I can load US dollars I hand over to the CVS attendant and load it on my AliPay (Alibaba account).

I can then pay my Alibaba server bills with Alipay.

Why not just go directly from a credit card to alipay? Does that not work when physically outside of China?

Is there an intermediary?

The cash doesn’t go directly from CVS to AliPay, right?

CVS also accepts alipay as a payment method, so they must have some kind of direct partnership. I don't see why they'd need an intermediary, although maybe they take the cash and just credit alipay some balance etc.

Super interesting and unexpected!

Thanks (to all!).