Payment Methods in China 支付方式

Updated: April 2026 | Reading time: 12 minutes

If you're planning a trip to China, here's the single most important thing to know: China is almost entirely cashless. In major cities, you'll rarely see anyone use cash. Street vendors, taxi drivers, restaurants, hotels, even small shops in remote towns — they all use mobile payment. Without Alipay or WeChat Pay, you'll struggle to buy water, pay for a taxi.

Don't panic. This guide walks you through exactly how to set up payment as a foreigner, what works, what doesn't, and how to avoid being stranded without a way to pay.

Table of Contents

• Alipay Setup for Foreigners
• WeChat Pay Setup
• Using International Credit Cards
• Cash — When You Still Need It
• Other Payment Apps
• Practical Tips & Common Problems

Alipay 支付宝 — The Best Option for Foreigners

Alipay is China's most widely used payment platform, owned by Alibaba. It's accepted virtually everywhere and, importantly, now allows foreigners to link international credit cards.

How to Set Up Alipay (International Version)

1. Download the app: Search "Alipay" in your app store. The international version automatically detects your phone number country.
2. Register with your phone number: Use your home country number (e.g., US, UK, Australia). You don't need a Chinese number.
3. Verify your identity: Upload your passport photo and fill in basic information. This is required for international users.
4. Add your international card: Go to "Me" → "Bank Cards" → "Add Card". Accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and some others.
5. Enable "Tour Pass": This is Alipay's feature specifically for tourists. It pre-loads a balance from your international card that you can use throughout China.

Tour Pass Details

Tour Pass is the key feature for short-term visitors:

• Minimum load: $50 USD equivalent
• Maximum load: $500 USD equivalent per transaction
• Validity: 90 days from activation
• Refunds: Unused balance can be refunded to your original card
• Transaction fee: ~3% on international card loads (varies by card)

What You Can Pay With Alipay

• Stores & Restaurants: Nearly all merchants accept Alipay
• Taxis: All ride-hailing apps (Didi) and most taxi drivers
• Public Transport: Metro and bus in most major cities
• Train Tickets: Book on Alipay's travel section
• Hotel Bookings: Many hotels accept Alipay directly
• Street Vendors: Even the smallest stalls have QR codes
• Delivery Apps: Meituan, Ele.me food delivery

Alipay Pro Tips

• Set up Alipay before you arrive in China — it's much easier with stable internet
• Load more than you think you'll need — refunds are easy but reloading may require good connectivity
• Save QR codes offline for places you frequent (hotel, favorite restaurant)
• The app works in English — switch language in settings

WeChat Pay 微信支付 — The Alternative

WeChat Pay is integrated into WeChat, China's dominant messaging app. It's equally accepted alongside Alipay, but setup for foreigners has historically been more complicated.

Current Status for Foreigners

As of 2024, WeChat Pay also allows international card linking, but the process is less streamlined than Alipay:

• Download WeChat (you likely already have it for communicating in China)
• Go to "Me" → "Services" → "Wallet"
• Select "Add Card" and follow verification steps
• International cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard (coverage varies)

When to Use WeChat Pay vs Alipay

• Use Alipay as primary: Better foreigner support, clearer interface, Tour Pass feature
• Use WeChat Pay as backup: Some merchants only have WeChat QR; useful for sending money to Chinese contacts

Recommendation: Set up both if possible, but prioritize Alipay. It's more reliable for tourists.

Using International Credit Cards Directly

Can you just swipe your Visa or Mastercard? Generally, no. Here's the reality:

Where International Cards Work

• Major Hotels: 4-5 star hotels typically accept international cards
• Large Shopping Malls: International brands (Apple Store, luxury boutiques)
• Some Airlines: Booking directly with international airlines
• Online (pre-trip): Booking hotels, flights from outside China

Where International Cards Don't Work

• Restaurants: Even major chains rarely accept foreign cards
• Taxis: Almost never
• Train Tickets: No (except via Alipay/WeChat with international card linked)
• Street Vendors: Obviously not
• Most Attractions: Ticket counters are cashless via mobile payment only

Important: American Express has even more limited acceptance. Discover is essentially useless in China. Visa and Mastercard are your best bets, but only via Alipay/WeChat integration.

