China runs almost entirely on mobile payments — Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted everywhere from five-star hotels to street food vendors. Cash still exists, but many places in cities prefer digital payments, and some smaller restaurants no longer accept it at all.
As a foreign visitor, the single most important thing you can do is set up Alipay before you land. It accepts foreign Visa and Mastercard cards and works without a Chinese bank account.
Be prepared before you arrive — setting up Alipay or WeChat Pay is much easier at home on a reliable connection than scrambling at the airport.
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Alipay
Accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard directly. No Chinese bank account needed. The easiest option for tourists.
Recommended
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WeChat Pay
Now supports foreign cards via the app. Especially useful if you're already using WeChat to message locals.
Good Option
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Cash (RMB)
Still accepted everywhere by law, and essential in rural areas and smaller towns. Keep some as a backup.
Backup
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Foreign Cards
Visa and Mastercard work at international hotels and some larger stores. Rarely accepted at restaurants or smaller shops.
Limited Use
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Alipay
Recommended for foreign visitors — no Chinese bank account required
Alipay has made a genuine effort to welcome international visitors. The app lets you link a foreign Visa, Mastercard, or JCB card and pay anywhere Alipay is accepted — which is virtually everywhere in China.
How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner
1
Download Alipay
Search "Alipay" on the App Store or Google Play. The international version now fully supports foreign users — no separate app needed.
2
Register with your home phone number
Alipay supports international numbers (+1, +44, +49, etc.). Verify via SMS as usual.
3
Add your foreign card
Go to Account → Manage Cards → Add Card. Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and JCB are all supported. A ~3% fee applies on foreign cards.
4
Verify your identity (recommended)
Scan your passport in-app to raise your spending limit. Without verification, you're capped at around ¥1,000 per transaction.
5
Pay — scan or show your QR code
Open Alipay → tap "Pay" → show your QR code to the merchant, or scan theirs. Done.
Alipay also covers DiDi (ride-hailing), food delivery, and some hotel bookings — making it a surprisingly complete tool for daily life in China.
Feature
Details
Cards accepted
Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, JCB, Diners Club
Transaction fee
~3% on foreign cards
Spending limit (unverified)
~¥1,000 per transaction / ¥50,000 per year
Spending limit (verified)
Higher — verify in-app with passport scan
App language
English available
Chinese SIM required?
No
VPN required?
No
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WeChat Pay
Social app and payment in one — now with foreign card support
WeChat is China's dominant messaging and social platform, with WeChat Pay built right in. Since 2023, international visitors can link a foreign Visa or Mastercard directly via the app's Pay section — no Chinese bank account required for basic payments.
WeChat Pay is worth setting up if you're already using WeChat to stay in touch with local contacts, since it keeps messaging and payments in one place.
Recommendation: Use Alipay as your primary payment method and WeChat Pay as a backup. If you're messaging locals on WeChat anyway, having Pay set up too costs you nothing extra.
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Best Uses
Paying at restaurants and shops, splitting bills with Chinese friends, and QR code payments at markets.
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Limitations
Some merchants' mini-programs require a verified Chinese ID. Foreign card linking can occasionally be finicky depending on your issuing bank.
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Cash & ATMs
Still useful — essential outside major cities
While Beijing and Shanghai are largely cashless, Renminbi (RMB, also called Yuan, ¥) is legally required to be accepted everywhere. Cash remains important in rural areas, older markets, small towns, and as an emergency backup. Carry ¥500–1,000 at all times.
Tell your bank you're travelling to China before you leave. Many banks block foreign ATM withdrawals as fraud prevention — your card can be frozen mid-trip if you don't notify them in advance.
Finding and Using ATMs
Bank of China, ICBC, and China Construction Bank ATMs reliably accept foreign cards — look for the Visa/Mastercard logo on the machine
ATMs are common at airports, international hotels, major shopping malls, and bank branches
Withdrawal limits: typically ¥2,500–3,000 per transaction, up to ~¥20,000/day
Fees: a local ATM fee of ¥15–30 plus whatever your home bank charges for international withdrawals
Always use ATMs inside bank branches or hotel lobbies — avoid standalone machines in convenience stores
Some international banks reimburse foreign ATM fees — Charles Schwab (US), Starling (UK), and Wise are popular choices among frequent travellers. Worth checking before you go.
Getting Cash at a Bank Branch
Bank of China branches can exchange foreign currency and process cash advances on foreign cards. Always bring your passport — it's required for all transactions. Bank branches are typically open Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm, with shorter Saturday hours at larger branches.
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Foreign Cards in China
Where they work — and where they don't
Don't expect to use your foreign credit or debit card for everyday purchases — but it does work in specific situations. International hotels and larger department stores are your best bet. UnionPay has the widest domestic acceptance of any card network in China.
