Set up two options and keep some cash.
Overseas visitors can use mobile wallets, international bank cards and RMB cash. Limits and fees are published by each product and the two operators do not agree, so this page lists both sets of official figures side by side rather than averaging them.
Two wallets, pick one to start
Both work. They differ in English coverage, single-transaction cap and what else they do. You do not need both, but having both is more comfortable.
| Aspect | Alipay | Weixin Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Set-up time | About 10 minutes, plus a wait if your bank adds a card-verification step | About 10 minutes, and the flow is shorter if you already use WeChat |
| English interface | Fully translated, including the add-card flow | Translated, but some wallet and verification screens still fall back to Chinese |
| Single-transaction cap | ¥3,000 | ¥6,500 — twice Alipay, so better for a big hotel bill |
| Annual cap | ¥60,000 | ¥65,000 |
| Extra uses | Ride-hailing, metro and bus codes, attraction mini-programs, translation | Messaging, and the mini-programs most restaurants use for menus and queues |
| Our pick | First wallet if you are new to China — the English coverage is more complete | First wallet if you already message on WeChat, or need to pay a bill above ¥3,000 |
How to set each one up
Bind the card before you fly, while you can still reach your bank. It is far easier than doing it at an airport counter.
Alipay支付宝
A first wallet, and the best English coverage
Set-up
- RegisterInstall Alipay and tap Sign up. A mainland +86 number is not required.
- Verify your identity and add a cardOpen Alipay → Me → Bank Cards → Add bank card, then follow the prompts. Tap Verify now and enter your identity details. If you verify with a passport, you will be asked to upload a copy.
- PayTap Scan to read the merchant’s QR code, or tap Pay/Collect to show your own code for the merchant to scan.
Works for
- Everyday purchases: restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, malls, attractions
- In-app purchases and some online merchants
- Ride-hailing, metro and bus codes inside the Alipay mini-programs
Watch out
- Your issuing bank may run its own verification when you add the card — keep access to that channel.
- The exchange rate comes from the card organisation and your issuing bank, not from Alipay.
- Add a second method before you rely on this one; a single declined card is a bad first evening.
Not supportedCross-border transfers · Sending red packets
Open official source →Weixin Pay微信支付
Travellers who already use WeChat, and payments above ¥3,000
Set-up
- Update WeChatInstall or update to the latest version, then register with your phone number or sign in.
- Find Weixin PayTap Me → Pay and Services → Wallet.
- Verify and add a cardIn Wallet tap Bank Cards → Add a Bank Card, accept the service agreement, then enter your identity details. Passport, or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, or a Mainland Travel Permit / Residence Permit for Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan residents.
Works for
- Everyday purchases inside the Chinese Mainland, in store and in app
- Restaurant mini-programs for menus and queue numbers
- The higher single-transaction cap, useful for hotels and rail tickets
Watch out
- An international phone number works, as long as it can receive SMS verification codes.
- Some wallet and verification screens are still Chinese-only.
- The same ¥200 / 3% fee rule applies as on Alipay.
Not supportedRed packets · Money transfers
Open official source →UnionPay (Yunshanfu)银联云闪付
Direct card payment, and an E-Money Card without a mainland account
Set-up
- Install YunshanfuDownload the UnionPay app and register with an international number.
- Add a UnionPay cardBind a UnionPay card, or apply in-app for an E-Money Card.
Works for
- The widest POS acceptance of any card brand in China
- E-Money Card: a prepaid card usable where UnionPay is accepted
- Contactless tap at transport gates and larger retailers
Watch out
- Some E-Money Card features need identity verification before they unlock.
- Issuing-bank rules still apply on top of UnionPay’s own.
International bank card国际银行卡
Hotels, airports, department stores and larger attractions
Set-up
- Tell your bank you are travellingA block on the first foreign transaction is the most common failure.
- Enable international and contactless useCheck both in your banking app, not just online banking.
- Carry the physical cardDirect tapping works at international hotels, department stores and airports, but not at most small merchants.
