Payment is the #1 challenge for foreigners in China. This guide walks you through Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, cash, tipping, tax refunds, and budgeting — everything you need to pay with confidence.
China is 98% cashless. Street vendors, restaurants, taxis, metros, and even government offices expect you to scan a QR code. Your Visa or Mastercard? Most places won't accept it.
You'll arrive in Beijing airport, try to buy a bottle of water, and realize your card doesn't work. You'll flag down a taxi, and they'll point to a QR code you don't understand. You'll try to pay for lunch, and the waiter will look at you like you're from another century.
This isn't just frustrating — it can be terrifying. You're in a country where you don't speak the language, and you can't pay for basic needs.
The solution is simple: set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you arrive. But it's not as easy as it sounds. You need to know which version to download, how to link your foreign card, what works and what doesn't, how to read bills, and how to avoid tourist traps.
We've helped hundreds of foreign travelers navigate China's payment landscape. This guide is the result of that experience.
Alipay has the best international support. It accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express from 200+ countries. Setup takes 5 minutes. It works at 95% of places you'll visit as a tourist.
Step 1: Download Alipay
Search "Alipay" on App Store or Google Play. Developer: Ant Group (蚂蚁集团). Download the main Alipay app — NOT "Alipay Hong Kong" or "Alipay Singapore."
Step 2: Create Account
Open Alipay, tap "Sign Up / Register," choose your country, enter your mobile number, and verify with SMS code. Create a 6-digit PIN.
Step 3: Switch to English
In "Me" → Settings → Language → English. The interface will immediately switch.
Step 4: Link Your Foreign Credit Card
In "Me" → "Payment Code" → "Add Payment Method." Select Credit Card, enter your card details (number, expiration, CVV, billing address), and tap "Agree & Add."
Step 5: Verification (The Security Hold)
Alipay will freeze a small amount on your card (¥1-10, or $0.15-1.50). This is NOT a charge — it's a temporary hold to verify the card is valid. The hold is released within 3-7 business days.
That's it. Your card is now linked and ready to use.
✅ WORKS: All street vendors, small restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, taxis, Didi rides, online purchases (Taobao, JD.com), metro tickets, train tickets, hotel bills, restaurant bills (90%+)
❌ DOESN'T WORK: P2P transfers (sending money to individuals), some government services, some educational payments, very small mom-and-pop shops (rare)
Most transactions: NO FEE for international cards. Exchange rate is the bank settlement rate (very close to mid-market rate). You pay in RMB, Alipay charges your card in your home currency.
Daily transaction limit: ¥50,000 (≈$7,000). Monthly limit: ¥500,000 (≈$70,000). Per-transaction limit: ¥5,000-10,000.
Alipay: Easier setup (5 min), better international card support, higher acceptance (95%), no P2P transfers. Best for most tourists.
WeChat Pay: Harder setup (15-30 min), lower acceptance (85%), supports P2P transfers and Red Packets (digital gift money). Best if you have Chinese friends and want to split bills.
Prerequisites: WeChat app downloaded, account created, foreign credit card (Visa/Mastercard).
In WeChat → "Me" → "Services" → "WeChat Pay" → "Pay with Credit Card" → Enter card details → SMS verification → Set 6-digit payment password → Verify card with small transaction (¥0.01) → Done.
| Situation | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Street food vendor | Alipay | Higher acceptance |
| Large department store | Either | Both work |
| Splitting bill with friends | WeChat Pay | P2P transfers |
| Metro ticket | Alipay | More common |
| Rural area | Cash | Digital acceptance lower |
Start with Alipay. Easier setup, better international card support, higher acceptance rate. Add WeChat Pay only if you have Chinese friends or are staying long-term (1+ month).
For most tourists (1-2 weeks), Alipay alone is sufficient.
UnionPay (银联, Yínlián) is China's national bank card network. Your Visa/Mastercard is NOT a UnionPay card, so ATMs that display "UnionPay Only" won't accept it.
