Short answer
China is a mobile-payment country: Alipay and WeChat Pay cover almost everything, and both now accept foreign credit cards directly. Link a Visa, Mastercard or Amex before you fly, keep RMB 300-500 cash as a backup, and you will pay for everything from street noodles to high-speed rail tickets without a Chinese bank account.
Set up Alipay (best for most visitors)
- Download Alipay and switch the app language to English.
- Register with your home mobile number — a Chinese number is not required.
- Go to Account > Bank Cards and add your Visa / Mastercard / Amex card.
- Complete identity verification with your passport photo page.
- Pay by scanning the merchant’s QR code (Scan), or show your own payment code (Pay/Collect) when a cashier scans you.
Alipay also handles metro and bus QR codes in most big cities, ride-hailing through its DiDi mini-program, and train tickets — one app covers most of a trip.
Set up WeChat Pay (useful when you already use WeChat)
In WeChat: Me > Services > Wallet > Bank Cards > Add a Card, then choose the international-card option. WeChat is also how you will chat with hotels, guides and new local friends, so it is worth having both apps installed.
What it costs
- Under RMB 200 per transaction: normally no international-card fee
- Above RMB 200: roughly a 3% fee from the wallet
- Your bank: may add a 1-3% foreign transaction fee — check before you travel
- ATM withdrawal: typically RMB 2,000-3,000 per transaction at Bank of China or ICBC, plus your bank’s fee
Cash, cards and the fallbacks
- Cash: legal tender and must be accepted, but awkward at small stalls. Keep small notes; many places cannot break a RMB 100 note early in the day.
- Physical cards: accepted at international hotels, big malls, airports and some chain restaurants — but not at noodle shops or wet markets.
- UnionPay / foreign card ATMs: airports and downtown bank branches are the most reliable.
- If a QR code fails: switch to the other wallet, ask the cashier to scan your payment code instead, or fall back to cash.
Money practicalities worth knowing
- No tipping. Not in restaurants, taxis or hotels.
- Prices are fixed. Haggling is limited to tourist markets, and polite.
- Split bills are normal with friends; asking for the bill is mǎi dān (买单).
- Receipts (发票, fāpiào) matter for business travel — ask at the counter, not afterwards.
- Scams to skip: “tea ceremony” invitations from friendly strangers near tourist sites, and unlicensed taxis at station exits.
Planning a first trip? Our China Travel Guide 2026 covers visas, transport and costs, and our essential China travel apps guide covers the rest of the setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay in China in 2026?
Yes. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay let foreign visitors link an international Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB or Discover card. Alipay has an English tourist mode (Alipay Tour Pass is no longer needed) and WeChat Pay has a ‘Foreign Card’ option under Me > Pay. Setup takes about five minutes and needs your passport for identity verification.
Is there a fee for paying with a foreign card?
Single transactions under RMB 200 (about USD 28) are normally free of the 3% international card fee; larger transactions carry roughly a 3% fee charged by the wallet. Your own bank may add a foreign transaction fee on top.
Can I just use cash in China?
Cash is legal tender and merchants must accept it, but in practice many small shops, food stalls and taxis are cashless-first. Carry RMB 300-500 in small notes as a backup, and exchange or withdraw at Bank of China or ICBC ATMs, which accept foreign cards.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to use mobile payment?
No. Foreign visitors use the international-card route inside Alipay or WeChat Pay. A Chinese bank account is only needed for features locals use, such as red packets, and is not practical on a short trip.
Should I tip in China?
No. Tipping is not customary in mainland China and is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels. A guide or driver may accept a tip if you insist, but it is never required.
Want this handled for you? On a ShenYou private tour your driver-guide sets up payments, ordering, SIM cards and hotel check-in before you need to ask. WhatsApp us — itinerary and quote within 24 hours.