Works for
- Contactless or chip-and-PIN at international hotels, department stores, airports
- Some museums and larger ticketed attractions
- ATM cash withdrawal
Watch out
- Whether a card is accepted depends on the logo the merchant displays, not on your card being "international".
- A declined card does not mean the wallet will also fail — they are different rails.
- Small merchants, market stalls and taxis often cannot take a card at all.
RMB cash and ATM人民币现金与 ATM
A universal fallback, and the only option at some small stalls
Set-up
- Bring a card enabled for overseas withdrawalNot every debit card is enabled for overseas ATM use by default.
- Use an ATM showing your network logoAirport and bank-branch ATMs are the most reliable. Use one attached to a bank branch during opening hours if you can.
- Keep small notes¥100 notes are hard to break at a ¥3 stall.
Works for
- RMB cash remains a valid payment method — a merchant cannot require an app
- Street stalls, small eateries, rural buses, temple donation boxes
- ATMs accept major international networks
Watch out
- Both the ATM operator and your issuing bank may charge, and the rate is set at withdrawal time.
- Withdrawing a few hundred yuan at a time and topping up beats one large withdrawal.
- Do not depend on a single ATM or a single card.
The fee comes down to one rule
Both operators use the same rule: no fee at or below ¥200, 3% above it. The caps are where they differ.
No fee on a single transaction of ¥200 or less.
3% of the transaction on a single payment above ¥200.
Example A ¥1,000 hotel bill costs about ¥30 in fees. Two ¥500 payments cost nothing.
Caps: the two do not agree
The government guide states that card brands, limits and fees vary by product and defers to each product page and service agreement. Treat the figures above as the operators’ published position on the date we checked, and confirm in the app before a large payment.
The exchange rate is set by the card organisation and your issuing bank. The billing statement is authoritative.
If you are refunded, the fee is refunded in proportion to the amount.
Card networks you can bind
- VisaWidely accepted for binding
- MastercardWidely accepted for binding
- UnionPayBroadest POS acceptance in China
- American ExpressSupported; acceptance varies by merchant
- JCBSupported; common at Japanese-facing merchants
- Diners ClubListed by both operators
- DiscoverListed by both operators
14 foreign wallets that need no binding
These e-wallets can scan and pay directly in the Chinese Mainland without being bound to Alipay or Weixin Pay first. Source: the Chinese government guide (grade A).
- AlipayHKHong Kong, China
- WeChat Pay HKHong Kong, China
- mPayMacao, China
- Kakao PaySouth Korea
- Naver PaySouth Korea
- Toss PaySouth Korea
- Touch 'n Go eWalletMalaysia
- HiPayMalaysia
- Changi PaySingapore
- OCBC DigitalSingapore
- TrueMoneyThailand
- GCashPhilippines
- Kaspi.kzKazakhstan
- NayaPayPakistan
“You scan me” or “I scan you”?
The phrase is spoken by the cashier, and the direction is decided by who presents the code. Getting it backwards will not mischarge you, but it will stall you at the till.
The merchant presents a printed or on-screen code. You scan it.
- Open Alipay or Weixin Pay and tap Scan (扫一扫).
- Frame the merchant’s code.
- Check the merchant name and the amount appear on your screen.
- Enter or confirm the amount if it is blank — with a merchant code you usually type it yourself.
- Confirm. Show the success screen if the merchant asks.
Typical of Small shops, market stalls, taxis, and anywhere the code is taped to the counter.
You present your payment code. The merchant scans it with a handheld scanner.
- Open the wallet and tap Pay / Collect (付款码).
- A barcode and QR code appear, with a rotating security number.
- Hold the screen under the merchant’s scanner.
- The amount is set by the merchant, so the screen shows it before you confirm.
- Wait for the confirmation sound before putting the phone away.
Typical of Supermarkets, chain convenience stores, hotels and restaurants with a till.
- Never let anyone else scan your payment code on their own phone. The code takes money out; it does not request it. A stranger offering to "help you pay" is asking you to hand over cash.
- A merchant scanning you should always show you the amount first. If a screen shows a figure you did not agree, cancel.
