How do I pay for things in China?
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly and bind a foreign Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Diners Club or Discover card to each. Payments of RMB 200 or less are free, with a fee of 3% applied above that threshold. Carry RMB 500 to 1,000 in cash and a physical card as a backup, because some foreign banks block the card binding and small stalls often accept QR payment only.
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Mobile payment is the default in China, and a foreign card bound to Alipay or WeChat Pay works almost everywhere, from metro gates to market stalls. Register with your international phone number or email, verify with your passport, then add the card.
The fee rule is consistent across sources and easy to state: free at RMB 200 or below, 3% above it. The spending caps are not consistent. Official guidance from late 2024 describes limits in the tens of thousands of US dollars, while a December 2025 source describes much lower per-transaction and annual limits, so check the limit shown in the app rather than relying on a figure from a guide.
Cash still works and is worth carrying, and foreign cards are accepted where the logo is displayed, which is weakest at small restaurants and street stalls. Our payments guide covers ATMs, cash withdrawal and what to do when a payment fails.