roughly $70 USD) for the shipment.
That's more than 50% off the original price.
4. Use Apple Pay to Complete the Payment
Now, let's go through the payment process — this is where most people get stuck because the interface switches between English and Chinese.
- On the CAINIAO checkout page, choose “Taobao Foreign Currency Payment.”
- Tap “Checkout.” It will automatically redirect you to the Taobao app for payment.
- The Taobao payment page will be in Chinese. Don't panic — just scroll all the way down and click the yellow button at the bottom that says “Pay the shipping fee (支付运费).”
- Under Payment Methods, select Apple Pay.
- Alternatively, you can add a credit card issued by a U.S. bank.
- The Apple Pay window will pop up. Choose your preferred card (I used my Apple Card) and complete the transaction using Face ID.
Once payment succeeds, it won't automatically jump back to the CAINIAO app. Simply return to CAINIAO manually.
5. Final Cost Breakdown
| Item | RMB (¥) | USD ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Original Price | 1128 | 156.67 |
| After USAVE Coupon | 1008 | 140.00 |
| Less 15% Discount | 856.8 | 119.00 |
| Unboxing Discount | 357 | 49.58 |
| Final Price (approx.) | 500 | 69.44 |
| Total Discount | 628 | 87.23 |
💡 Total Savings (from the original price): ¥628 (about $87.23 USD) (≈ 55.7% OFF)
6. Conclusion
Using Apple Pay to pay for CAINIAO's consolidation service is not only simple — it's also one of the best ways for overseas shoppers to cut unnecessary costs.
With the right combination of discounts, unpacking, and foreign currency payment, you can easily turn a ¥1000 shipping fee into a ¥500 one — and never worry about Alipay or bank restrictions again.
If you found this guide useful, feel free to share it with other overseas shoppers — and happy shipping!