How to pay, place by place
The same wallet behaves differently at a metro gate, in a taxi and at a hotel desk.
Metro
Alipay and Weixin Pay both carry a metro ride code. Add the city in the transport mini-program, then scan at the gate.
Tip Ride codes are city-specific. Add each city as you arrive, and keep the gate on the right app — a code from the wrong city will not open it.
Bus
Scan the same ride code on the reader by the driver. Some cities also accept a UnionPay contactless tap.
Tip Have small notes as a backup — a few rural and intercity routes still take cash only.
Taxi and ride-hailing
Ride-hailing runs through Alipay or WeChat mini-programs, and the fare is charged to your bound card. Street taxis show a QR code on the dashboard or behind the driver.
Tip In a street taxi, ask for the meter to be used and pay the figure shown. Note the plate number from the receipt screen.
High-speed rail
Tickets are bought in the official Railway 12306 app or at a station counter. A passport is your ticket — scan it at the gate.
Tip A single ticket can exceed Alipay’s ¥3,000 single-transaction cap on a long first-class route. Weixin Pay’s ¥6,500 cap, or a physical card, avoids splitting the payment.
Hotels
International hotels take cards and both wallets. Some also accept Apple Pay or PayPal. Small guesthouses may be wallet-only.
Tip A deposit is often pre-authorised on the card at check-in and released after checkout. A wallet payment may be taken immediately instead.
Museums and ticketed sights
Many major sights sell timed-entry slots through their own mini-program, which takes a wallet payment. Physical counters take cards less often than you would expect.
Tip Some museums release slots on a fixed schedule and sell out within minutes. Check the venue’s official page for the release time before you travel.
Convenience stores and supermarkets
Chain stores have a till scanner: show your payment code. Independent shops usually have a printed QR: you scan them.
Tip This is the fastest place to test a new wallet — small amount, quick confirmation, and staff who have seen every failure mode.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and is not built into the payment flow.
Tip A service charge at a high-end restaurant will be stated on the menu. There is nothing to add at the till.
When a payment fails, work through this
Most failures are not a broken card — they are issuing-bank fraud rules or the merchant terminal accepting fewer brands than the wallet does.
The card will not bind at all
Why The issuing bank blocked a foreign online transaction, or the card brand is not on the supported list.
What to do Call the number on the back of the card and ask them to allow the transaction. If it is a debit card, try a credit card instead — debit support is narrower.
"Card not supported" on a specific purchase
Why The merchant’s terminal accepts a narrower set of brands than the wallet does.
What to do Switch to the other wallet, or pay cash. A card that fails here can still work at the next shop.
No signal, or the QR will not load
Why The wallet needs a data connection to generate the payment code.
What to do Ask for the venue’s Wi-Fi, or fall back to cash. This is the strongest argument for carrying some cash.
Payment hangs on "processing"
Why The confirmation is slow between the operator, the card organisation and your bank.
What to do Do not pay a second time immediately. Wait for the merchant’s screen, then check your transaction history in the wallet before retrying.
The payment failed but money left the account
Why A pre-authorisation that was not completed is held, then released automatically.
What to do It usually returns within a few days. If it has not, raise it in the wallet first, then with your issuing bank — the bank can see the hold even when the wallet cannot.
The account is locked after repeated attempts
Why Anti-fraud limits triggered by several failed payments in a row.
What to do Stop retrying. Use the app’s help centre or in-app chat, and have your passport and the card to hand.
A refund has not arrived
Why The operator refunds immediately; the card organisation and your bank take longer to post it.
What to do Keep the refund confirmation screen. The transaction fee is refunded in proportion to the amount, so the credited total should match.
Charged a different amount than agreed
Why Either the merchant entered the wrong figure, or a currency conversion was applied by the terminal.
What to do Ask the merchant before leaving. Then check the wallet record, and dispute through the app with the time and the amount — the operator holds the transaction log.
Three short lists
Before you fly
- Install Alipay and WeChat, and register with a number that will still work abroad.
- Bind one card in each, and finish any identity verification while you have your bank on the phone.
- Tell both banks your travel dates.
