Money & Payments

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at international hotels, upscale restaurants, and large shopping malls. However, most local restaurants, street vendors, and smaller shops only accept WeChat Pay or Alipay. Download both apps and link your foreign card before arrival. Cash is accepted but increasingly uncommon in cities.

Download Alipay and WeChat from your app store. In Alipay, link a foreign Visa or Mastercard (supported since 2023). In WeChat, go to Me > Services > Wallet > Cards to add a foreign card. Both apps have English interfaces. Verification requires your passport. You may encounter a daily spending limit of about 5,000 RMB initially, which can be raised after verification.

Bring some cash (USD or EUR) as backup, but plan to use Alipay or WeChat Pay for most purchases. You can exchange currency at airports and banks. ATMs are widely available in cities but may not accept all foreign cards. Budget $30-50 per day for incidental expenses. Having 1,000-2,000 RMB in cash is useful for remote areas and emergencies.

A private 8-day tour covering Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai typically costs $1,500-2,500 per person including 4-star hotels, private guide and driver, entrance tickets, and domestic transport. Budget travelers can do it for $800-1,200. Luxury tours start at $4,000+. Prices vary by season with peak months costing 20-30% more.

Tipping is not expected or required in China. It can sometimes cause confusion or even offense. Tour guides and drivers may accept tips if offered (50-100 RMB per day is generous), but restaurants, taxis, and hotels do not expect tips. Some high-end international hotels may add a 10-15% service charge to bills.

Yes, in markets, souvenir shops, and with street vendors, bargaining is expected. Start at 30-50% of the asking price and negotiate from there. In department stores, branded shops, and restaurants, prices are fixed. Taxis use meters and fares are non-negotiable. In tourist markets, a friendly attitude and walking away can get you a better price.

China's currency is the renminbi (RMB), whose basic unit is the yuan (CNY). The yuan is subdivided into jiao and fen. Exchange rates move, so check the live rate and your card issuer's conversion fees before travel rather than relying on an old example.

You can exchange foreign currency at Bank of China branches, airport exchange counters, and some international hotels. Banks offer the best rates. Bring your passport for currency exchange. ATMs at Bank of China, ICBC, and China Construction Bank branches generally accept international cards. Exchange rates are government-regulated, so rates are similar everywhere.

Yes, but not all ATMs accept foreign cards. ATMs at Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank, and China Merchants Bank typically accept Visa and Mastercard. Look for the Visa/Plus or Mastercard/Cirrus logos. Daily withdrawal limits are usually 2,000-3,000 RMB. ATMs in rural areas may not accept foreign cards at all.

A local meal at a small restaurant costs 15-40 RMB ($2-6). Mid-range restaurants charge 60-150 RMB ($8-21) per person. Upscale dining can cost 300-800+ RMB ($42-110+) per person. Street food and noodles cost as little as 8-15 RMB ($1-2). Western restaurants in major cities charge prices similar to home.

Budget hostels cost 50-100 RMB ($7-14) per night. Three-star hotels range from 200-400 RMB ($28-56). Four-star hotels are 400-800 RMB ($56-110). Five-star international hotels cost 800-2,500+ RMB ($110-350+). Prices in Beijing and Shanghai are higher than in smaller cities. Booking apps like Trip.com offer competitive rates.

China is moderately priced for tourists. It is cheaper than Japan or Western Europe but more expensive than Southeast Asia. Daily budget: backpackers can manage on $30-50 (hostels, street food, trains), mid-range travelers spend $80-150 (3-4 star hotels, restaurants, private transport), and luxury travelers spend $250+ per day. Attractions and transportation are reasonably priced.

Transaction and account limits can differ by wallet, verification status, card issuer and current provider rules. Check the limit shown in your own Alipay or Weixin Pay account before relying on it for a large hotel or tour payment, and keep another payment method available.

Yes. China offers a departure tax refund (typically 9%) on goods purchased at designated tax-free stores, for purchases over 500 RMB. You must be a foreign citizen or resident of Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan. Present your receipts, goods, passport, and refund application at the tax refund counter at international airports before departure.

Wallet and card fees can change and may differ by provider, card and transaction. Check the amount and any displayed service fee in the payment app before confirming, and check whether your card issuer adds a foreign-transaction fee. Do not assume one fee threshold applies to every payment.

Apple Pay works in China but only with cards issued by Chinese banks. Foreign Apple Pay cards are not accepted at most merchants. Google Pay is not available in China. The most reliable payment methods for foreigners are Alipay and WeChat Pay linked to foreign Visa or Mastercard cards.

The RMB exchange rate changes continually. Check a current market reference, then compare the rate and fees offered by your bank, ATM or exchange counter. The final amount you pay can differ from a published mid-market rate because of provider margins and card fees.

It is not necessary to exchange large amounts before arriving. You can exchange money at the airport upon arrival, and ATMs are available at all international airports. However, having some RMB (500-1,000) before arrival is convenient for immediate expenses like a taxi or a meal. Exchange rates in China are generally better than abroad.

Traveler's checks are rarely used in China today and can be difficult to cash. Only major Bank of China branches will accept them, and the process is time-consuming. We strongly recommend using Alipay, WeChat Pay, ATM withdrawals, and credit cards instead. Traveler's checks are effectively obsolete in modern China.

Metro rides cost 2-10 RMB per trip. City buses cost 1-3 RMB. DiDi (ride-hailing) rides start at 8-15 RMB for short trips. High-speed train tickets cost 50-500 RMB depending on distance. Domestic flights cost 300-1,200 RMB per segment. Taxis cost about 2-3 RMB per kilometer. Budget 50-150 RMB per day for local transport.

Major attractions are moderately priced: the Forbidden City is 60 RMB in peak season, the Great Wall (Badaling) is 40 RMB, Terracotta Warriors is 120 RMB, and Potala Palace is 200 RMB. Smaller temples and parks cost 10-40 RMB. Some attractions offer student discounts with an ISIC card. Audio guides are typically 20-40 RMB extra.

Foreigners can exchange RMB back to foreign currency at Bank of China with original exchange receipts, up to the equivalent of $5,000 per day. Transferring money internationally from a Chinese bank account requires documentation and has a $50,000 annual limit per person. For tourists, simply exchange remaining RMB at the airport before departure.

Common money scams include the 'tea ceremony scam' (friendly strangers invite you to a tea house, then present an outrageous bill), counterfeit money (check large bills for watermarks), and rigged taxi meters. Always use DiDi for taxis, pay through Alipay/WeChat to avoid fake bills, and decline unsolicited invitations from strangers.

Budget travelers: $500-800 (hostels, trains, street food, free/cheap attractions). Mid-range travelers: $1,200-2,000 (3-4 star hotels, restaurants, private guides, high-speed rail, domestic flights). Luxury travelers: $3,500-6,000+ (5-star hotels, private tours, fine dining). Add $140 for visa fees and $50-100 for travel insurance. International airfare is extra.

Yes. UnionPay cards issued by Chinese banks are accepted in over 180 countries and regions. If you are a foreigner living in China with a Chinese bank account, your UnionPay card works internationally. However, most tourists do not need a Chinese bank account; Alipay and WeChat Pay with foreign cards are sufficient.

Haggling is expected at tourist markets, night markets, souvenir stalls, and small independent shops. It is not acceptable in shopping malls, chain stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and branded boutiques. In tourist markets, initial prices are often inflated 2-3 times. A friendly, humorous approach works best. Walking away often results in the vendor calling you back with a lower price.