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How to pay in China: A complete guide for travelers
How to pay in China: Alipay and WeChat Pay setup, cash backups, card acceptance, and staying connected to pay by phone.
China runs mostly on two mobile QR payment apps (Alipay and WeChat Pay), which let you link a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express without a local bank account. This guide covers how to pay in China as a tourist: setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay, cash and card considerations, and more.
Alipay and WeChat Pay only work with a good internet connection, which makes Holafly the perfect companion for your trip.
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Setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay in China with a foreign card
Here’s how to link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay and WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account or +86 phone number.
Alipay for foreigners
- Download Alipay and tap Sign Up from the App Store or Google Play.
- Enter your dialing code and mobile number, and confirm the SMS code.
- Open Account (Me) > Settings > Account and Security > Identity Information and enter your name as it appears on your passport.
- Upload a photo of your passport’s photo page and complete the facial scan.
- Go to Bank Cards > Add Card and enter your card number, expiry date, and CVV.
- Confirm your bank’s 3D Secure prompt and set a six-digit payment PIN.
Alipay supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, and JCB. Purchases of 200 RMB (about $30 as of writing) or less incur no platform fee, while purchases above that carry a 3% fee.
WeChat Pay for foreigners
- Download WeChat and tap Sign Up via Mobile.
- Select your country’s dialing code, enter your number, and confirm the SMS code.
- Open Me > Services > Wallet > Bank Cards.
- Tap Add a Bank Card and enter your card number, expiry date, and CVV.
- Enter your full name as it appears on your passport, select Passport as your ID type, enter your passport number, and upload a photo of the front of your passport.
- Confirm your bank’s 3D Secure prompt and set a six-digit payment PIN.
Similarly, WeChat Pay supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, and JCB. Purchases of 200 RMB or less carry 0% platform fees, while transactions over 200 RMB incur a 3% fee.
Once you’re set up and ready to pay, tap the + icon in the top-right corner, scan the vendor’s QR code, and confirm the transaction with your PIN. Alternatively, open your own Pay screen (tap + > Money ) and let the merchant scan you.
Using cash (RMB) in China as a backup
Although Alipay and WeChat Pay cover most spending, it’s wise to carry cash.
That’s because some independent stalls, markets, and street food carts will display a personal QR code rather than a business one, and foreign-linked cards can’t pay into personal accounts. Cash is also handy if your phone dies or your home bank flags the transaction.
How much cash should you carry for a day? Around ¥100–¥300 should suffice, with more if you’re headed somewhere rural. We also recommend sticking to smaller notes (¥10, 20, 50), as street vendors can’t always break a ¥100 bill.
Tip: Rather than buying RMB at poor airport exchange rates, withdraw cash from major bank ATMs (e.g., Bank of China, ICBC) using a zero-foreign-fee debit card. If the ATM asks for a 6-digit PIN and your debit card uses a 4-digit PIN, enter your 4 digits and press Enter.
Do credit and debit cards work in China?
Visa and Mastercard cards work in fewer places than you might expect.
International hotel chains, duty-free counters, and high-end malls in cities like Beijing and Shanghai generally take them, whether you’re tapping a physical card or using Apple Pay or Google Pay. If the terminal prompts you to pay in your home currency or RMB, always choose RMB to avoid unwanted fees.
Still, restaurants, convenience stores, and taxis usually don’t accept Western cards because most Chinese card machines run on the local UnionPay network. That’s why most everyday spending goes through Alipay or WeChat Pay.
If you still plan to bring a card, choose one that avoids foreign transaction fees. Our roundup of no-foreign-fee debit cards for Americans covers five options.
Does Zelle work in China?
Zelle doesn’t work in China because it’s built to move money between US banks.
If you’re splitting a bill with another American back home, Zelle can still work. Just know that logging in from a Chinese IP address can trigger your bank’s fraud checks.
For Americans trying to figure out how to pay for things in China? We strongly recommend that you use Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash.
Good to know: China blocks many popular services via its Great Firewall, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive, YouTube), Wikipedia, Reddit, and streaming services like Netflix and Spotify.
Before you travel: setting up payments for China
Below are seven steps to get your payments sorted before you land.
- Download Alipay and/or WeChat Pay.
- Register with your home phone number.
- Verify your identity.
- Link a Visa or Mastercard and set a payment PIN.
- Notify your bank of your travel dates so it doesn’t flag the charges as fraud.
- Withdraw cash for situations apps don’t cover.
- Ensure you’ll have mobile data, as Alipay and/or WeChat Pay won’t work without it.
Still planning your itinerary? Check out guides on planning a trip to China, the best time to visit China, the best places to visit in China, and fun facts about China.
Stay connected in China to pay with Alipay and WeChat Pay
Alipay and WeChat Pay require an internet connection to work for everyday transactions, such as scanning a merchant’s QR code, which is why having cellular data is key.
Holafly’s eSIM China solves this by giving you unlimited data the moment you land, without a store visit or physical SIM swaps. Activation happens via a QR code, and iPhone users install their eSIM in the Holafly iOS app. If you have a Samsung or Google Pixel, we also have an app on Google Play.
Furthermore, Holafly provides 24/7 customer support and Always On, 1GB of monthly backup data at no added cost on all eSIMs, so you’re always connected even if your main plan ends.
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FAQs about paying in China
The easiest way for a tourist to pay in China is to link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay, and scan or show a QR code for purchases. Keep some RMB cash on hand for small vendors, and a card for international hotel chains and premium malls such as SKP Beijing/Chengdu, Plaza 66 Shanghai, K11, and Taikoo Li.
Zelle is a US-only bank-to-bank transfer service and doesn’t work for paying merchants or individuals in China. It only moves money between two US bank accounts, so travelers should rely on Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash.
Yes, US citizens can use Alipay in China by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play, registering with a home phone number, verifying their identity with a passport, and linking a Visa or Mastercard.
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I’m a writer with over eight years of experience in digital content. My work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Business Insider, and the BBC. At Holafly, I write clear, practical guides to help travelers stay connected with eSIM technology. In my spare time, I enjoy car detailing, biking around Warsaw, and capturing portraits.