- Write down the numbers to call if a card is blocked.
On arrival
- Withdraw a few hundred yuan from an airport ATM as a floor, not as your main method.
- Buy something small at a convenience store with each wallet to prove both work.
- Add the local metro ride code before you need it at a gate.
If something fails
- Cash is always accepted — a merchant cannot insist on an app.
- Try the other wallet before assuming the card is dead.
- Keep the merchant’s name and the time for any dispute.
Emergency numbers
- 110Police
- 119Fire
- 120Ambulance
- 12367Immigration service hotline
- 12306Railway ticketing
Payment disputes are not an emergency. Raise them in the wallet app first; the operator holds the transaction log.
Where every number comes from
Fees and limits are grade-B material: they require the service’s own documentation and a recorded check date. These are all the sources this page uses.
| Grade | Publisher and document | What it supports | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates (2025) ↗The State Council, PRC | Which cards and apps work, where they work, and the official position on fees. | 2026-09-20 |
| B | All you need to know when adding overseas bank cards in Alipay ↗AlipayAlipay’s own info-graphic, linked as a PDF hosted by Duke Kunshan University — Alipay does not serve this document from its own help domain. | Alipay limits, fees, exchange-rate handling, and what overseas cards cannot do. | 2026-09-20 |
| B | Guide to Add and Use International Cards with Weixin Pay ↗Weixin Pay (official help centre) | Weixin Pay limits, fees, accepted identity documents, and unsupported features. | 2026-09-20 |
The grading scale is in our editorial policy: A is the Chinese government and competent authorities, B is a service’s own help centre, and D is a lead that cannot on its own prove a fact.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners use Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card?
Yes. Both wallets let you register with a passport and link a Visa or Mastercard. Set the wallet up before you fly and run one small real payment at home — a card that fails at a ticket machine on day one is a hard problem to debug in a queue.
What fees and limits apply to foreign cards?
Both wallets charge no fee on a single payment of ¥200 or less and about 3% above it. Caps differ by operator: Alipay documents ¥3,000 per transaction, WeChat Pay ¥6,500. Check the card section inside your own wallet app — that is the figure that actually binds your payments.
Do I still need cash in China?
Bring the equivalent of US$100–150 in yuan as your cash cushion. It covers the rare cash-only stall, temple donation boxes and a dead phone battery, and you can always withdraw more — UnionPay ATMs attached to bank branches accept foreign cards.
Can I link an American Express card to Alipay?
Yes — since February 2025, Alipay supports binding overseas-issued American Express cards directly. WeChat Pay’s Amex support is more limited, so check inside the app before relying on it. The usual wallet caps and the ¥200 / 3% fee rule still apply.
WeChat is asking a friend to scan and verify my new account — what do I do?
New WeChat registrations sometimes trigger a "friend assist" step that needs an existing user to scan your QR code. If you don’t know anyone on WeChat, ask your hotel front desk — they help guests with this regularly. Alternatively, register before you fly while you can still troubleshoot, or start with Alipay, whose foreigner sign-up flow is simpler.
Why does Alipay keep rejecting my passport verification, and how do I fix it?
The app rarely tells you the real reason, but failures almost always come down to four things: (1) photo quality — retake the passport data page flat in daylight, no glare, all four corners visible; (2) name mismatch — the name on your linked bank card must match your passport exactly, including middle names; (3) passport validity — passports expiring within 6 months are often rejected; (4) too many attempts — after 3-5 failures Alipay locks verification for 24 hours, so wait a full day before retrying. If it still fails, use TourPass (a prepaid balance for short-term visitors, up to ¥2,000 or ¥6,000, no full verification needed) or ask for a manual review in the app's Help Center.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to pay for things in China?
不需要。主流银行不接受L签证开户，需居住许可/长签+本地手机号+地址+线下网点。短期游客直接把境外Visa/Mastercard绑定支付宝或微信支付即可覆盖90%以上场景。
Alipay or Weixin Pay + one international bank card + a small amount of RMB cash. Bind the card before departure and make one small real purchase after arrival.
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