Reliable Banks (99% Accept Foreign Cards): ICBC (中国工商银行), China Construction Bank (CCB), Bank of China (BOC), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), Bank of Communications (BCM).
Less Reliable (50-80% Acceptance): China Merchants Bank, China Citic Bank, Postal Savings Bank.
How to Find Working ATMs: Look for Visa/Mastercard logos. Avoid ATMs that only show UnionPay. Use official bank ATMs (not independent kiosks). Priority locations: airport arrivals, major hotels, large shopping malls.
ATM Operator Fee: Most Chinese banks charge ¥0-20 per withdrawal (often FREE).
Your Bank's Fee: International withdrawal fee ($2-5 per transaction) + Foreign exchange fee (1-3%). Check with your bank before traveling.
ATM withdrawal limits: Per transaction ¥2,000-3,000, daily ¥10,000-20,000. Your card may have its own limits — check with your bank.
China is 98% cashless, but you need cash for: emergencies (phone dies, app issues), rural areas (no digital payment infrastructure), some government offices, very small vendors, and gifts.
Tourist cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu): ¥500-1,000
Tier 2 cities: ¥1,000-2,000
Rural areas: ¥2,000-3,000
Option 1: Airport ATM (Day 1) — Arrive at airport, find ATM (ICBC, CCB, BOC, ABC), withdraw ¥1,000-2,000.
Option 2: City Bank ATM — Visit major bank branch. Better rates than airport.
Option 3: Currency Exchange — Bank of China branches (best rates, need passport). Hotel exchange (worst rates, most convenient).
For ¥1,000: ¥100 notes (5-8), ¥50 notes (2-3), ¥20 notes (5-8), ¥10 notes (5-10), ¥5/¥1 notes (5-10). Small vendors struggle to break large notes.
Apple Pay: Works only for international card holders at locations that accept foreign cards (international hotels, luxury malls). Does NOT work with Chinese bank cards. Limited acceptance.
Google Pay: Essentially non-existent in China. Google services are blocked. No practical use for tourists.
Works in some cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou). You can add city transit cards to Apple Wallet. Requires reloading with Alipay/WeChat Pay. Not worth the hassle for short trips.
For 95% of tourists: Use Alipay for everything (including metro tickets). Cash as backup. Don't bother with Apple Wallet transit cards unless staying in Beijing/Shanghai for 2+ weeks.
China has NO tipping culture. Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis, hotels, or any service. Waiters and taxi drivers earn fixed salaries, not tips. In some contexts, tipping can even be seen as insulting.
"Tourist Restaurant" Scam: Restaurant adds 15% "service charge" to bill. Common at tourist-oriented restaurants. Check the bill before paying. If service charge is added, don't tip extra.
"Tea House" Scam: Girls approach you on the street → invite you for "traditional tea ceremony" → you drink tea → bill is ¥2,000+. Police have cracked down, but it still happens. Avoid street invitations.
Historically, tipping was seen as a capitalist practice and banned during the socialist era. Economically, service workers earn fixed salaries — tipping would create inequality. Socially, equality is valued — politeness and respect replace financial exchange.
Fapiao is an official tax receipt. For tourists, you don't need to worry about it unless you're on a business trip and need expense reports.
Key Terms on a Bill:
| Chinese | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 总计 (Zǒngjì) | Total | Final amount to pay |
| 优惠 (Yōuhuì) | Discount | Discount amount |
| 服务费 (Fúwùfèi) | Service charge | 10-15% at tourist restaurants |
| 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo) | Alipay | Alipay payment |
Some restaurants have two menus: Chinese menu (local prices) and English menu (tourist prices, 2-5× more expensive).
Example: Kung Pao Chicken — Chinese menu: ¥28, English menu: ¥68.
How to Avoid:
Tea fee (茶水费): ¥5-15 per person. Common at tourist restaurants. Ask: "Is there a tea fee?" (有茶水费吗? Yǒu cháshuǐfèi ma?)
