Paying in China

The cashless wall is the one that surprises first-timers most: in China almost everyone pays by scanning a QR code with Alipay or WeChat Pay, from noodle stalls to metro gates. The good news is that both apps now let foreigners link a Visa or Mastercard from home. Set up both before you fly, carry some cash, and you’ll rarely get stuck.

How payments work in China

Mobile payments dominate everyday spending in China. Shops, restaurants, taxis, street vendors, sights and vending machines all expect you to pay with your phone, and many younger Chinese people rarely carry a wallet.

There are two ways a mobile payment happens:

• You scan the merchant’s QR code. Common at small shops and stalls. Open Alipay or WeChat, tap Scan, point at the code taped to the counter, type the amount, confirm, and show the screen to the seller.
• The merchant scans your code. Common at supermarkets, convenience stores and chains. Open your app’s Pay / Money code and hold it up to the scanner.

Alipay and WeChat Pay are both accepted almost everywhere, but some places take only one, which is why you want both. Prices are in renminbi (RMB, also called yuan, written ¥ or 元).

Setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay as a foreigner

Alipay and WeChat Pay both let foreign visitors link international bank cards, including Visa and Mastercard and, depending on the app, other networks such as JCB, Diners Club and Discover. Do this at home, where card verification texts arrive reliably.

Alipay setup

1. Download Alipay from your app store and register with your home phone number.
2. Add your bank card in the wallet or bank card section.
3. Complete identity verification with your passport when prompted.
4. Make a small test payment if you can, so your bank’s fraud system sees it before the trip.

WeChat Pay setup

1. Download WeChat and register with your home phone number. New accounts sometimes need verification by an existing WeChat user; follow the in-app steps.
2. Go to Me → Services (or Pay) → Wallet and add your bank card.
3. Verify your identity with your passport if asked.

Tell your bank you’re traveling to China so it doesn’t block the payments as suspicious.

Check before you go: Alipay and WeChat Pay charge a small fee on payments made with a foreign card above a certain amount, and both apps set limits on single payments and total spending for foreign cards. The fee and the limits change, so check the current terms in each app before you travel.

Paying with cash in China

Cash in renminbi is legal tender in China, and businesses are required to accept it. In practice, cash works, but it can be awkward:

• Small shops and stalls may not have change, especially for 100-yuan notes, the note ATMs usually dispense.
• Some staff are not used to handling cash and may need a moment to find change.
• Shared bikes, many vending machines and many self-service kiosks take mobile payments only.

Carry a modest amount of cash in smaller notes as a backup, and break large notes at convenience stores, supermarkets or your hotel. Cash is especially useful in rural areas, at small temples and if your phone dies.

Using international bank cards in China

International credit and debit cards work in China, but only in some places. Expect your Visa, Mastercard or similar card to be accepted at:

• Large international and upscale hotels.
• Big shopping malls and department stores.
• Some international chains, airport shops and restaurants aimed at visitors.
• Trip.com and other booking platforms when you book online.

Small restaurants, shops, markets and taxis usually don’t have a card terminal for foreign cards. UnionPay cards are accepted more widely than other international cards. For everyday spending, link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay rather than relying on the card itself.

Withdrawing cash from ATMs in China

ATMs in China from major banks, such as Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China, accept many foreign cards. ATMs at international airports, large train stations and in city centers are the most reliable for foreign cards.

1. Look for the logo of your card’s network (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and so on) on the machine.
2. Select English on the screen.
3. Withdraw a moderate amount; the machine usually gives 100-yuan notes.

Your home bank may charge a fee for foreign withdrawals, and the ATM’s bank may add its own. Check your bank’s terms before you travel. Banks and airport counters also exchange foreign currency for RMB with your passport, usually at a less favorable rate than ATMs.

Tipping in China

Tipping is not customary in China. You don’t need to tip in restaurants, taxis, Didi rides, hotels or hair salons, and staff may be confused or try to return the money.

A few exceptions:

• Some upscale international hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill. It’s shown on the receipt, so you don’t add more.
• Private tour guides and drivers on multi-day trips sometimes receive a tip from Western visitors. It’s appreciated but optional.

Good manners, a “xièxie” (thank you) and a good review do more than a tip. See Etiquette and culture.

What to do when a payment fails in China

Even with a perfect setup, a payment in China will fail sometimes: a foreign card gets declined, a merchant only takes one app, or your phone has no signal. Have a fallback plan ready:

1. Try the other app. If Alipay fails, switch to WeChat Pay, or the other way round.
2. Try a different linked card. Link two cards from different banks, ideally on different networks.
3. Check your connection. Mobile payments need data. Switch between roaming and Wi-Fi, or step outside.
4. Pay cash. Keep some RMB in small notes for exactly this.
5. Check with your bank. If every payment fails, your bank may have blocked the card as fraud. Contact it through its app.
6. Ask for help. Hotel staff, a Chinese-speaking friend, or the merchant may suggest another way, or let you pay with a card at a counter.

Keep your phone charged and carry a power bank. A dead phone means no wallet, no map and no translator. Run through the setup with the pre-trip checklist before you leave, and see Internet and apps for staying online.