For visitors from abroad
Paying for things
China is close to cashless. Street stalls, taxis, temples and vending machines all take a QR code scan, and many have no cash drawer. The good news is that since 2023 both payment apps accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and Discover cards, so you can pay like a local from the moment you land.
Checked 2026-11-01. Rules change often; confirm anything that matters with an official source before you travel.
Set up Alipay before you fly
Download Alipay (支付宝) from your app store, register with your home mobile number, then add a bank card under Account, Bank cards. You can verify your passport later if asked; most people are never asked for small payments. Everything is in English.
To pay, tap Scan at the top and scan the shop's QR code, or tap Pay and show your own code to the cashier. Transactions below 200 yuan carry no fee. Larger payments carry a fee of about 3 percent, which is still cheaper than most ATM withdrawals.
- Yearly limit for foreign cards is 50,000 US dollars; single payment limit 5,000. Plenty for a holiday.
- Inside Alipay there are mini programs for DiDi taxis, train tickets, metro codes, bike share and food delivery, all in English. For most travellers Alipay alone is enough.
- WeChat Pay works the same way with the same cards. Set it up too if you will use WeChat to book attractions or to chat with hosts.
Cash still has a place
The yuan (CNY, also called renminbi, RMB, or colloquially kuai) is legal tender everywhere and a shop that refuses it is breaking the law, but small shops may lack change for a 100 yuan note. Carry a few hundred yuan in small notes for markets, rural areas, temple donations and any time your phone dies.
- ATMs of Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank accept foreign cards; look for the Visa, Mastercard or Plus logo. Withdrawal limit is usually 2,500 to 3,000 yuan per transaction.
- Airport exchange counters give poor rates. Exchange at a bank branch (passport required) or simply withdraw.
- Notes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan. Counterfeit 100s are rare now but shops still check them.
Tipping and prices
- There is no tipping in restaurants, taxis or hotels. It can cause confusion; a guide or driver on a private tour is the one exception.
- Prices in shops and restaurants are fixed. Bargaining is expected only in tourist markets, where a third to half of the first price is a normal opening offer.
- Restaurants add no service charge, except some in Hong Kong and Macau, which have their own currencies: the Hong Kong dollar and the pataca. Mainland yuan is not accepted there, but Alipay HK and cards are.
Rough costs
A metro ride is 2 to 8 yuan, a bowl of noodles 15 to 30, a mid range restaurant meal 60 to 120 per person, a second class high speed train Beijing to Shanghai about 550, a clean chain hotel room 250 to 450 in most cities and roughly double in Beijing and Shanghai. Admission to major sights runs 60 to 200 yuan; most national museums are free with a booking.
Common questions
Do I need a Chinese bank account or phone number?
No. A foreign mobile number and a foreign card are enough for Alipay and WeChat Pay. A Chinese SIM makes some mini programs smoother but is not required.
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay?
Apple Pay works only at the small number of shops with contactless terminals, mostly chains and hotels. Google Pay does not work. The QR code apps are the universal method.
What if a QR code will not scan?
Some merchants use a WeChat only or Alipay only code. Having both apps solves it. In a pinch, show your own payment code and let the cashier scan you, which works for both.