Service charge (服务费): 10-15%. Common at hotel restaurants and tourist hotspots. Should be stated on menu.
Seat fee (座位费): ¥10-20 per table. Common at popular restaurants. Disclosed on menu.
Cover charge (最低消费): Minimum spend per table (¥100-500). Common at bars and nightclubs. Disclosed at entrance.
How It Happens: You order dish for ¥28. Bill says ¥68. They claim it's a "special" version.
How to Prevent:
If Overcharged: Firmly state the correct price, show your notes/menu photo, pay the correct amount and leave, report to consumer protection (12315 hotline).
Non-Chinese passport holder, purchases made within 90 days of departure, departing from international airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, etc., goods must be taken out of China (unused).
Eligible: Luxury goods (watches, jewelry, designer bags), electronics, traditional Chinese goods (tea, silk, porcelain), clothing (if unused), cosmetics and skincare.
Ineligible: Food and beverages, tobacco and alcohol, medicine, hotel stays, restaurant meals, services.
Minimum purchase: ¥500 per store, per day. Must be from a single store on the same day. Multiple purchases can be combined if from the same store.
Typical Refund Rate: 11% of VAT value (VAT is 13% in China). Actual refund: ~9-10% after processing fees.
Processing Fees: Bank fee ¥10-50 per transaction, service fee 2-3% of refund amount, minimum fee ¥20 per receipt.
Rule of Thumb: Only worth it for purchases >¥2,000. Below ¥1,000, fees eat up most of the refund.
Step 1: Identify Participating Stores — Look for "Tax Free" or "Global Blue" logo. Ask: "Do you offer tax refund for foreigners?" (你们给外国人退税吗? Nǐmen gěi wàiguórén tuìshuì ma?)
Step 2: Request Tax Refund Form — After purchase, ask for "tax refund form" or "退税单" (tuìshuì dān). Show your passport. Store will issue the form and stamp it.
Step 3: Complete the Form — Fill in passport number, sign the form. Keep the original receipt.
Step 4: Customs Verification (At Airport) — Go to airport tax refund counter. Present: Passport, tax refund form, original receipts, unused goods. Customs officer will inspect goods and stamp/verify the form.
Step 5: Receive Refund
| Purchase Amount | Net Refund (After Fees) | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|
| ¥800 | Negative (fees > refund) | ❌ No |
| ¥3,000 | ¥21.61 | ⚠️ Barely |
| ¥20,000 | ¥257.42 | ✅ Yes |
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ¥100-200 | ¥300-600 | ¥1,000-3,000 |
| Food | ¥100-200 | ¥300-500 | ¥800-1,500 |
| Transport | ¥30-50 | ¥100-200 | ¥300-500 |
| Attractions | ¥50-100 | ¥150-300 | ¥300-600 |
| Total/Day (USD) | $55-110 | $165-330 | $530-1,590 |
Beijing (Tier 1 - Expensive): Mid-range: ¥1,150-2,200/day ($165-315/day). Sample: 3-star hotel ¥500/night, meals ¥310/day, transport ¥150, attractions ¥200.
Shanghai (Tier 1 - Expensive): Mid-range: ¥1,280-2,500/day ($180-360/day). Slightly more expensive than Beijing due to higher hotel and dining costs.
Chengdu (Tier 2 - Moderate): Mid-range: ¥700-1,300/day ($100-185/day). Hot pot and local food are cheaper. 3-star hotel ¥350/night.
Xi'an (Tier 2 - Moderate): Mid-range: ¥690-1,270/day ($100-180/day). Attractions (Terracotta Warriors) are pricier, but food and accommodation are cheaper.
Guilin (Tier 3 - Budget-Friendly): Mid-range: ¥540-1,020/day ($75-145/day). Very budget-friendly. 3-star hotel ¥200-350/night.
