# AI API Relay (中转站) Options — 2026

## 张哥's Profile
- Needs: free model for daily use + paid model (GPT-4/Claude) for hard tasks
- Must support domestic payment (Alipay/WeChat)
- Will NOT pay for a paid model unless explicitly agreed

## OpenRouter (Current — Already in Use)
- **Payment**: Alipay ✅, WeChat ✅ (confirmed by B站/CSDN tutorials)
- **Free tier**: 25+ models, 50 reqs/day (depletes to 2-3 real requests)
- **Paid tier**: 400+ models, pay-as-you-go + 5.5% fee
- **Note**: 张哥 may not know Alipay recharge works — offer to help navigate

## Alternative Aggregation Relays
| Relay | Price (per $1) | Models | Payment | Notes |
|-------|---------------|--------|---------|-------|
| KFCV50API | 0.2-0.8 元 | GPT+Claude | Alipay | Cheapest but az-pool may queue |
| azapi | 0.3-0.8 元 | GPT+Claude+Gemini | Alipay | Spring sale 0.3 |
| OpenAI-HK | ~0.9 元 | GPT+Claude+Gemini+MJ | Alipay | HK-located proxy |
| CloseAI | 1.5x official | GPT | Alipay | Enterprise-grade, Asia's largest |
| KKSJ | 0.9 元 | GPT+Claude+Gemini | Alipay | 0.9元/美元 |

## Self-Hosted Option (One API / New API)
- Open-source: deploy on your own VPS
- QuantumNous/new-api (GitHub 36k stars) — most active fork
- songquanpeng/one-api — original project
- Deploy on HK/Singapore VPS for best latency
- VPS cost: ¥20-40/month (野草云/VMiss HK)

## Regions NOT Supported by OpenAI Official API
OpenAI blocks API calls from: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore
→ These regions NEED a relay/proxy to access OpenAI models
→ What looks like "no providers in HK/TW" is actually OpenAI's geo-block

## Key Lesson
When 张哥 mentions specific Asian regions (HK, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand), search THOSE regions directly. Do NOT default to US or China providers. He has corrected this multiple times and it triggers frustration.