Payment · common
Can I pay cash in China in 2026?
Last updated:
Quick Answer
Symptom: You want to know if you need to carry RMB cash or if Alipay/WeChat Pay is enough for the entire trip.
Cause: Major cities are 90%+ cashless, but rural areas, taxis, food stalls, and some museums still require RMB cash.
Solution: Carry ¥500–¥1,000 in cash as backup. Withdraw from Bank of China, ICBC, or China Construction Bank ATMs using your foreign Visa/Mastercard (¥2,500/transaction limit, 1–3% fee).
What you see
You want to know if you need to carry RMB cash or if Alipay/WeChat Pay is enough for the entire trip.
Why it happens
Major cities are 90%+ cashless, but rural areas, taxis, food stalls, and some museums still require RMB cash.
How to fix
Carry ¥500–¥1,000 in cash as backup. Withdraw from Bank of China, ICBC, or China Construction Bank ATMs using your foreign Visa/Mastercard (¥2,500/transaction limit, 1–3% fee).
Read next
These guides cover the related functionality in full.
Cash & RMB
Carry ¥500–1,000 in cash for rural areas, taxis, and small vendors; major cities are 90%+ cashless via mobile payment.
ATM Cash Withdrawal
Bank of China, ICBC, and China Construction Bank ATMs accept foreign Visa/Mastercard with a ¥2,500 per-transaction limit and 1–3% fee.
Alipay for Foreigners
Download Alipay, link a foreign Visa or Mastercard via the Tour Pass, and complete a $150 minimum top-up to pay at 90%+ of Chinese merchants.
Other Payment problems
Why is my Alipay not working?
You linked a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay but every transaction is rejected at the merchant.
Why can't I verify my passport on Alipay?
Alipay's identity verification step fails — passport photo upload rejected or OCR misread.
Can foreigners receive money on Alipay?
You want to receive a WeChat or bank transfer to your Alipay wallet but the app shows no Receive option.
Why does WeChat Pay keep declining my foreign card?
You linked a Visa or Mastercard in WeChat Pay but transactions show "card not supported" at checkout.
How much does ATM withdrawal cost in China?
You withdrew RMB from a Chinese ATM and your home bank charged an unexpected foreign-transaction or ATM fee.