Skip to content
China Travel Guide

How to Pay in China as a Foreign Tourist - Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash and Cards

A foreign traveler lands at Beijing Capital Airport, queues for a taxi, and reaches into their pocket for a credit card. The driver shakes his head and points to a small QR code sticker on the window. This is the moment most first-time visitors realize that payment in China works differently from anywhere else they have traveled.

The Direct Answer

Install Alipay before you leave home or right after you land. It works with international Visa and Mastercard, supports English, and is accepted everywhere from high-end shopping malls to street food carts. Carry about 200 to 500 RMB in small bills as backup for taxis, small vendors, and markets that prefer cash.

A smartphone screen showing icons for Didi, Alipay, WeChat, Apple Maps, and eSIM apps - the five essential travel apps to install before arriving in China

Travelers from the UK, US, and Europe generally report that Alipay linked to a foreign card covers about 95% of daily payments, and WeChat Pay covers most of the rest.

Why Payment in China Is Different from the West

China runs on mobile payments. Cash and credit cards, the default payment methods in most Western countries, are secondary here. The mobile payment penetration rate in China is about 86 percent, meaning the majority of transactions happen through QR code scans.

This is not a niche preference. Taxi drivers often carry zero change. Small restaurants may not process card payments. Street food vendors only take QR payments from Alipay or WeChat Pay. A new arrival who tries to rely solely on cash or international cards gets stuck quickly.

How to Set Up Alipay

Alipay is the most practical payment app for foreign tourists. Here is how to get started:

  1. Download Alipay from the App Store or Google Play before your trip. The app has an English interface.
  2. Register using your international phone number and passport. Some travelers report success registering before departure, but registering after landing is more reliable.
  3. Link your international card — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, and Discover all work. No Chinese bank account is needed.
  4. Verify your identity by uploading a photo of your passport. This usually takes a few minutes.

Side-by-side comparison of an Alipay QR code and a WeChat Pay QR code at a Chinese shop counter, showing the distinct color schemes and logos that help travelers identify which app to use

A single transaction limit is about USD 5,000, with a daily limit of USD 50,000 for international-card-linked accounts. Payments above 200 RMB incur a 3 percent service fee. You can avoid this by splitting larger purchases into sub-200-RMB payments.

How to Set Up WeChat Pay

WeChat Pay works similarly to Alipay and is accepted at many of the same places. Some smaller vendors and local restaurants prefer WeChat Pay over Alipay, so having both installed is useful.

From May 2026, WeChat Pay also supports PayPal from US accounts for direct QR payments. A promotional period waives the service fee for sub-200-RMB PayPal transactions through the end of 2026.

The account setup process can be slightly harder for overseas phone numbers compared to Alipay. If you encounter issues, try registering after you arrive in China with a local SIM or eSIM data connection.

When to Use Cash and Which Denominations to Carry

Cash still works in China, but its role has shrunk. You will need it in these situations:

  • Taxis — many drivers prefer cash and often do not have change for large bills
  • Small food stalls and local markets — vendors may only accept cash
  • Temple entrance fees — some smaller sites are cash-only
  • As a backup — when your phone battery dies or your data connection drops

Chinese RMB banknotes in 10, 20, 50, and 100 yuan denominations spread on a table, showing the distinct colors of each bill

Carry small denominations. A 100 RMB note is about USD 14 and many small vendors cannot make change for it. Request 10, 20, and 50 RMB notes when you exchange money. About 200 to 500 RMB total is enough for a few days of backup spending.

You can exchange currency at airports, banks, and some hotels. ATMs accept international cards and dispense RMB. The usual daily ATM withdrawal limit is about 20,000 RMB, though this can vary by bank.

Credit Cards and ATMs

International credit cards work reliably at:

  • Hotels and international chains
  • Large shopping malls and department stores
  • High-end restaurants in major cities

Credit cards frequently fail at smaller shops, local restaurants, and street vendors. Do not rely on a credit card as your primary payment method.

ATMs that accept Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay are widely available in cities. Bank of China, ICBC, and other major banks usually have English-language ATM interfaces.

A Bank of China ATM with Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay logos visible on the machine, located on a city street in China

PayPal and TourCard as Fallbacks

If you cannot link your international card directly to Alipay or WeChat Pay, two alternatives exist:

  • TourCard — a built-in prepaid card inside Alipay and WeChat Pay designed for travelers. It takes several days to approve, so apply before your trip.
  • Nihao China app — a UnionPay-backed app that supports Visa and Mastercard linking, metro QR codes in 43 cities, bus payments in over 1,700 cities, and digital tax refunds.

What Else You Can Do with Alipay Beyond Payments

Alipay functions as more than a payment tool. You can use it for:

  • Metro and bus QR codes — scan to ride without buying tickets
  • Ride-hailing — book DiDi rides through the Alipay mini-program
  • Shared bikes — unlock HelloBike and other bike-sharing services
  • Hotel booking — pay deposits and check in
  • Tax refund — process digital tax refunds at departure in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Guilin

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  • Assuming credit cards work everywhere — they do not. Always have a backup payment method.
  • Carrying only large bills — vendors cannot break 100 RMB notes. Keep small bills.
  • Not testing your payment app before you need it — set up Alipay and link a card before you arrive, or right after landing when you have WiFi.
  • Forgetting about data — mobile payment apps need an internet connection. Get an eSIM from Airalo or Nomad so your data works as soon as you land. These eSIMs route data through Singapore, which means apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Google Maps also stay accessible.
  • Tipping — tipping is not practiced in China. Do not add a tip at restaurants, taxis, or hotels. This surprises many Western visitors.

Summary Checklist Before Departure

  • Download Alipay and link your international card
  • Download WeChat Pay as a backup
  • Install an eSIM (Airalo or Nomad) for immediate data access
  • Exchange about 200 to 500 RMB in small bills
  • Notify your bank that you are traveling to China
  • Test your payment apps before you leave the airport

The combination of Alipay plus a small cash reserve covers nearly every payment scenario a foreign traveler will encounter in China. Set it up before you arrive and you save yourself the most common first-day frustration.

Final words

More reading and next steps

Continue reading

Related posts

That is the main thread of the article. Keep the links below handy, and use the related posts to continue exploring the same topic from a different angle.

References and links

Comments