Payment guide
How to pay for things in China
China is almost entirely cashless. Street food, subway rides, museums — everything is QR code. Here's how to set up Alipay as a foreigner, step by step.
TL;DR
- ✓China is cashless — set up Alipay (or WeChat Pay) on a foreign Visa/Mastercard before you land, while you still have open internet.
- ✓A foreign card pays shops, not people: merchant QR codes work, person-to-person transfers don't, and per-transaction caps apply.
- ✓Carry ¥500–1000 cash as backup, withdrawn from a Bank of China or ICBC ATM — not the airport exchange counter.
Do this before you land
Setting up Alipay requires a stable internet connection, SMS to your home number, and sometimes a few tries. Do it at home, not at the airport.
Which payment method should you use?
For foreign visitors, here's the best way to pay in China:
Alipay + your foreign card
RecommendedThe simplest setup for most visitors. You can link a foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Diners Club card directly — no Chinese bank account or phone number needed. Small payments clear instantly; larger ones may ask for a one-time passport verification. A foreign card pays merchants only — it can't send money to people or send red packets (红包).
How to set it up →WeChat Pay + foreign card
Works the same way, accepts the same card networks, and is just as widely accepted. Same limits and the same merchant-only rule apply — no peer-to-peer transfers on a foreign card. Setting up both Alipay and WeChat Pay gives you a reliable backup.
How to set it up →Alipay+ with your home e-wallet (region-dependent)
Travellers from some countries can pay in China using their own home e-wallet through Alipay+. Availability depends on your country and wallet — check whether yours is supported before relying on it.
Foreign card swiped directly (Visa / Mastercard)
Accepted at most hotels and larger stores, but not at street vendors or many small shops. Treat it as a backup, not your main method.
A little cash (RMB)
Carry ¥300–500 for the rare vendor who doesn't take mobile pay. Withdraw at major bank ATMs (Bank of China, ICBC) with your card.
Merchant payments only. A foreign card linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay works for merchant payments only. You cannot send money to another person, send red packets (红包), or make peer-to-peer transfers with a foreign card — those features need a Chinese bank account. To test your setup before you travel, top up your own balance or buy something small from a shop rather than trying to send money to a friend.
Caps shown are the People's Bank of China policy ceilings (raised March 2024); your live in-app limit may be lower until passport verification, so check Me → International Card in the app. Foreign cards are merchant-only (no peer-to-peer transfers). PayPal is not a standard in-store payment method in China — don't plan to rely on it.
Setting up Alipay — step by step
Download Alipay before you leave
Search for 'Alipay' in your App Store or Google Play. Make sure it's the international version. Do this while you still have unrestricted internet — you cannot reliably access Google Play inside China.
Register with your phone number
Open Alipay → tap 'Sign Up' → enter your phone number. You'll receive an SMS verification code. Use your home country number — this works fine.
Complete identity verification
Go to: Me → Pay → International Card. Tap 'Verify Identity'. You'll need your passport number and to take a selfie. This enables you to link a foreign card.
Add your foreign credit or debit card
After verification, tap 'Add Card'. Alipay supports Visa, Mastercard, and most major international cards. Enter your card number, expiry, CVV, and billing address exactly as they appear on your statement.
Make a small test payment
Before you travel, confirm the card works end-to-end by topping up your own Alipay balance with a small amount (say ¥10), or buying something tiny from a merchant QR. Don't try to 'send ¥1 to a friend' — a foreign card can't make person-to-person transfers, so that test will fail even when your card is fine.
Foreign card limits — Alipay & WeChat Pay
Both apps apply the same limits. Exact figures vary by your passport-verification status and card issuer and sources disagree — treat these as approximate, not guarantees. Exchange uses the app's rate, typically close to mid-market.
A foreign card pays shops, not people
A foreign card linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay works for merchant payments only. You cannot send money to another person, send red packets (红包), or make peer-to-peer transfers with a foreign card — those features need a Chinese bank account. To test your setup before you travel, top up your own balance or buy something small from a shop rather than trying to send money to a friend.
How we verified this
High confidence- Last checked
- June 2026
- What may change
- The per-transaction ($5,000) and annual ($50,000) caps are set by the People's Bank of China and can be revised; the 3% over-¥200 fee and which card networks are accepted are set by Alipay/WeChat and have changed before.
What about WeChat Pay?
WeChat Pay works similarly and also accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard. Most places that accept Alipay also accept WeChat Pay. It's worth setting up both.
The key difference: WeChat is also China's main messaging and social app. Having WeChat makes it much easier to communicate with locals, book things, and access services.
Should I bring cash?
Bring ¥500–1000 RMBas a backup. Most things in major cities don't need it, but small vendors in tourist areas, certain taxis, and rural destinations may be cash-only. Get it from a Bank of China or ICBC ATM — they reliably accept foreign cards. Avoid airport exchange counters for large amounts.
Now set up your internet
VPN + SIM — the other critical pre-trip setup.