How to Pay in China in 2026: Alipay, WeChat, Cash & Cards

Link a Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly, then pay by scanning the shop's QR code or letting the cashier scan yours. WeChat Pay charges no fee on card payments of RMB 200 or less and 3% of the whole bill above that; expect the same on Alipay. From Malaysia, Touch 'n Go eWallet (TNG) pays shops that show the Alipay+ mark, in ringgit, without that 3%; from Singapore, the OCBC app does the same for Alipay+, WeChat Pay and UnionPay codes. Both use their own exchange rates. Keep a physical card and some RMB cash as backup. Checked on 24 September 2026.

Paying from Malaysia or Singapore: routes that avoid the 3% fee

Malaysian and Singaporean visitors can skip the app's 3% card fee at shops and restaurants that accept their home app, paying in ringgit or Singapore dollars at that app's own exchange rate. No official page confirms these apps for DiDi, metro QR codes or bookings inside Alipay and WeChat, so link a card to one of those apps as well.

From Malaysia

Touch 'n Go eWallet (TNG) is the main route. It pays through Alipay+ (Alipay's network for foreign wallets), in ringgit, at shops that show the Alipay+ mark: in mainland China, a blue 支 next to the word "Alipay+". TNG says over 10 million merchants in China accept it.

Tap Scan to scan the shop's code, or Pay to let the cashier scan yours. The ringgit amount at TNG's rate for the day shows before you confirm. TNG says it charges no foreign-transaction fee, but a 2024 TNG blog said about 1% is built into that rate.
You need a verified (eKYC) account; an unverified Lite account cannot pay overseas. Overseas limits are RM5,000 per payment and per day, but a Pro account is also capped at RM5,000 a month in total, so upgrade to Premium (RM120,000 a month) before a longer or family trip.
TNG says overseas payments are meant for merchant accounts, so expect a stall owner's personal QR code to fail. TNG also does not list WeChat Pay among its networks.
Bank of China (Malaysia) UnionPay debit card: the bank's terms say the 3% fee on WeChat Pay payments above RMB 200 is waived automatically, with no cap, until 31 December 2026 (its Alipay waiver ended on 10 July 2026). The bank's own FAQ gives an earlier end date, so confirm with the bank before you rely on it.
Also possible: Maybank said in November 2023 that its MAE app pays Alipay shop codes in China (check the current limits in the app); Public Bank's MyPB lists China for Alipay+; Boost pays UnionPay and WeChat Pay codes but has added a 1% conversion fee since 20 July 2026. BigPay says payments with its Alipay+ feature may not go through in mainland China for now.

From Singapore

If you bank with OCBC, its app covers the most shops: it scans Alipay+, WeChat Pay and UnionPay shop codes and pays from your SGD account.

OCBC charges no transaction fee, even above RMB 200. You pay at the rate OCBC shows, which includes a mark-up; OCBC states 2% for UnionPay codes and gives no figure for the others. Daily limits are S$3,000 on Alipay+ codes, S$2,000 on WeChat Pay codes and S$1,000 on UnionPay codes.
Not with OCBC? ShopeePay pays Alipay+ and WeChat Pay shops in SGD once your account is verified and overseas payments are switched on; it shows its rate and any fee before you confirm.
New to WeChat Pay? Link a Singapore card by 31 December 2026 and Tencent waives the 3% fee for 90 days on up to RMB 1,000 of spending a day. On a short city break, that can cover most of what you pay through WeChat.
DBS: send money from digibank to your own WeChat Pay balance with DBS Remit (passport check in digibank; since 5 June 2026). Paying from that balance avoids the 3% card fee, and DBS converts at its own rate. Your WeChat account must be real-name verified with your passport to hold a balance.
UOB UnionPay Card: no fee on Alipay or WeChat Pay payments of RMB 200 and above until 31 December 2026.
Less useful: DBS PayLah! scans only UnionPay codes from a short list of Chinese banks, with a 2% exchange-rate mark-up.

How to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly

Do it at home, a week or two before departure, while your bank's SMS codes still reach you. Both apps work with your own mobile number and passport; you do not need a Chinese bank account or phone number. WeChat Pay is called Weixin Pay in mainland China and in its official notices.

Install Alipay and WeChat from your phone's official app store and sign up with your own mobile number.
Add your card in each app and complete the passport check if the app asks for it. In WeChat, cards sit in the Wallet.
Ask your bank to allow overseas, online and ATM use, and keep its app or SMS codes working abroad; the first payment may need your approval.
Check that the card shows as available in each app. Only a real payment fully tests it, so make your first one where you have a backup, such as an airport shop on arrival.
If a card will not link, try your other card or the other app, and call your bank; the common causes are listed below.
Pack mobile data that works in China, a power bank, a physical card and some RMB cash, kept apart from the phone. In a family, set up a second adult on a different app or card, so one flat battery or blocked card does not stop everyone.

At the counter you either scan the shop's QR code and type the amount, or open your payment code and let the cashier scan it. Look for the blue Alipay (支付宝) and green WeChat Pay (微信支付) signs. Alipay+ says home apps such as TNG work where its own mark is shown: a blue 支 next to the word "Alipay+". A foreign card in either app pays shops, transport and bookings, but cannot send money to people or red packets.

What the 3% fee costs on a real bill

With a foreign card in WeChat Pay, a payment of RMB 200 or less has no app fee; above that, the fee is 3% of the whole amount, and you should expect the same on Alipay. A RMB 250 dinner therefore costs RMB 7.50 extra (about RM4.56 or S$1.43).

