Four ways to pay
The official approach is “cards for big spends, QR codes for small ones, cash as a fallback”. For visitors, mobile payment does most of the work.
Set up Alipay before you fly
Set it up before departure and allow time for verification; review times vary by account.
- 1
Download and sign up
Download Alipay from your app store. You can sign up with a foreign phone number and confirm it by text message.
Your account is created
- 2
Verify your passport
Follow the prompts to enter or scan your passport. Verified accounts get higher payment limits.
- 3
Link a card
Add a Visa, Mastercard or other foreign card. Your bank may send a code or ask you to approve it in its app.
The card shows as a payment method
- 4
Try a small payment
Make a small payment before you rely on it. Either show your payment code, or scan the shop’s code.
Do the same for WeChat Pay
In WeChat, link a foreign card in your Wallet. With both set up, one can cover for the other.
Fees and limits
- Fees — Official baseline guidance waives the wallet foreign-card service fee up to ¥200 and charges 3% of the full payment above it. Promotions and card exceptions can change this; issuer FX or foreign-transaction charges may still apply. Read the confirmation screen.
- Per payment — The published ceiling is equivalent to US$5,000, but identity checks, card, bank and security controls can set a lower actual limit.
- Per year — Published baseline guidance gives an annual ceiling equivalent to US$50,000; check the platform’s rules and your account’s remaining allowance.
For big spends, use the card directly
For hotels and shopping above ¥200, paying with your card directly — where accepted — avoids the 3% fee (your bank’s own fees aside).
Cash and ATMs
Cash is still legal tender everywhere — handy for a flat battery, no signal or a failed payment. Small notes make change easier.
- Banks exchange currency at the counter, and some machines do too.
- You can withdraw yuan at ATMs with a foreign card — airport and city-centre bank ATMs are easiest.
If a payment fails
Try these in order — most problems can be fixed on the spot:
- Check your passport is verified and you’re within the limits.
- Open your bank’s app — it may have blocked the foreign payment.
- Switch to another card, ideally on a different network.
- Pay with WeChat Pay, the card itself, or cash instead.
Common questions
Can I sign up without a Chinese phone number?
Yes. Foreign visitors can register with an overseas number and link a foreign bank card.
Do I need a Chinese bank account?
Not for a short trip. A linked foreign card is enough to pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Will my bank charge extra?
Possibly. Some banks charge foreign-transaction or currency-conversion fees — check with your card issuer.
Where do refunds go?
Usually back to the card you paid with; how long it takes depends on your bank.
Read next
Sources
- Overseas card payments: fees, exemptions and limitsShanghai Government · 2026-09-21
- International-card payment termsAlipay
- Mobile payment limits for foreign visitors raised to US$5,000 per transactionXinhua (People’s Bank of China) · 2024-03-01
- Making payments easier for foreign visitorsXinhua · 2024-02-28
- PBOC measures to make payments easier for foreign visitorsBeijing Foreign Affairs Office · 2024-03-02
- Guide to working and living in China for foreign business peopleMOFCOM and seven other departments · 2025
Sources support the relevant rules, last reviewed 3 Oct 2026. Routes, budgets and practical suggestions are editorial guidance, not official guarantees. Recheck rules and service availability before travelling.