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How to Pay in China as a Foreigner

Maintained by Lin · Checked against official sources, November 2, 2026. TenPayGo tested in Dongguan

Quick answer

You can pay almost everywhere in China without a Chinese bank account. Set up these before you fly:

Alipay as your main app. Link a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Discover or UnionPay card, then scan or show QR codes in shops.
One way to pay WeChat Pay codes as a backup: WeChat with your card, Tencent's TenPayGo app (just an email), or, with a US account, the PayPal app.
A contactless card for the metro: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen gates take Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB.
Some cash. Since February 1, 2026, businesses that take payments in person must accept it.

Fees with a foreign card: payments of ¥200 or less are generally free. Above that, a 3% fee may apply to the whole amount.

Jump to: Which to set up · Before you fly · Everyday payments · Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen · Fees and limits · If a payment fails

Last reviewed: November 2, 2026

Which ways to pay should you set up?

Way to pay	Use it for	Fees	Full guide
Alipay	Your main app: shops, restaurants, metro ride codes, DiDi inside Alipay	¥200 or less generally free; above that 3% may apply	Alipay for foreigners
WeChat Pay	Backup for shops that show WeChat Pay codes, and mini programs inside WeChat	Same, and a newly linked card pays no fee on up to ¥1,000 a day for 90 days (offer until December 31, 2026)	WeChat Pay for foreigners
TenPayGo	Paying WeChat Pay codes when WeChat won't let you sign up	Shown before you pay; none on my ¥4.90 test	TenPayGo review
Contactless card	Metro gates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen	Your bank's foreign transaction fee	Metro: card or ride code
Cash (RMB)	Backup anywhere you pay in person	None

My advice: set up Alipay first, add one way to pay WeChat Pay codes, and carry a little cash. US PayPal users can also pay WeChat Pay codes in the PayPal app.

Before you fly: 5 things to set up

Turn on overseas and online payments in your banking app, or tell your bank you'll be in China.
Download Alipay (not AlipayHK), sign up with your phone number and link your card. American Express: only cards issued by American Express itself can be added (February 2025).
If you'll spend more than US$2,000 in a year, register your passport in Alipay. That raises the limit to US$5,000 a payment.
Add a backup: WeChat Pay with your card, or TenPayGo with just an email. If WeChat asks a friend to verify you, see WeChat verification without a friend.
Pack a contactless card for the metro and some cash.

You don't need a Chinese bank account or a Chinese phone number for any of this.

Paying for everyday things

Where	How to pay
Shops	Show your payment code for the cashier to scan, or scan the QR code on the counter and type the amount.
Restaurants	The QR code on the table usually opens a mini program inside WeChat or Alipay where you order and pay. Otherwise pay at the counter. How to order food
Metro	Tap a contactless card at the gate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Shenzhen, or use Alipay's ride code. Metro guide
DiDi	Pay with your card in the DiDi app, or book in the DiDi mini program inside Alipay or WeChat. Paying for DiDi
Trains	12306's English site and app take foreign bank cards and mobile payment apps. Train tickets

Never send a photo of your payment code to anyone: whoever scans it can take a payment.

Cross-border payment in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen

Alipay, WeChat Pay, the fee rules and cash work the same in all four cities. The main difference is the metro, and all four now take foreign cards at the gates:

Beijing: subway gates take the five most used overseas cards (Beijing government, June 2025).
Shanghai: the metro takes card taps as well as QR codes and tickets (Shanghai government, 2026). Shanghai's government also explains paying with overseas bank cards, including the ¥200 / 3% rule.
Guangzhou: the metro accepts foreign bank cards for tap-to-ride (October 2025).
Shenzhen: the metro accepts foreign bank cards; use a gate that shows your card's logo (Shenzhen government, July 2026). TenPayGo also has the Shenzhen Transit Card.

Fees and limits

¥200 or less: generally no fee in Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card.
Over ¥200: a 3% fee may apply to the whole amount (Shanghai government, September 2026). On a ¥300 dinner, that's ¥9.
WeChat Pay, first card you link: no fee on up to ¥1,000 a day for 90 days after your first payment, until December 31, 2026.
Your bank may add its own foreign transaction or currency conversion fee.

Alipay limit	Per payment	Per year
Passport registered	Up to US$5,000	Up to US$50,000
Not registered	Within the yearly limit	Up to US$2,000

If a payment fails

Check the payment record in the app before you pay again, so you don't pay twice.
Look for a blocked attempt in your banking app and approve it.
Try your other way to pay, or pay in cash.
Step-by-step fixes: Alipay · WeChat Pay

Useful payment phrases

可以用支付宝吗？ — Can I pay with Alipay?
可以刷卡吗？ — Can I pay by card?
可以付现金吗？ — Can I pay in cash?
请扫我的付款码。 — Please scan my payment code.
支付失败了，可以换一种方式吗？ — My payment failed. Can I pay another way?

FAQ

What is the best way for foreigners to pay in China?

Set up Alipay with a card from home as your main app, add one way to pay WeChat Pay codes as a backup, and carry a little cash.

Can tourists use WeChat Pay in China?

Yes. Link a foreign card in WeChat, use Tencent's TenPayGo app with just an email, or, with a US PayPal account, pay WeChat Pay codes in the PayPal app.

Are foreign credit cards accepted in China?

Metro gates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen take contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB, and 12306 takes foreign cards for train tickets. In most shops, link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay by QR code.

Do I need a Chinese bank account or phone number?

No. You can sign up for Alipay with your own phone number and pay with a card from home. TenPayGo only needs an email.

Can I pay with cash in China?

Yes. Since February 1, 2026, businesses that take payments in person must accept cash. Carry a little as a backup.

What fees do foreigners pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay?

Payments of ¥200 or less are generally free. Above that, a 3% fee may apply to the whole amount, and your bank may add its own fee.

Do I need both Alipay and WeChat Pay?

One is enough to get by, since most shops take both, but a backup helps when a payment fails. Many visitors use Alipay as their main app and TenPayGo or WeChat Pay as the backup.

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