Do I need cash if I have Alipay working?
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Recommendation
Yes — carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash even with Alipay working. Rural vendors, older taxis, and temple donation boxes still need it.
Alipay is set up and verified — is cash still necessary?
The options
| Option | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, keep ¥500–¥1,000 | Anyone visiting rural areas, traditional taxis, temples, or as backup for an app outage. | ATM fees 1–3%; some ATMs reject foreign cards. |
| No cash, Alipay only | City-only trips with no rural stops and full confidence in app reliability. | One outage or QR-less vendor leaves you stuck. |
The verdict
Yes — carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash even with Alipay working. Rural vendors, older taxis, and temple donation boxes still need it.
Problems if you pick wrong
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Other Payment decisions
Should I link my card to Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Set up Alipay first. Add WeChat Pay only if you live in WeChat or hit an Alipay-uncovered merchant.
Alipay or cash — which to use more?
Default to Alipay in cities. Carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash for rural areas, taxis without QR codes, and as backup.
Do I need cash in China?
Carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash even for city-only trips. The 1% chance you need it beats 100% inconvenience.
Should I carry cash in China in 2026?
Carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash even in cities. The 1% chance you need it beats 100% inconvenience when Alipay fails.
Alipay vs WeChat Pay — which to set up first?
Alipay first — broader acceptance and easier setup. Add WeChat Pay only if you live in WeChat or hit an uncovered merchant.