Can I pay with a foreign credit card in China?+
At hotels, department stores and upscale restaurants, yes. At taxis, noodle shops, markets and metro machines, no. The practical solution is linking your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay.
How do I set up Alipay as a foreigner?+
Install it from the official store, register with your own phone number (you must receive SMS), add your card under Bank Cards, complete identity verification with a passport photo, and test a small purchase before relying on it.
Does Alipay charge fees on foreign cards?+
Transactions under ¥200 are fee-free. Above ¥200 a 3% service fee applies. Your issuing bank may add 1–3% on top.
How much cash should I carry?+
¥500–1,000 for a two-week city trip. ¥2,000–3,000 for rural or western China, where temples, village buses and small guesthouses still run on cash.
Which ATMs accept foreign cards?+
Bank of China and ICBC are the most reliable, with limits of ¥2,500–5,000 per withdrawal. Airport ATMs work best; convenience-store machines frequently refuse foreign cards.
Do I need a Chinese bank account?+
No, for a normal trip. A Chinese account only becomes useful for long stays or if you need to receive money locally.
Can I send money to someone in China through Alipay?+
Peer-to-peer transfers funded by a foreign card are frequently blocked. For paying a guide or host, use a bank transfer before arrival or cash.
Do you tip in China?+
No. Not in restaurants, not in taxis, not at hotels. A service charge appears only in five-star hotels and is stated on the menu.
Can I get a VAT refund when I leave?+
Yes, on purchases over ¥500 from participating stores, if you request the refund form at purchase, keep the goods unused, and claim at the airport before departure. The refund is 11% minus a handling fee.
Is it cheaper to use ATMs or exchange cash?+
ATMs, by a wide margin. Always decline the machine’s own currency conversion and let your bank do it — that alone saves 3–5%.
What if my phone dies and I cannot pay?+
Carry one physical card and ¥500 cash. That combination has never failed anyone we know. Electronic payment failure is the single most common travel emergency in China.