How to Pay in China: Mobile Payments, Cash & Cards (2026)
Two hands holding a Chinese one-yuan RMB banknote against a plain background
China runs on mobile payments. In most cities you can spend days without touching a banknote, because Alipay and WeChat Pay handle everything from a bowl of noodles to a high-speed train ticket. The good news for visitors in 2026 is that you no longer need a Chinese bank account or a local phone number to join in. The reality is a little more nuanced, though: cash is still legal tender, foreign cards work in more places than they used to, and a few minutes of setup before you fly will save you a lot of stress on the ground.
This is your big-picture money guide. For the full step-by-step on the single most useful app, read our dedicated Alipay for foreigners walkthrough — think of this article as the overview that ties cash, cards and mobile pay together.
Mobile payments: the default everywhere
Both Alipay and WeChat Pay now let foreigners link an international Visa, Mastercard, JCB or, in some cases, American Express card directly inside the app. You verify your identity with your passport and a quick face scan, add your card, and you are ready to scan-to-pay or show your own payment code at the till.
A few things worth knowing (always check current terms in-app, as limits and fees change):
- Fees: small purchases (roughly under ¥200) are typically free. Above that threshold a service fee of around 3% is usually added, on top of any foreign-transaction fee your own bank charges.
- Limits: there are per-transaction and annual caps for foreign-card users. These have been raised repeatedly to welcome tourists, but the exact numbers vary by app and change often — check current limits when you set up.
- WeChat Pay works the same way and is essential if you also use WeChat to message or to scan menus. Set up at least one app before you travel; many travellers install both.
Setting this up at home, on hotel or home Wi-Fi, is far easier than fighting with verification screens after a long flight.
Cash: still legal, still worth carrying
A hand tapping a Visa bank card on a black contactless card terminal at a shop counter
Despite the cashless hype, the renminbi (RMB, also called the yuan) remains legal tender, and Chinese regulators have repeatedly reminded businesses that they cannot legally refuse cash. New rules reinforcing this took effect in early 2026.
In practice, some younger vendors and trendy cafés are "cash-shy" and may look surprised if you pay with notes — but a taxi, a rural guesthouse, a temple entrance or an older market stall may strongly prefer cash. Carry a small stash of small notes (¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20) as a backup. It is your safety net if your phone dies, an app glitches, or you wander somewhere off the tourist trail.
Foreign cards and ATMs
Top-down view of a hand holding a bank card over a card payment terminal on an orange desk
Physical Visa and Mastercard work at international-standard venues: four-star-and-up hotels, airport shops and duty-free, big shopping malls, and global chains like Starbucks, McDonald's and KFC. At small shops, street food stalls and most local restaurants, a swipe of a foreign card simply will not work — that is what mobile pay and cash are for.
To get cash, use ATMs at major banks. Bank of China and ICBC are the most reliably foreign-card-friendly, and machines inside bank branches or hotel lobbies are safest. Expect a per-withdrawal cap (often a few thousand yuan), a local machine fee, plus whatever your home bank charges for an international withdrawal — so withdraw a useful amount at once rather than making many small trips.
Currency exchange and tipping
You can exchange money at the airport on arrival, at bank branches, and at some hotels. A common strategy: change a small amount (enough for a taxi and a first meal) at the airport despite the mediocre rate, then top up at a bank or ATM once you have settled in. Hotels usually offer the worst rates, so use them only in a pinch. Bring your passport — it is required for over-the-counter exchange.
Good news for your budget: tipping is generally not customary in China. Restaurants, taxis and most services do not expect a tip, and rounding up is unnecessary. The exception is the international tourism trade — private guides, drivers and high-end hotel staff who serve foreign travellers may appreciate a tip, but it is never an obligation.
Payment methods at a glance
| Payment method | Where it works | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay / WeChat Pay (foreign card linked) | Almost everywhere — shops, transport, restaurants, tickets | Best all-rounder; ~3% fee above ~¥200; verify with passport; set up before you fly |
| RMB cash | Legally everywhere; best for taxis, rural areas, markets | Cannot legally be refused; carry small notes as a backup |
| Foreign credit card (physical) | Big hotels, airports, malls, global chains | Rarely accepted at small or local venues; tell your bank you're travelling |
| ATM withdrawal | Bank of China, ICBC and other major banks | Withdrawal caps + fees apply; use branch or lobby machines |
| Currency exchange | Airport, banks, some hotels | Banks beat hotels on rate; bring your passport |
Before you fly: your money checklist
- Install Alipay (and ideally WeChat Pay) and complete passport + face verification at home.
- Link your Visa/Mastercard inside the app and confirm it activates.
- Tell your bank you are travelling to China so the card is not blocked.
- Bring one or two physical cards as backup, plus a modest amount of USD/EUR to exchange on arrival.
- Plan to withdraw a small cash buffer (small notes) from a Bank of China or ICBC ATM.
- Read our Alipay for foreigners guide for the detailed setup, and our essential apps for China list so your phone is travel-ready.
Sort your payments out before departure and you will breeze through China the way locals do — phone in hand, with cash quietly tucked away just in case.