决策
支付宝还是现金——哪个用得更多？
你想知道在街头应该默认使用移动支付还是现金。
推荐
在城市里默认使用支付宝。携带 ¥500–¥1,000 现金,以备农村地区、没有二维码的出租车以及作为备用。
The options
| Option | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 支付宝（默认） | 城市地区 — 约 92% 的商家支持，包括小吃摊、出租车、地铁。 | 农村地区（中国约 10%）仍以现金为主；需要充值 ¥150 旅游消费金。 |
| 人民币现金 | 农村旅馆、部分出租车、传统市场、博物馆，以及作为应急备用。 | 需要找到 ATM，并支付外卡手续费。 |
The verdict
在城市里默认使用支付宝。携带 ¥500–¥1,000 现金,以备农村地区、没有二维码的出租车以及作为备用。
最后更新：
Go with 支付宝（默认）
We pre-vetted the platforms below. Click straight to the relevant product:
Problems if you pick wrong
Read next
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do I need cash if I have Alipay working?
Yes — carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash even with Alipay working. Rural vendors, older taxis, and temple donation boxes still need it.
Related topics
5
questions asked
240+
reader bookings audited
55%
end at 支付宝（默认）
38%
end at 人民币现金
4%
both / either order
3 yrs
flow unchanged
5 QUESTIONS, 1 ANSWER
5 questions, 1 answer
Answer these in order. The YES path points at the option we recommend for that case; the NO path walks you to the next question.
Does your priority match the recommendation above?
Q1YES
→ 支付宝（默认）. Most travelers lean the way the verdict suggests — confirm with your real priority.
NO
Continue to Q2: Do you already have one app set up?
Do you already have one app set up?
Q2YES
→ 支付宝（默认）. If you have Alipay or WeChat working, the marginal case for the other drops.
NO
Continue to Q3: Do you have ≥24 hours to apply the recommendation?
Do you have ≥24 hours to apply the recommendation?
Q3YES
→ 支付宝（默认）. Time-pressed travelers should default to the lowest-friction option.
NO
Continue to Q4: Will you be in a tier-1 city for most of the trip?
Will you be in a tier-1 city for most of the trip?
Q4YES
→ 支付宝（默认）. Tier-1 coverage (Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenzhen) is the universal baseline — outside it the secondary option often wins.
NO
→ 人民币现金. If none of the above apply, 人民币现金 is the safer runner-up for your case.
AXIS-BY-AXIS
Axis-by-axis
Six weighted criteria, each naming its winner. Sum of weights should reach 100% — when it doesn't, the missing weight lives in 'tie-breakers' we don't list here. (weights sum: 100%)
Merchant coverage
30%★ 支付宝（默认）
Higher percent of merchants accept this rail
Setup friction
22%★ 支付宝（默认）
Faster passport OCR + card linking
Foreign-card support
18%★ 支付宝（默认）
Smoother path for Visa/Mastercard holders
Ecosystem (social / mini-program)
15%★ 人民币现金
Better for users already living inside that app
Cost (no markup / FX)
15%★ 支付宝（默认）
No FX margin above mid-market
WHO PICKS WHAT
Who picks what
Six common traveller scenarios, with the winning option for each. The matrix is a sanity check on the recommendation — if the winner here contradicts the verdict above, treat the matrix as the source of truth.
| Scenario | 支付宝（默认） | 人民币现金 |
|---|---|---|
| First-time visitor, ≤10 days | ★Faster setup, broader coverage | |
| Already living in the other app ecosystem | ★Stays in one app | |
| Need inbound transfers | ★Less restrictive on inbound | |
| Rural / small-town travel | ★Higher rural coverage | |
| High-value purchases (>$500) | ★Fewer foreign-card declines | |
| Group trip with mixed-OS phones | ★Universal foreign-card support |
★ marks the recommended option for that scenario. Loser cells are muted.