03 — Before you fly
Money & payments in China
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China runs on QR codes. Cards and cash exist, but daily life — street food, taxis, metro — happens inside two apps. Set them up before you fly and you'll land ready.
Quick checklist
- 01Install Alipay or WeChat and complete identity verification with your passport.
- 02Link your Visa / Mastercard inside the app — foreign cards now work for most everyday payments.
- 03Keep ¥300–500 (≈$40–70) cash as backup for small vendors and the rare card failure.
- 04ATMs at major banks (ICBC, Bank of China) accept foreign cards for withdrawals.
The two apps that run everything
Alipay and WeChat Pay are not optional conveniences — they are how China pays. Both now support foreign passports and international Visa/Mastercard. Alipay's English interface is more polished; WeChat doubles as your messaging app.
Set up both if you can. Some merchants only display one network's code, and having a backup saves awkward moments at the till.
Where foreign cards still fail
Merchant QR codes (business accounts) almost always work with foreign-linked cards. Personal transfer codes — common at street stalls, wet markets and tiny eateries — frequently reject them. You'll also hit limits on very small vendors and some taxi meters.
The pattern: chains, malls, hotels, metros and Didi = fine by phone. Hole-in-the-wall noodles and fruit carts = cash. Carry ¥300–500 (≈$40–70) and you're covered.
Setup order that avoids headaches
1) Install the app at home. 2) Verify identity with your passport (photo + scan). 3) Link your card and make a tiny test payment if possible. 4) Screenshot your payment QR code page for offline reference.
Doing this before departure matters: verification SMS and app-store access are both easier outside the firewall.
Common pitfalls
- Personal transfer QR codes (the ones at street stalls and small family shops) often reject foreign-linked cards — the payment simply fails. That's when your cash backup matters.
- Single transactions on foreign cards can be capped (roughly ¥1,000–5,000 / $140–700 depending on the merchant). Big-ticket purchases are safer on a physical card at hotels and malls.
- If card binding fails, finish passport verification inside the app first, then try a different card network (Visa ↔ Mastercard).
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