How to pay in China as a foreigner
Checked
Short answer
Link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly. Most shops, taxis and metros take them.
WeChat Pay: No fee under ¥200, 3% above ¥200. Alipay applies the same rule according to a secondary source; we have not confirmed it on Alipay's own page yet.
Limits for visitors: US$5,000 per payment, US$50,000 per year. Carry some cash as a backup.
| Fact | Value | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeChat Pay foreign-card feeforeign cards | No fee under ¥200, 3% above ¥200 | WeChat Pay help centre | |
| Alipay foreign-card feeforeign cards | No fee up to ¥200, 3% on payments above ¥200 | Shanghai Government (English) | |
| Visitor payment limitsoverseas visitors | US$5,000 per payment, US$50,000 per year | gov.cn (State Council) | |
| Cash and ATMsvisitors | cash still usable at ATMs/bank exchange | gov.cn (State Council) |
How much does a foreign card cost per payment?
On WeChat Pay, a ¥150 coffee-and-taxi day costs no fee. A ¥600 hotel night costs about ¥18 if the 3% applies to the whole payment, as several 2026 guides say, or about ¥12 if it applies only to the part above ¥200. The official page doesn't settle this, or whether exactly ¥200 is charged.
How do I set up Alipay or WeChat Pay?
- Install the app at home and register with your phone number.
- Add your Visa or Mastercard and complete the identity check with your passport.
- Do a small test payment on arrival, for example a metro ticket or a bottle of water.
What if my payment fails?
Try the other app, then cash. ATMs with card-network logos dispense yuan, and banks exchange currency. Some foreign banks block the first payment as fraud: approve it in your banking app and retry.
Questions people ask
Can I use my Visa card directly in China?
Large hotels and some shops take cards, but most small payments go through Alipay or WeChat Pay. Link your card to one of them.
Is there a fee for Alipay with a foreign card?
A secondary source says: No fee up to ¥200, 3% on payments above ¥200. We are checking this on Alipay's own help page.
Do I still need cash in China?
Rarely, but carry a small amount. Cash acceptance is being expanded and ATMs with card logos work.
Sources
- How to Set Up International Cards for Weixin Pay, WeChat Pay help centre, retrieved
- How to seamlessly pay like a local in China, Shanghai Government (English), retrieved
- Payment service guide, gov.cn (State Council), retrieved