How to pay in China as a tourist
Last verified 9 October 2026 against official sources.
Quick answer
Link your Visa or Mastercard to Alipay (and WeChat Pay as a backup) before you fly. Payments up to about ¥200 are fee-free; above that a 3% fee applies. Carry a little cash too — it is legal tender and shops may not refuse it.
Step 1: Set up Alipay before you go
- Install Alipay and sign up with your own (foreign) phone number.
- Add your card: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club and UnionPay are supported.
- Verify your identity with your passport inside the app — unverified accounts get lower limits.
- Test it: open “Scan” or the payment code. In China, you either scan the shop's QR code or let the cashier scan yours.
Step 2: Add WeChat Pay as a backup
Some small shops accept only one of the two apps, so having both saves awkward moments. WeChat Pay accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club and UnionPay cards. WeChat is also the messaging app everyone in China uses, so you will want it anyway.
What it costs
| Payment | Alipay | WeChat Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ¥200 per payment | No fee | No fee (under ¥200) |
| Above ¥200 | 3% fee | 3% fee |
| New-user offer (2026) | — | No fee under ¥1,000 for your first 60 days (max ¥30 saved per payment) |
Your own bank may add a foreign-transaction fee on top. A card without foreign fees is worth having. Alipay's limits are about US$5,000 per payment and US$50,000 per year.
Cards and cash
- Cards: 3-star-and-up hotels and major (4A/5A) attractions are required to accept foreign cards, and big malls usually do. Small restaurants and street stalls rarely have a card terminal.
- Cash: the yuan in cash is legal tender, and businesses have been fined for refusing it. Keep a few hundred yuan for taxis, small shops and backup. Some banks hand out small-change kits for visitors.
- ATMs: withdraw at major banks' machines (Bank of China, ICBC and China Construction Bank are the usual choices for foreign cards).
Using your phone for transport
In Alipay, open the transport section, pick your city and turn on its metro QR code — fares are charged to your linked card. For taxis, the Didi mini-program inside Alipay works in English with your linked card. Or show a driver one of our big-text address cards.
FAQ
Can I use Alipay without a Chinese bank account?
Yes. Since 2023, visitors can link a foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club or UnionPay card to Alipay and pay by QR code.
How much is the Alipay fee for foreign cards?
No fee for payments up to ¥200; above that, 3%. Your card issuer may add its own foreign-transaction fee.
Is cash still accepted in China?
Yes. Cash is legal tender and businesses may not refuse it, although most locals pay by phone.
Sources
- Beijing Municipal Government — daily life services guide (2024)
- Beijing Municipal Government — inbound tourism facilitation measures (March 2026)
- Alipay press release on international cards (August 2023)
- State Council — RMB cash is legal tender (2021)
- Henan Government — payment service guide for overseas visitors (2024)