China is one of the most cashless places on earth. In most cities you pay by scanning a QR code with your phone, not by tapping a card. For years that locked out visitors, because the apps needed a Chinese bank account. That changed: since China's central bank reforms in 2024, foreign-issued cards link directly to the two big payment apps, and a separate cash-acceptance rule that took effect on 1 February 2026 means you always have a fallback. Set one app up before you fly and you'll pay like a local from the moment you land.
Do this before you fly: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay
Both apps now let you register with a foreign passport, an international Visa or Mastercard, and your home-country phone number — no Chinese bank account and no Chinese SIM required. Set up at least one before departure, on home or hotel Wi-Fi, so the verification steps go smoothly.
A few things that apply to both apps:
- Most major card networks work (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners, UnionPay). American Express support varies between the apps, so don't rely on Amex as your only card.
- You'll scan your passport and do a face check to unlock full payment limits. Passport scans are fussy: use natural light, lay the passport on a dark surface, and avoid glare.
- Call your bank before you travel and tell them you'll be using your card in China — the first transaction is often flagged and blocked as suspicious.
Alipay (支付宝)
Download Alipay, sign up with your foreign phone number, then go to Me → Settings → Account & Security → Identity Verification to upload your passport and verify your face. Add your card under the bank-card / payment settings. Setup usually takes 10–30 minutes.
WeChat Pay (微信支付)
WeChat is also China's main messaging app, so it's worth having anyway. Register WeChat with your home phone number, then open Me → Services / Wallet and add an international card. New international-card users often get an introductory fee-free window — handy for your first days.
Limits and fees (and why a tourist barely notices)
Day-to-day payments — meals, metro, taxis, tickets — are small and generally fee-free. Larger card-funded payments can carry a card-network fee of around 3% above a small threshold, and both apps cap how much you can spend per transaction and per year. China's central bank raised those caps substantially in 2024, so a normal holiday won't come close to the limits.
Because the exact thresholds, fees and caps change, confirm the current numbers inside the app before you rely on them rather than trusting any one blog — the in-app help center is the source of truth.
Cash: your backup, and it's protected by law
You should still carry some cash. Renminbi (RMB) is legal tender, refusing it is illegal, and on 1 February 2026 the central bank's Regulations on RMB Cash Acceptance took effect, strengthening enforcement against businesses that turn cash away. In practice a few small or older vendors may still wave you toward a QR code, but you're entitled to pay in cash and can insist.
- Carry roughly ¥500–¥1,500 for a one-to-two-week trip as emergency backup.
- Withdraw RMB from ATMs at major banks — Bank of China and ICBC are widely compatible with foreign cards, and HSBC and Citibank branches are reliable for foreign Visa/Mastercard. Withdrawals are typically capped around ¥2,500–¥3,000 per transaction.
Don't count on your physical Visa or Mastercard
Swiping a foreign card works only in limited places: international hotels, big shopping malls, upscale restaurants and airport shops. It will not work for taxis, street food, small shops or most local restaurants, and a foreign Visa/Mastercard is not on the UnionPay network that many local terminals use. The QR apps — not your plastic card — are how you'll actually pay day to day.
Quick checklist
- Before you fly: install Alipay and/or WeChat Pay, link a foreign Visa/Mastercard, verify your passport, and tell your bank you're travelling to China.
- Pack: passport, the card you linked, and ¥500–¥1,500 in cash.
- On the ground: scan QR codes for almost everything, keep cash for the occasional holdout, and save the physical card for hotels and malls.
Get this one thing sorted and the rest of China gets a lot easier. InChina handles the part that comes next — the right train, the metro line, and the words to say when you get there.
Last updated June 2026. Payment limits, fees and supported card networks change often; always confirm the current details in the Alipay or WeChat app before you depend on them.