Essentials · 4 min read
A short guide to paying with your phone
Two apps cover almost everything. Here is how to set them up before you fly.
12 September 2026 · Trip Casmai editorial
Mobile payment is the default in Chinese cities, including at small noodle shops and temple ticket windows. Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign cards on most accounts; set one up at home, where you can receive verification messages without roaming issues.
Keep a few hundred yuan in cash for older shops, rural markets and the occasional dead battery. Hotels and larger restaurants still take international cards, but do not assume a taxi will.
Entry, visa and payment details are for guidance only and subject to official regulations. Confirm anything critical with the relevant authority before travel.