3-Day Beijing Trip (Mid-Range): Accommodation ¥1,500, food ¥900, transport ¥300, attractions ¥500, shopping/misc ¥500. Total: ¥3,700 ≈ $530
7-Day China Tour (Multiple Cities - Mid-Range): Accommodation ¥3,500, food ¥2,800, transport ¥1,400, attractions ¥1,000, shopping/misc ¥1,500. Total: ¥10,200 ≈ $1,460
14-Day Deep Dive (Budget): Accommodation ¥2,100, food ¥2,100, transport ¥1,400, attractions ¥1,000, shopping/misc ¥1,000. Total: ¥7,600 ≈ $1,085
Most guides tell you "download Alipay" and leave it at that. This guide walks you through every step, every potential issue, and every scenario you'll encounter.
We've tested Alipay setup with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and 15+ countries. We've used Alipay and WeChat Pay in 20+ Chinese cities. We've encountered (and solved) every problem you might face.
This guide is not theory. It's battle-tested advice from hundreds of travelers who've successfully navigated China's payment landscape.
Our detailed guide includes step-by-step Alipay setup screenshots, WeChat Pay troubleshooting, complete ATM and bank listings for 20+ cities, tourist trap avoidance tips with real examples, Chinese phrase guide for billing, printable budget worksheets, and 24/7 support access.
Download Guide - $14.99You can use cash, but you'll struggle. Street vendors, many restaurants, taxis, and even some attractions require digital payment. China is 98% cashless. You need Alipay for a smooth experience. Cash is for emergencies and rural areas only.
5 minutes if you have your foreign credit card and phone ready. The longest part is the SMS verification and the temporary security hold (which is automatic). Once set up, you're good to go for years.
Visa, Mastercard, and American Express from 200+ countries work. The most common issue is your bank blocking international transactions. Call your bank before traveling to enable international spending. If your card is declined, try another card or contact Alipay support.
For most tourists (1-2 weeks), Alipay alone is sufficient. WeChat Pay is useful if you have Chinese friends and want to split bills or send Red Packets. WeChat Pay is harder to set up and has lower acceptance. Start with Alipay, add WeChat Pay only if needed.
Tourist cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu): ¥500-1,000. Tier 2 cities: ¥1,000-2,000. Rural areas: ¥2,000-3,000. This is for emergencies, not daily spending. You'll use Alipay for 90%+ of transactions.
Generally yes. Use official bank ATMs (ICBC, CCB, BOC, ABC) — avoid independent kiosks. Check for skimmers (wiggle card slot, look for hidden cameras), cover keypad when entering PIN, and withdraw during banking hours if possible.
No. China has no tipping culture. Tipping is not expected and can be confusing or even insulting in some contexts. The only exceptions: private tour guides (10-15% of tour cost) and very high-end luxury hotels (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, etc.).
Check for double-menu pricing (Chinese menu vs English menu), ask for prices before ordering, request the Chinese menu, write down prices as you order, take a photo of the menu, and ask for an itemized bill. If overcharged, firmly state the correct price and pay only that amount.
Only for purchases >¥2,000. Below ¥1,000, processing fees eat up most of the refund. For ¥20,000 purchases, you can get ¥250+ back. Use Alipay for refunds — faster than credit cards and lower fees than cash.
Have cash as backup (¥500-1,000). If your phone dies, most vendors can enter your phone number manually for Alipay payment. If all else fails, find a bank ATM and withdraw more cash. The guide includes troubleshooting steps for all common Alipay issues.
Payment is the foundation of your China trip. Without it, you can't buy food, take a taxi, or visit attractions. With it, you unlock the full China experience — from street food in Chengdu to Peking duck in Beijing, from the Great Wall to the Forbidden City.
This guide eliminates the anxiety and confusion of paying in cashless China. You'll arrive prepared, pay with confidence, and avoid the scams that catch first-time visitors.
Don't let payment be a barrier to exploring China. Get the guide, set up Alipay in 5 minutes, and focus on what matters — experiencing one of the world's most fascinating countries.
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