Paying for things is the single biggest worry first-time visitors have about China, and in 2026 it is also one of the easiest problems to solve. The country runs on QR-code payments, but foreigners can now join the system with nothing more than a passport and a Visa or Mastercard.
The short answer
Set up Alipay before you fly. Link your foreign bank card in the app, verify your identity with your passport, and you can pay at essentially every shop, restaurant, taxi and subway in China by scanning a QR code. Bring WeChat Pay as a backup (it also accepts foreign cards now). Carry a few hundred yuan in cash for street stalls and emergencies.
Setting up Alipay (do this at home)
- Download Alipay and register with your mobile number — foreign numbers work.
- Go to Me → Bank Cards → Add, and link a Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Diners card.
- Complete identity verification: Me → Settings → Account & Security → Identity Verification, using your passport.
- Test it with a small in-app purchase (a phone top-up, for example) before you travel.
Fees to know: payments under ¥200 per transaction are fee-free; single transactions above ¥200 incur a 3% service fee when paying with an international card. Splitting a big restaurant bill into smaller payments is a legitimate and common workaround.
WeChat Pay as backup
WeChat Pay now supports foreign cards too, and it doubles as your translation and messaging app in China. The setup mirrors Alipay’s: Me → Services → Wallet → Bank Cards, link your card, verify with your passport. Some travelers find WeChat Pay accepted in a few spots where Alipay glitches (and vice versa), so having both costs nothing.
When cash still wins
By law, merchants must accept cash — but in practice, small vendors, night markets and some taxis genuinely prefer QR. Carry ¥500–800 in small bills: ATMs at major banks (ICBC, Bank of China) accept foreign cards, and you can also exchange currency at the airport on arrival.
Quick checklist
- Alipay installed, foreign card linked, passport verified
- WeChat Pay set up as a backup
- ¥500–800 cash in small denominations
- Know the ¥200-per-transaction fee threshold
Concierge note: if mobile payments sound like a hassle, tell us — we can walk you through setup on a call before your trip, and our on-trip chat support covers payment hiccups in real time.