💳
Payment Guide for China
QR-code mobile payments are common in China. Set up a wallet before arrival, carry a backup, and test a small payment first.
✈️🏨 Before you fly — book on Trip.com
Flights · Hotels · Trains · eSIM · All in one app
Trip.com is the only app you need to plan a China trip. Compare 1M+ hotels, 800+ airlines, and China high-speed rail. One app, one login, in 9 languages.
💳 Before departure: set up a verified backup
Link an eligible foreign card to a wallet, then test it before you rely on it
Tencent states that overseas visitors can bind an eligible foreign credit or debit card to WeChat Pay and use it at participating merchants. Card approval and merchant acceptance can vary, so keep a second wallet and some cash instead of relying on one setup.
Need the short setup guide?
Use the focused Alipay and WeChat Pay guide if you only need the pre-arrival setup steps.
US PayPal user?
Most Chinese merchants do not accept PayPal at checkout. Read the 2026 update for routing PayPal into WeChat Pay and Alipay.
⚡ The Short Answer
Primary: a verified mobile wallet
- • Set up a wallet with an eligible foreign card before departure
- • Complete identity and bank verification while you can receive SMS
- • Make a small test payment after arrival
- • Keep a second wallet or cash as a backup
Backup: a second wallet or cash
- • Also accepts foreign cards
- • Some merchants only accept WeChat
- • Essential for messaging too
- • Mini-programs for everything
💙
Alipay
Ease: mediumCoverage: universal✅ Foreign Cards OK
How to Set Up:
- 1Download Alipay app from App Store / Google Play
- 2Register with phone number (Chinese or international)
- 3Go to "Me" → "Bank Cards" → "Add Bank Card"
- 4Enter your Visa/Mastercard credit or debit card details
- 5Verify with SMS from your bank
- 6For payments, show your QR code or scan merchant QR
💡 Tips
- • Check in the app whether your foreign card is eligible before travel
- • Complete identity and bank verification while you can receive SMS
- • Make a small test payment after arrival before relying on one wallet
- • Keep a second wallet or cash as an independent backup
⚠️ Warnings
- • Daily/annual transaction limits may apply for foreign cards
- • Some features like wealth management products require Chinese ID
- • Card verification SMS may not arrive if your bank blocks China SMS
Payment by Scenario
🎯 Key Takeaways
✅ DO
- • Set up Alipay with your foreign card BEFORE arriving
- • Download and register WeChat
- • Carry some cash (500-1000 RMB) as emergency backup
- • Notify your bank you're traveling to China
- • Bring a Visa or Mastercard (not Amex — lower acceptance)
❌ DON'T
- • Don't assume credit cards work everywhere
- • Don't rely solely on cash
- • Don't forget to enable international transactions on your card
- • Don't exchange money at airports (bad rates)
- • Don't bring only American Express