TL;DR
China is effectively cashless for daily life. QR code payments rule everything from street food to high-speed rail. Set up at least one payment method before arrival and carry Β₯500-1000 cash as backup.
WeChat Pay vs Alipay
Both are accepted almost everywhere. You need at least one. Here is how they compare for international visitors:
WeChat Pay
Alipay
Setup difficulty
Medium (SMS or card verify)
Setup difficulty
Easy (self-service)
International cards
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners
International cards
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners, Discover
Foreign exchange fee
~3% per transaction
Foreign exchange fee
~3% per transaction
Tourist feature
None (direct card binding)
Tourist feature
Tour Pass (prepaid, no per-transaction fee)
Best for
Small vendors, street food
Best for
Budgeting, prepaid convenience
Pro Tip
Our recommendation: Set up both. WeChat Pay for maximum merchant acceptance, Alipay Tour Pass as your prepaid backup with no per-transaction fees.
Setting Up WeChat Pay
Complete this setup before you leave home β verification can be finicky on foreign networks.
1
Download and Register
Download WeChat (not WeChat Work) from your app store. Register with your phone number. Verification is usually automatic via SMS or bank card; in some cases a friend may need to assist.
2
Open Wallet
Go to Me β Services β Wallet. If you see "Wallet," you are in a supported region. If not, try changing your WeChat region to mainland China in settings.
3
Add Your Card
Tap Cards β Add a Card. Enter your international Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or Diners Club details. Your bank may send a 3D Secure verification code.
4
Real-Name Verification
Follow prompts to verify your identity with your passport. This is required for payments over Β₯200 (~$28 USD).
5
Test Payment
Ask a friend to send you a small red packet, or make a small purchase. Confirm the transaction completes successfully before your trip.
If Card Binding Fails
Common fixes: (1) Ensure your card supports 3D Secure, (2) Call your bank to authorize China transactions, (3) Try at a different time (some banks block overnight international requests), (4) Use a different card.
Setting Up Alipay Tour Pass
Alipay's Tour Pass is specifically designed for short-term visitors. You preload funds and spend directly β no per-transaction foreign exchange fees.
1
Download Alipay
Download Alipay from your app store. Register with your phone number. Choose "International Version" if prompted.
2
Find Tour Pass
Go to Me β Bank Cards β Tour Pass. This is a prepaid card you load with your international credit card.
3
Load Funds
Add funds using your international card. Load Β₯500-2000 depending on your planned spending. The money sits in your Tour Pass balance.
4
Pay at Checkout
Tap Pay and show the generated QR code to the cashier. Or tap Scan to scan the merchant's QR code.
5
Refund Unused Balance
Any remaining balance can be refunded to your original card. Go to Tour Pass β Refund. Processing time varies; typically 7-14 days.
Cash: Your Backup
Always carry some physical cash. Situations where you need it:
- Small street vendors in rural areas without QR codes
- Taxi drivers claiming their app is "broken"
- When your phone battery dies
- Remote areas with limited mobile payment infrastructure
- Emergencies where digital payment is unavailable
| Where to Get Cash | Rate | Convenience |
|---|---|---|
| Bank in home country | Best | Order 1-2 weeks ahead |
| ATM in China (foreign card) | Fair | ATM fee ~Β₯20-30 per withdrawal |
| Airport exchange | Poor | Instant, 24/7 |
| Hotel front desk | Poor | Limited amounts, convenience fee |
Pro Tip
Bring Β₯500-1000 CNY in cash. For better exchange rates in China, use Bank of China (δΈε½ιΆθ‘) branches rather than airport counters.
Notify Your Bank
Before leaving, contact your bank and:
- Notify them of travel dates and destinations (China)
- Ask them to authorize transactions from Chinese merchants
- Confirm your card supports 3D Secure for online binding
- Ask about foreign transaction fees (typically 1-3%)
- Get the international customer service phone number
Important
Some banks automatically block all transactions from China due to fraud concerns. A 30-second phone call before departure can prevent payment failures at a street food stall.