Paying in China: Cash, Cards and Wallets

Checked 1 November 2026. This is a summary of official and provider documentation, not the official text. Payment rules, app features, card support, limits and fees change. If anything here differs from an official source, the official source prevails. Confirm with your card issuer, Alipay or WeChat before you travel.

China is a mobile-first payment market, but a foreign visitor does not need to depend on a single method. The practical approach is to set up one mobile wallet, carry a card and keep some cash. Each covers a different gap.

Cash

Renminbi cash is legal tender in China. It remains useful for small purchases, rural areas, taxis and the occasional merchant whose QR payment is unavailable.

Practical points:

Withdraw from a bank ATM rather than relying on currency exchange desks at the airport.
Tell your bank you are travelling so the card is not blocked.
Keep small notes for convenience; large notes can be awkward in small shops.
Do not carry all your cash in one place.

International cards

International Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted at many hotels, shopping malls, airports and larger restaurants. Acceptance is less reliable at small local restaurants, convenience stores and independent shops.

Ask before you order if the amount matters.
A visible card terminal does not guarantee that your card is supported.
Keep a second card in a different place from your main one.
Some terminals require a PIN; know your card's procedure.

Alipay and WeChat Pay

Alipay and WeChat Pay are the two dominant mobile payment apps. Both have official international-user guidance and, in many cases, allow foreign visitors to link an international card.

The general flow:

Install the app from your app store.
Register with your mobile number.
Complete identity verification with your passport.
Add an international card in the payment settings.
Test a small payment before relying on it for a large one.

Alipay has an English interface and a traveller-oriented setup flow. WeChat Pay is built into WeChat, which many visitors use for messaging anyway. Having both is the most reliable arrangement, because some merchants display only one QR code.

Support for international cards, transaction limits, verification requirements and fees depend on your card, your country and the current app version. Check the app's official help pages shortly before you travel.

How QR payment works

There are two patterns:

You scan the merchant's code. Open the app, tap Scan, enter the amount and confirm. Common at small shops, market stalls and tea houses.
The merchant scans your code. Open the payment screen and show your barcode or QR code. Common in supermarkets, chain stores and restaurants.

Both are fast. If a payment fails, try the other app before assuming the card is the problem.

ATMs and currency exchange

Bank ATMs are widely available in cities. International cards may work, subject to your bank's rules and fees. Currency exchange is available at banks and some airports and hotels; rates and documentation requirements vary.

Keep the receipt from any exchange or ATM withdrawal. If you need to dispute a transaction, the receipt is the first thing your bank will ask for.

A simple setup

One mobile wallet configured with a card before arrival.
The second wallet installed as a backup.
A physical card for hotels and larger merchants.
A small amount of RMB cash.
Your bank's travel notification and customer-service number.

If something goes wrong

Check that the app is online and the card is not blocked.
Try the other wallet.
Use cash for the immediate purchase.
Contact your card issuer rather than repeatedly retrying.
Keep screenshots of failed transactions and any error message.

Official sources

Guide to Payment Services in China — People's Bank of China, published 15 March 2024.
People's Bank of China — official portal.
Alipay global site — official international entry point.
WeChat official site — official support documentation.

Payment services are updated frequently. Check the official app help and your card issuer's terms before you rely on a method for a large payment.

Details change. Confirm current prices, opening hours and entry rules before you rely on them.