China is one of the most cashless societies on earth, and the payment system works differently for tourists than at home. The good news: since 2023, both WeChat Pay and Alipay accept foreign Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards. Set up at least one before you arrive — it’s used for everything from taxis and street food to museum tickets and hotels. Cash (Chinese yuan) is still worth carrying as backup — around ¥1,000–2,000 for your trip. Credit card swiping is rare outside international hotels.
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What are the main ways tourists pay in China?
There are three viable options — most travellers use a combination:
Option 1: WeChat Pay (recommended first choice) WeChat Pay is built into the WeChat app — the same app used for messaging, so you’ll have it anyway. Since 2023, you can link a foreign Visa, Mastercard or American Express card. Most vendors, restaurants, taxis, convenience stores and tourist attractions accept WeChat Pay QR scan. Setup takes about 10 minutes.
Option 2: Alipay Alipay’s “Alipay for Foreigners” feature also links foreign bank cards. Works in almost all the same places as WeChat Pay. Useful as a backup — occasionally one will work where the other doesn’t. Some airports and tourist areas have Alipay-specific kiosks.
Option 3: Cash (Chinese Yuan / RMB) Still universally accepted and essential as backup. Useful for: small street food stalls, wet markets, older establishments, rural areas, and situations where your phone battery is dead. Withdraw from ATMs at major Chinese banks (ICBC, Bank of China, China Construction Bank) — these most reliably accept foreign cards.
What doesn’t work reliably:
- Foreign credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) for direct swiping — only international hotels and some upscale restaurants accept these
- Apple Pay / Google Pay — not widely accepted at Chinese vendors
- Foreign bank cards at smaller ATMs — stick to major bank ATMs
How do I set up WeChat Pay with a foreign card?
Step 1 — Download WeChat (if you don’t have it already) from the App Store or Google Play.
Step 2 — Register with your phone number. Use your home country phone number. WeChat may ask for a friend’s WeChat to verify your account — ask a friend who already has WeChat to scan your QR code.
Step 3 — Go to: Me → Services → Wallet → Cards → Add Card
Step 4 — Enter your foreign card details. Visa, Mastercard and American Express from most countries are accepted. You’ll need your card number, expiry date, CVV, and the billing address registered to the card.
Step 5 — Verify with your bank. Your bank will likely send a one-time password (OTP) to your phone or email for security verification.
Step 6 — Set up your spending limit. New foreign card accounts have a default monthly spending limit (typically ¥3,000–6,000). For longer trips, you may need to increase this within the WeChat Pay settings.
Step 7 — Test with a small purchase. Before relying on it, make a small purchase (a convenience store item, ¥5–10) to confirm everything works.
⚠️ Do this before you arrive in China. The verification process occasionally requires access to services that are blocked in mainland China. Set up at home for a smoother experience.
→ How to set up WeChat Pay: full guide
→ How to use Alipay as a foreign tourist
How much cash should I bring to China?
With WeChat Pay or Alipay set up, you won’t need much cash. A practical guide:
- Short trip (7–10 days): ¥1,000–1,500 (approximately USD $140–210)
- 2-week trip: ¥1,500–2,500 (approximately USD $210–350)
- Longer trips: ¥2,000–3,000 or more, depending on how often you’ll be in rural areas
Where cash is most useful:
- Small street food stalls (some don’t accept mobile payment)
- Temple entrance fees at minor sites
- Rural areas and small towns
- Emergency backup when your phone battery dies
- Overnight trains (some food carts are cash only)
Getting cash: Withdraw from ATMs at major Chinese banks. The Bank of China and ICBC reliably accept foreign Visa and Mastercard. Avoid small independent ATMs — higher fees and more likely to decline foreign cards. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimise fees (typically ¥20–35 per withdrawal for foreign cards).
Currency exchange: You can exchange at the airport or at Bank of China branches. Rates at airports are slightly worse than in the city — if arriving in the morning, exchange a small amount at the airport and get a better rate in the city later.
How do tourists pay for things in China?
The main options are WeChat Pay or Alipay (both now accept foreign Visa/Mastercard/Amex cards), plus cash as backup. Set up at least one mobile payment app before you arrive — it’s used for nearly everything including taxis, restaurants, convenience stores and tourist attractions.
Can I use my credit card in China?
Foreign credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at international hotels and some upscale restaurants, but rarely at local restaurants, taxis, street food vendors or convenience stores. Don’t rely on swiping your card — set up WeChat Pay or Alipay instead.
Do I need to carry cash in China?
Not much, but some is recommended as backup. Around ¥1,000–2,000 for a 2-week trip covers emergencies, small street food purchases, minor attraction fees and rural areas. Withdraw from ATMs at ICBC or Bank of China for the best foreign card acceptance.
