China went cashless faster than anywhere on earth — and for years that tripped up visitors. Not anymore. In 2026 you can link a normal Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay and scan-to-pay almost everywhere, from luxury malls to noodle stalls. Here's the five-minute setup.
In this guide
1. Alipay or WeChat Pay — which one?
For a tourist, Alipay is the easier starting point: its foreign-card flow is smooth and its built-in translation, ride-hailing, metro QR and mini-programs are handy. WeChat Pay works too and is worth having if you'll use WeChat to message guides and hosts. You don't need both — pick one, and add the other only if you like.
2. Set it up in four steps
- Install before you fly. Download Alipay (or WeChat) and register with your phone number while you still have your home connection.
- Add your card. Open the wallet / bank-card section and add your international Visa or Mastercard. Both are supported.
- Verify your identity. Enter your passport details for a quick KYC check. Small transactions typically carry no extra fee; larger ones may add a small surcharge.
- Test a tiny payment on day one — a bottle of water — so you're confident before the big dinner.
3. How to actually pay
Two directions, both instant. Either you show your payment QR and the cashier scans it, or you scan the merchant's QR and type the amount. Street vendors, taxis, temples, vending machines — nearly all take it. Metro and bus rides work through the same apps' transit QR.
On a China Voyage trip, your guide sits with you on the first morning to set up your wallet, top it up and test it — so you never have a "how do I pay?" moment. Design my trip →
4. Do you still need cash?
Barely — but carry a little. A few hundred yuan covers the rare rural vendor, a temple donation box, or a backup if your phone dies. Major hotels also accept foreign credit cards directly, and ATMs that take foreign cards are common in cities.
5. Tipping, fees & safety
- Tipping isn't expected in most of China — a relief for first-timers. Guides and drivers on private trips are the usual exception.
- Fees are small. Currency conversion happens at near-interbank rates; a modest surcharge may apply above a threshold.
- It's safe. Payments are PIN/biometric-protected. Keep your phone's screen lock on and you're fine.
Want it all handled? We brief you on payments, connectivity and everything else before you fly, and set it up with you on arrival. Design my trip →