Venue
Visa / Mastercard
UnionPay
Amex
International hotels (4–5 star)
Yes
Yes
Usually
Major department stores
Sometimes
Yes
Rare
Restaurants
Rarely
Sometimes
No
Street food / small shops
No
No
No
Convenience stores (7-Eleven etc.)
Rarely
Yes
No
Airports & train stations
Sometimes
Yes
Rare
Luxury retail / flagship stores
Yes
Yes
Yes
If your bank offers a UnionPay card (or a co-branded Visa/UnionPay card), it'll have the widest acceptance in China. Wise and Revolut cards also work at Chinese ATMs with lower fees than most traditional banks.
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Currency & Exchange
Getting RMB — rates, options, and what to avoid
China's currency is the Renminbi (RMB), officially denominated in Yuan (CNY / ¥). The colloquial term is kuài (块). Notes come in ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50, and ¥100 denominations.
Where to Exchange Money
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Best Rate
Bank of China
Official exchange rates with minimal markup. Branches at all major airports and city centres. Bring your passport. The most reliable option — slightly slower but worth it for larger amounts.
✅ Best rate🛂 Passport required🕐 Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
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Convenient but costly
Airport Exchange Booths
Exchange a small amount on arrival for taxis and transport. Rates are typically 3–6% worse than bank rates — change the minimum needed, then get better rates in the city.
⚡ Available on arrival📉 Poor rates
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Quick top-up
Hotel Front Desk
Most international hotels offer currency exchange. Rates are 2–5% worse than banks but convenient for small amounts when you need cash quickly.
🕐 Usually 24/7📉 Moderate rates
Never exchange money with street changers — it's illegal, and you'll almost certainly receive counterfeit notes or be shortchanged. Always use a bank or hotel exchange.
Approximate Exchange Rates
Currency
Approx. Rate to ¥ CNY
Notes
USD — US Dollar
~¥7.2
Most commonly exchanged; easy everywhere
EUR — Euro
~¥7.8
Widely accepted at all exchange points
GBP — British Pound
~¥9.1
Available at Bank of China branches
JPY — Japanese Yen
~¥0.047
Easy to exchange in major cities
HKD — Hong Kong Dollar
~¥0.92
Easy to exchange everywhere
AUD — Australian Dollar
~¥4.7
Available at main branches
CAD — Canadian Dollar
~¥5.3
Available at Bank of China
Rates change daily. Check the current mid-market rate on XE.com before you travel so you know what's fair when exchanging.
Taking Money In and Out of China
RMB limit: ¥20,000You can bring up to ¥20,000 in cash in or out of China without declaration.
Foreign currency: up to $5,000 USD equivalentAmounts above this must be declared at customs on arrival.
Exchanging unused RMB on departureYou can exchange leftover RMB back at the airport — keep your original exchange receipts as proof.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common money questions from foreign visitors
Technically yes — but it will be frustrating in cities. Many small restaurants and food stalls in Beijing and Shanghai now only accept Alipay or WeChat Pay, and staff may struggle to process cash. Larger supermarkets, convenience stores, and all hotels will still take it. We strongly recommend setting up Alipay before you go so you're not relying on cash alone.
Generally no. Apple Pay works at some NFC-enabled terminals, but coverage is inconsistent and rare. Google Pay is not widely supported. Neither replaces Alipay or WeChat Pay for everyday spending in China.
¥200–500 is a comfortable daily buffer if you have Alipay set up. If you're relying primarily on cash, ¥500–1,000 gives more flexibility. Withdraw in larger amounts to minimise ATM fees, and keep a small emergency reserve separate from your main wallet.
No — cryptocurrency trading and transactions are banned in mainland China. Do not attempt to use crypto for payments. China has its own digital currency (Digital Yuan / e-CNY) being trialled in some cities, but it's not widely accessible to tourists and Alipay will cover everything you need.
Don't panic. You can set it up after landing — connect to airport or hotel Wi-Fi first, then follow the registration steps. Cash from a Bank of China ATM will cover you in the meantime. Get Alipay working as soon as you have a stable internet connection.
Yes — Alipay charges approximately 3% on transactions made with a foreign card. Your own bank may also add a foreign transaction fee (typically 1–3%). To minimise costs, use a card with no foreign transaction fees — Wise or Revolut are popular options among travellers — linked to Alipay.
First, try a different ATM — Bank of China and ICBC are most reliable with foreign cards. If it still fails, call your bank's international support line (on the back of your card) to check if the card has been blocked for foreign use — this is the most common cause. Also check your daily withdrawal limit hasn't been reached. As a last resort, a Bank of China branch can process a manual cash advance with your passport.