Cash 现金 — When You Still Need It

Despite the cashless society, you should carry some cash. Here's when:

When Cash Is Necessary

• Remote Areas: Small towns, rural villages may not have reliable QR payment
• Elderly Vendors: Some older shop owners prefer cash
• Backup: If your phone dies, loses signal, or payment apps malfunction
• Tipping: Tips aren't common in China, but sometimes needed for special services

How Much Cash to Carry

• Minimum: 200-300 RMB (for emergencies)
• Recommended: 500-1000 RMB for a week in cities
• Remote Travel: 2000+ RMB if going to rural areas for several days

Getting Cash in China

• ATMs: Bank of China, ICBC, and China Construction Bank ATMs accept foreign cards (look for Visa/Mastercard logos)
• Exchange Booths: Airports, major train stations, some banks
• Banks: Bring passport; exchange rates are official rates (fair)

ATM Tip: Withdraw larger amounts (2000-3000 RMB) to minimize fees. Many ATMs have 3000 RMB withdrawal limits per transaction.

Other Payment Apps & Methods

UnionPay App

UnionPay is China's domestic card network. Their app can link some international UnionPay cards, but this is rare — most foreign-issued cards aren't on UnionPay.

Apple Pay / Google Pay

Not useful in China. Apple Pay only works at very limited locations (some Starbucks, high-end hotels). Google Pay doesn't work at all. Don't rely on these.

Prepaid Travel Cards

Some companies offer "China travel cards" preloaded with RMB. These are often expensive with hidden fees. Alipay Tour Pass is superior.

Hotel Deposits

Hotels may ask for a deposit. Some accept international cards for this; others require Alipay/WeChat. Ask at check-in.

Practical Tips & Common Problems

Problem: "My international card was rejected"

Solutions:

• Try again — sometimes it's a temporary network issue
• Use a different card if you have multiple
• Contact your bank — some block foreign transactions by default
• Load Tour Pass with smaller amounts (sometimes large loads fail)

Problem: "QR code scan doesn't work"

Solutions:

• Check internet connection — payment needs data
• Try scanning the merchant's QR (they scan you for larger payments)
• Ask merchant to enter amount manually if scan fails
• Have cash backup ready

Problem: "App says my identity verification failed"

Solutions:

• Ensure passport photo is clear and matches your entered info
• Name must match passport exactly (including middle names)
• Try again after 24 hours — sometimes system is slow
• Contact Alipay customer service (available in English)

Problem: "I ran out of balance"

Solutions:

• Reload Tour Pass via international card (need internet)
• Find an ATM for cash
• Ask a Chinese friend to send you money via WeChat/Alipay (you can repay them later)

Problem: "My phone died"

Solutions:

• This is why you carry cash
• Some shops have portable chargers you can rent (but you need payment to rent them...)
• Hotels and train stations often have charging stations

Security Tips

• Never share your payment QR code — merchants scan their code, not yours (for small payments)
• Check amounts before confirming — verify the merchant entered correct amount
• Enable payment notifications — get alerts for every transaction
• Set spending limits — available in app settings
• Don't link more cards than necessary — minimize exposure

Quick Setup Checklist

• ✅ Download Alipay before arriving in China
• ✅ Register with your home country phone number
• ✅ Complete identity verification with passport
• ✅ Link your Visa or Mastercard
• ✅ Enable Tour Pass and load initial balance ($100-200)
• ✅ Optionally set up WeChat Pay as backup
• ✅ Withdraw 500-1000 RMB cash from ATM upon arrival
• ✅ Test payment at airport (buy a water or snack)

Summary

The key to paying in China: Alipay Tour Pass + backup cash. With this combination, you'll be able to pay everywhere. International cards directly are nearly useless. WeChat Pay is a good backup. Set everything up before you arrive, test it works, and carry some cash for emergencies.

Once you've mastered mobile payment, you'll find China incredibly convenient — buying anything, anywhere, takes seconds. It's one of the things visitors often miss most when returning home.