Field notes · Issue 01
Know how you'll pay. Before you land.
China is not a cashless country with no exceptions. It is a QR-first country with workable backups. These ten field notes map the routes that hold up in a taxi queue, at a hotel desk, in a market alley and in front of a menu that exists only on WeChat.
Mainland China · 10 deep dives · Reviewed 1 November 2026
- 01Can you use a foreign card in China?
- 02Alipay for foreign visitors: setup, fees and fixes
- 03WeChat Pay for foreign visitors: setup without surprises
- 04Alipay vs WeChat Pay: which should you set up first?
- 05What foreign cards really cost in China
- 06When a payment fails in China: a calm recovery path
- 07How to pay for taxis, the metro and trains in China
- 08Cash and ATMs in China: how much should you carry?
- 09China's tourist tax refund: how the departure refund works
- 10Do you need a Chinese phone number to pay in China?
The index
Ten questions, answered in order.
Start with how cards actually behave, then choose and configure your wallets. Once the basics are set, the fee, failure, transport, cash, tax-refund and connectivity guides are the ones you will want offline.
- 01Cards & cash7 min readStart here
Can you use a foreign card in China?
A physical card is useful in China. It is not a plan on its own. The practical answer is to carry one, link one to a wallet, and keep a little cash for the tills that still say no.
- 02Wallets8 min read
Alipay for foreign visitors: setup, fees and fixes
For many short-stay visitors, Alipay is the first wallet to configure. The setup is manageable if you do it before departure — and if you understand what the app is really for.
- 03Wallets8 min read
WeChat Pay for foreign visitors: setup without surprises
WeChat Pay is worth having even if Alipay is your main wallet. Some merchants and mini-programs are WeChat-first. The trade-off is more verification friction, so set it up at home rather than at a till.
- 04Compare6 min read
Alipay vs WeChat Pay: which should you set up first?
The question is reasonable, but the premise is slightly wrong. For most visitors the goal is not to pick a winner. It is to have two independent payment routes and know which one to open first.
- 05Costs7 min read
What foreign cards really cost in China
There is no single 'China fee.' There is a platform fee, your bank's cost of turning RMB into your currency, and the occasional ATM or merchant conversion. Add them separately or you will misprice the trip.
- 06Troubleshooting8 min read
When a payment fails in China: a calm recovery path
The worst response to a failed payment is a queue-side experiment. The better response is a short, repeatable sequence: identify the layer, protect against a double charge, and switch to a route that works.
- 07Getting around7 min read
How to pay for taxis, the metro and trains in China
Transport is where a payment setup becomes real. You cannot browse for another option while a taxi waits or a gate queue builds, so decide the route before you arrive.
- 08Cash & ATMs8 min read
Cash and ATMs in China: how much should you carry?
China runs on QR codes, not on a total absence of cash. A small, thoughtful cash reserve fixes the awkward moments — the market stall, the older taxi, the shop whose terminal is offline — without turning your trip into a hunt for banknotes.
- 09Shopping & tax9 min read
China's tourist tax refund: how the departure refund works
A tax refund can take a meaningful slice off a larger purchase in China — but only if you shop at the right store, keep the paperwork and follow the airport sequence. It is not a discount on the whole trip.
- 10Connectivity8 min read
Do you need a Chinese phone number to pay in China?
The payment app is only half the setup. The other half is a phone number that can receive a security code when you need it. Get that route right before you fly, and a data-only eSIM will not strand you at the first verification screen.
Editorial note
Written like a field guide. Checked against official sources.
We read the published guidance from Chinese government departments, payment operators and transport authorities, then separate what is officially supported from what travellers report on the ground. Where the rules are unsettled, we say so instead of inventing a certainty.
- 01
Sources are visible
Every article ends with the official pages we checked, and sections link back to the relevant source numbers. You can verify a figure before you rely on it.
- 02
No invented acceptance rates
Payments depend on your issuer, the merchant, the terminal and the day. We describe patterns and trade-offs, not fake precision or guaranteed outcomes.
- 03
Rules change; dates stay honest
Each guide carries a review date. The payment screen in your app remains the final word on fees, limits and eligibility.
Field note
Rehearse before you fly.
Run a small ¥1 test through a China-facing checkout, then use the travel report to turn the result into a plan: what to fix, what to carry and what to do when a till says no.
A successful rehearsal is a useful signal, not a guarantee that every merchant will accept the same card or wallet.