Payment guides
Mobile wallets, cards, cash, and QR payments that actually work.
16 guides available
Payment setup path
China Payment Setup
Use this order to prepare one main payment method, one backup wallet or card, and a small cash fallback before you need them.
Featured payment guides
A practical guide to paying in China, covering mobile wallets, foreign cards, cash backup, QR codes, transport, and what to do when a payment fails.
QR Code Payment Basics in ChinaHow QR code payments work in China, the two common payment flows, what personal collection codes mean, and how to avoid easy mistakes.
Alipay for ForeignersHow foreigners can use Alipay in China, what international cards can actually do, where it works well, and where you still need a backup.
WeChat Pay for ForeignersHow foreigners can use WeChat Pay in China, where it is especially useful, what limits and verification rules matter, and why backup still matters.
Linking a Foreign Card: What Works and What FailsHow to link a foreign card to Chinese wallets, what to expect after linking, what limits and merchant differences matter, and why backup cards help.
Cash in China: How Much You Really Need (Very Little)How cash actually fits into travel in China today, why it is still worth carrying a backup amount, and what to expect when paying cash.
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Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay
Cards, cash, and backup options
Everyday payment situations
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All payment guides
- How to Pay in China: The Complete Payment Guide for Foreigners
A practical guide to paying in China, covering mobile wallets, foreign cards, cash backup, QR codes, transport, and what to do when a payment fails.
- Alipay for Foreigners
How foreigners can use Alipay in China, what international cards can actually do, where it works well, and where you still need a backup.
- Alipay vs WeChat Pay: Which One to Use and When
A practical comparison of Alipay and WeChat Pay for travelers in China, including when each feels easier, where both overlap, and how to switch without stress.
- How Much Money to Bring to China (Less Than You Think)
How to think about money for a China trip: not just cash, but digital payment readiness, backup funds, and a realistic first-day buffer.
- Cash in China: How Much You Really Need (Very Little)
How cash actually fits into travel in China today, why it is still worth carrying a backup amount, and what to expect when paying cash.
- Common Payment Scams in China (What to Watch, What to Ignore)
The payment-related risks that matter in China, the situations that merely feel unfamiliar, and how to stay calm without becoming paranoid.
- Do I Need a Chinese Bank Account?
When a Chinese bank account is unnecessary, when it becomes genuinely useful, and how to think about the difference between short trips and long stays.
- Linking a Foreign Card: What Works and What Fails
How to link a foreign card to Chinese wallets, what to expect after linking, what limits and merchant differences matter, and why backup cards help.
- Paying for Metro and Bus in China
How metro and bus payments work in China, why city-to-city differences matter, and what payment setup is safest for first-time visitors.
- Paying for Taxi and Didi in China
How to pay for Didi and street taxis in China, what works best for visitors, and how to handle the difference between app rides and curbside taxis.
- Payment Failed: What to Do (Step-by-Step)
A practical step-by-step guide to failed payments in China, including how to avoid duplicate charges, how to switch methods calmly, and when to stop retrying.
- QR Code Payment Basics in China
How QR code payments work in China, the two common payment flows, what personal collection codes mean, and how to avoid easy mistakes.
- Splitting Bills in China (AA Without Awkwardness)
How splitting bills usually works in China, why one person often pays first, and what foreign visitors should do when equal splitting is inconvenient.
- Tipping in China: Do Not Tip
How tipping actually works in China, where it is usually unnecessary, and the few cases where service charges or tour norms create exceptions.
- WeChat Pay for Foreigners
How foreigners can use WeChat Pay in China, where it is especially useful, what limits and verification rules matter, and why backup still matters.
- Withdrawing Cash at ATMs in China
How to withdraw cash in China with a foreign card, which ATMs are the safest bet, what screens to expect, and how to avoid avoidable failures.