Cashless China
China without cash — Alipay, WeChat Pay, and your foreign card
Mainland China is one of the most cashless countries on earth — roughly 85% of merchants take QR-code payments via Alipay or WeChat Pay, and both apps now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. Here's the full cashless setup, from linking your card before you fly to the last-resort ¥300-500 you should still keep in your wallet.
Last updated:
6 cashless guides
Pick the topic that matches your card, your bank, or the moment you're stuck — each guide is short, current, and verified weekly.
Alipay for foreigners
Step-by-step Tour Card setup, passport verification, and the 3% no-FTF rule for purchases under ¥200.
Read guide →
WeChat Pay for foreigners
Linking a Visa / Mastercard / JCB, solving the "card not supported" error, and getting money in and out.
Read guide →
Which cards work in China
Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, UnionPay, Discover, JCB, Diners — point-of-sale acceptance and Alipay linking at a glance.
Read guide →
Cash & ATMs
When you actually need RMB in your pocket — Bank of China / ICBC ATM limits, foreign ATM fees, cash backup of ¥300-500.
Read guide →
Cash or WeChat Pay?
Side-by-side: cash vs QR-code for street food, taxis, metro tickets, and small vendors.
Read guide →
Payment cheatsheet (printable)
One-screen reference: which app, which card brand, what to download before you fly.
Read guide →