Paying in China as a tourist: Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards and cash

In China almost everything is paid by QR code with Alipay or WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay). You can now link both apps to a European Visa or Mastercard – no Chinese bank account needed. Here is how it works, what it costs and why you still want some cash. Everything from official sources, checked 1 Nov 2026.

In short: how to pay in China

Main route: Alipay or WeChat Pay with a linked Visa or Mastercard. Germany’s Federal Foreign Office says most payments go through these apps.
Fee: generally 0% up to 200 yuan per payment, above that 3% of the whole amount (Chaoyang district). Refunds return the fee proportionally.
Limits: authorities quote different per-payment, monthly and yearly limits for foreign cards – the current limit is shown in the app.
Backup: some cash in yuan (RMB) and a second card. The Foreign Office says ATMs take all common credit cards; the German girocard barely works.
Not possible with a foreign card: red packets (hongbao) and transfers to individuals (Chaoyang district).

Set up WeChat Pay

Install WeChat at home and register with your phone number – WeChat’s help center says a foreign number that can receive SMS works.
Me › Pay and Services › Wallet › Bank Cards › Add a Bank Card (menu names per WeChat’s help center).
Enter your card details; WeChat may also ask for a photo of your passport.
WeChat’s help center lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club and UnionPay.

Set up Alipay

Install Alipay, sign up and choose the international version (Chaoyang district).
Add a foreign card under “Bank Cards”. Chaoyang lists Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and Discover; Alipay+ refers to the major international card networks.
According to Chaoyang, the exchange rate is set by the card network and your bank – not by Alipay.

Both apps need internet on the go, so plan mobile data from the moment you land (eSIM or roaming) – hotel Wi‑Fi alone won’t cover taxis, the metro and checkouts.

Which card to link?

On payments above 200 yuan, your card’s foreign-transaction fees come on top of the app’s 3%. A card with low or no foreign-currency fees therefore saves twice. Whether your card works in Alipay or WeChat Pay depends on the card network and your bank – test with a small payment before you go.

Option: the Wise card

We have not verified whether the Wise card works in Alipay or WeChat Pay. Check live fees on Wise.

Wise

Multi-currency account often used for travel spend. Check live card and ATM fees on Wise before you apply.

Check Wise

Some links may be affiliate links. Commissions do not change calculator results. See the affiliate disclosure. Affiliate disclosure.

China trip checklist

Sources

All facts checked on the official pages on 2026-11-01. Rules, limits and fees can change – the authority or the app is what counts. Not legal advice.

Common questions

Can tourists use Alipay and WeChat Pay?

Yes. According to Chinese authorities you can add a foreign bank card to either app without a Chinese bank account. WeChat lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club and UnionPay.

What does paying with a foreign card cost?

Beijing’s Chaoyang district says payments up to 200 yuan are generally free; above that, 3% of the whole amount is charged. On top comes the exchange rate set by the card network and your bank. Beijing announced a WeChat Pay promotion for new card users in March 2026 (fee waived under 1,000 yuan for 60 days) – the app shows whether it still applies.

Do I need a Chinese phone number?

Not according to WeChat’s help center – a foreign number that can receive SMS works. Set the app up at home.

Will my credit card be accepted directly?

Often not. Germany’s Federal Foreign Office says many places do not accept international credit cards. Under a State Council circular, hotels with three stars or more and 4A/5A-rated attractions should accept foreign cards.

How much cash can I bring?

According to Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, up to 20,000 yuan may be brought in or out, and foreign currency worth more than USD 5,000 must be declared. ATM withdrawals work with all common credit cards; the German girocard only works to a very limited extent.