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By Payment Card

Can I use my card in China in 2026?

Pick your card brand — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China UnionPay, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, Maestro — to see acceptance at point-of-sale, whether it links to Alipay or WeChat Pay, and which payment app we recommend for daily spending in mainland China.

Last updated:

Widely accepted · 3 cards

POS + Alipay + WeChat Pay linking all work.

Visa

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: Yes

Mastercard

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: Yes

China UnionPay

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: Yes

Limited acceptance · 5 cards

Hotels and high-end venues only — link to Alipay for daily use.

American Express

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: No

Discover

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: No

JCB

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: Yes

Diners Club

Alipay: Yes · WeChat Pay: No

Maestro

Alipay: No · WeChat Pay: No

Mostly retired — most cards reissued as Mastercard Debit by 2024

The short answer for any card

Almost every visitor to China should treat Alipay (linked to a Visa or Mastercard) as the primary payment method, with WeChat Pay as a 10-minute second-setup, ¥300-500 in cash as the ultimate backup, and a physical card reserved for hotels and high-end restaurants. Pick your card brand above for the specifics — AmEx, Discover, JCB, and Diners holders all need to know the acceptance limit before they fly.