- The money setup: before you fly
- Cash in China: still accepted, now a backup
- Cards: where they work, and where they do not
- ATMs: fees and limits, stated with uncertainty
- Daily budgets: planning examples, not promises
- Tipping: generally not expected
- Money mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
- Related guides
Short answer: Set up Alipay before you fly (with WeChat Pay as backup), carry a modest amount of cash in small bills, and bring at least one international debit or credit card for hotels and larger purchases. Daily life in China runs on QR payments, not cards or cash — but cash is still accepted everywhere by law, and it is your backup when a phone dies or a payment fails. Tipping is generally not expected, so do not build tips into your budget.
Last updated: 29 October 2026. Fees, limits and exchange rates change — check with your own bank before you travel, and treat every figure below as a planning range, not a fixed nationwide price. Real-device screenshots will be added later; this guide is text-only for now.
The money setup: before you fly
- Set up Alipay at home — home phone number, passport verification, international card linked. See how to set up Alipay for foreigners.
- Set up WeChat Pay as backup — see how to set up WeChat Pay for foreigners. Two working payment apps means one failure does not strand you.
- Tell your bank you are going to China and check your card’s foreign-transaction fee and daily ATM limit. A blocked card on day one is a common, avoidable problem.
- Bring a second card if you can — a different network (Visa vs Mastercard) or a different bank — kept separately from the first.
- Exchange a small amount of yuan (CNY/RMB) before departure — enough for the first taxi or meal (roughly 500–1,000 CNY) so you are not hunting for an ATM at midnight.
Cash in China: still accepted, now a backup
Cash is legal tender and must be accepted, but in cities it now accounts for only a small share of everyday transactions. You need it most for: small rural shops, street stalls, temple ticket booths, some small restaurants, and any moment your phone or payment app fails. Carry small bills (10 and 20 CNY notes especially) — taxi drivers and small vendors appreciate them, and large 100 CNY notes can be hard to break for a 12 CNY purchase.
How much cash to carry day to day? For most city days, 200–500 CNY in your pocket is a comfortable backup. One frequently quoted guide range of 800–1,200 CNY per day is higher than most first-timers need in cities; treat it as an upper bound for days with markets, rural stops or cash-only plans, not a daily requirement.
Cards: where they work, and where they do not
| Place | International cards (Visa/Mastercard) |
|---|---|
| Large hotels, international chains, big department stores | Usually accepted |
| High-speed rail counters, major attractions | Often accepted, but the payment app is smoother |
| Small restaurants, street food, metro, buses, taxis | Rarely — use Alipay/WeChat Pay or cash |
| Rural towns and markets | Very rarely — cash and payment apps only |
UnionPay is China’s dominant card network. If your home bank offers a UnionPay card, it will be accepted far more widely than Visa or Mastercard — worth considering if you travel to China often, but not necessary for a first trip with Alipay set up.
ATMs: fees and limits, stated with uncertainty
ATMs of major banks (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank) in cities are the most likely to accept international cards; ATMs in rural areas often accept UnionPay domestic cards only. There is no single nationwide ATM fee for foreign cards, and this guide does not invent one. Expect up to three possible charges on one withdrawal:
- A fee from the Chinese ATM’s bank — varies by bank and machine; some machines show it before you confirm, some do not.
- A fee from your home bank — commonly a flat fee per withdrawal plus a percentage, but the exact amount depends on your bank and account.
- A currency-conversion markup — if the ATM offers “dynamic currency conversion” (showing the amount in your home currency), declining it and choosing CNY usually gives a better rate.
Published guide ranges for a single foreign-card withdrawal commonly run to roughly US$5–10 (or the equivalent) in combined flat fees, plus a conversion markup of a few percent — but your bank’s actual fee table governs, so check it before you travel. Withdrawal limits per transaction and per day also vary by bank and machine; withdraw in city centres, not at scenic spots during public holidays, when machines run out of cash fastest.
Daily budgets: planning examples, not promises
These are rough daily ranges per person for food, city transport and incidentals (excluding hotels, intercity trains and flights), in 2026 guide terms. Your actual spend depends on city, appetite and habits.
| Style | Budget city (e.g. Xi’an, Chengdu) | Expensive city (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai) | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ~150–300 CNY/day | ~200–400 CNY/day | Local restaurants, street food, metro, free or cheap sights |
| Mid-range | ~300–600 CNY/day | ~400–800 CNY/day | Mix of local and nicer restaurants, DiDi rides, paid attractions |
| Comfortable | ~600–1,200 CNY/day | ~800–1,500 CNY/day | Nicer restaurants, frequent DiDi, tours, shopping |
Meals are the biggest variable: a local noodle or dumpling lunch can cost 20–40 CNY, while a sit-down dinner in a tourist area can easily pass 150 CNY per person. See how to order food in China for how ordering itself works.
Tipping: generally not expected
Tipping is not customary in mainland China. Restaurant bills do not have a tip line, taxi drivers do not expect a tip, and hotel staff do not expect one either. A small gesture for exceptional service — for example, rounding up a taxi fare or a small amount for a tour guide who went well beyond the job — is appreciated but never required. In high-end hotels and for some spa or tour services, tipping has become more accepted with tourism growth, but it remains optional. Do not feel pressured to tip, and do not tip to “be polite” in ordinary restaurants: it is simply not part of the system.
Money mistakes to avoid
- Travelling cash-free. A dead phone, a failed verification or a network outage can leave you unable to pay. Cash is the backup.
- Accepting dynamic currency conversion at ATMs or card terminals. Choosing CNY almost always gives a better rate.
- Exchanging money with street touts. Use banks, airport licensed desks or hotel forex counters; check notes in front of staff and keep the receipt.
- Keeping all cards and cash in one place. Split them between bag and pocket, and keep a card in the hotel safe as a reserve.
- Forgetting the 200 CNY payment-app rule. Payments over 200 CNY on a foreign card linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay may attract a roughly 3% fee — splitting a large bill or paying by card directly can sometimes be cheaper. Check the in-app display, which governs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel in China with no cash at all?
Technically yes in big cities, but do not. A modest cash backup covers the exact situations where apps fail.
Will my Visa or Mastercard work at ATMs?
At major-bank ATMs in cities, usually yes. In rural areas and on some machines, only UnionPay cards work. Try a different major bank’s ATM before assuming your card is blocked.
How much does one ATM withdrawal cost?
There is no nationwide fixed fee. Expect a possible Chinese-bank fee, your home bank’s fee, and a conversion markup; check your own bank’s fee table for the exact figures.
Is tipping rude in China?
No — it is simply not expected. A small tip for exceptional service is accepted, but nobody will think less of you for not tipping.
Should I exchange all my money before I fly?
No. Exchange a small starter amount, then use ATMs and payment apps in China. Carrying large amounts of cash is a bigger risk than a modest ATM fee.
Related guides
- How to Set Up Alipay for Foreigners
- How to Set Up WeChat Pay for Foreigners
- How to Get Around Chinese Cities: Metro, DiDi, Taxis
- First Time in China — homepage
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