The app fee on a foreign card in WeChat Pay (expect the same on Alipay)
Bill	App fee	Fee in RM	Fee in S$
RMB 150 family lunch	None (RMB 200 or less)	RM0	S$0
RMB 250 dinner for two	RMB 7.50 (3% of the full RMB 250)	RM4.56	S$1.43
RMB 800 family dinner	RMB 24	RM14.59	S$4.57
RMB 3,000 hotel bill or shopping	RMB 90	RM54.72	S$17.15
A 7-day trip with RMB 6,000 paid in bills over RMB 200	RMB 180	RM109.44	S$34.31

Ringgit at Bank Negara Malaysia's 12:00 middle rate on 24 September 2026 (RM0.608 per RMB); Singapore dollars at the European Central Bank's reference rates of 23 September 2026 (about S$0.191 per RMB). Your bank's own exchange rate and overseas fees come on top, and an ATM or card machine may add its own charge.

How to avoid the 3% Alipay or WeChat Pay fee

Pay shops from a home app instead of a foreign card: TNG, MAE or MyPB from Malaysia; the OCBC app or ShopeePay from Singapore.
Link a card to WeChat Pay for the first time by 31 December 2026: Tencent waives the fee for 90 days from your first purchase, on up to RMB 1,000 of spending a day. On a short trip, that can cover most WeChat Pay payments.
Use a card with a waiver: a UOB UnionPay Card on Alipay or WeChat Pay until 31 December 2026, or a Bank of China (Malaysia) UnionPay debit card on WeChat Pay (until 31 December 2026 under the bank's terms; confirm with the bank).
DBS customers in Singapore: pay from a WeChat Pay balance topped up through DBS Remit.
Pay large bills, such as the hotel, with the physical card at the counter: no app fee, though your bank's overseas charges apply.
Keep each card payment at RMB 200 or less. Splitting one bill works only if the shop agrees.

Which payment works where

Shops and restaurants take the QR-code methods almost everywhere; the differences show up on the metro, with DiDi, for train tickets and at street stalls. "Not confirmed" below means no official page says the method works there, so have Alipay or WeChat Pay with a card ready. If a restaurant has you order by scanning a code on the table, use Alipay or WeChat Pay with your card; home apps are not confirmed for this. If it fails, ask staff to take your order and pay at the counter.

What official sources say, plus our advice (checked 24 September 2026)
Where you pay	Home app (TNG, OCBC)	Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card	Physical card or cash
Shop, restaurant or supermarket	Yes, where the app's mark is shown: Alipay+ for TNG; WeChat Pay, Alipay+ or UnionPay for OCBC	Yes	Card at larger shops that show your card's logo; cash almost everywhere
Street stall with the owner's personal QR code	Not intended: TNG says overseas payments are for merchant accounts, and OCBC covers merchant codes; expect a personal code to fail	May be refused; try once, then use cash	Cash
Metro or bus	Not confirmed	Yes, through the transport QR code in cities that offer it; Beijing asks for identity verification first	Beijing's metro takes overseas Visa and Mastercard cards at the gate; Shanghai's takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB contactless cards across its whole network (since 28 June 2025)
DiDi or a street taxi	Not confirmed	DiDi: yes. Alipay says its international version can hail a cab, and DiDi's own app takes international cards (State Council guide). A street taxi's own QR code: not confirmed	Street taxis: cash (Beijing's government says taxis display cash-payment signs); a card only where the taxi has a machine
Train tickets (12306)	Not confirmed on 12306; TNG lists China Railway among its merchants, so a station counter may accept it	Yes: the State Council's guide says 12306 takes foreign bank cards and mobile payment apps	Station ticket office: foreign card, RMB cash or a payment app, with your passport

Can I use Google Pay or Google Wallet in mainland China?

Not reliably. Google Wallet's list of supported markets for adding cards does not include mainland China (checked 24 September 2026; Hong Kong and Macao are listed separately). A card already in Google Wallet from another market may still tap at a contactless machine that accepts your card network, but shop QR codes do not take Google Pay. Plan on Alipay or WeChat Pay, a physical card and cash.

Do I need to top up my WeChat wallet before paying with a foreign card?

No. When you pay with a linked card, choose that card on the payment screen; your WeChat balance (零钱) can stay at zero. Topping up is optional: Singapore DBS customers can fund the balance through DBS Remit to avoid the 3% card fee (see above). WeChat restricts balance, top-up and transfer functions for accounts that have only foreign cards and have not completed real-name verification, so finish the passport check first if you plan to use a balance.

If your card will not link or your account will not verify

When a card will not link, the cause is usually one of those below, and most are fixed by your bank rather than the app. Sort it out at home; meanwhile, try another card or the other app. Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover are all used in China, but not every app or shop takes every brand.

WeChat may ask for "assistance registration" after you sign up: another WeChat user scans a code to vouch for you, or you verify with a payment card or by activating WeChat Pay. Line up a relative or friend who already uses WeChat before you fly.
Your bank blocks a new overseas or online payment, asks for a security code, or flags China as unusual activity.
Your name is typed differently from your passport or card, for example in name order, spacing or a missing middle name, or the passport number or date of birth does not match.
The card brand works in general but not for that particular service, transport product or shop.
Your phone got the sign-up SMS but misses a later security code because roaming or your carrier changed.
The account works at first, then a security review asks for more identity documents. Signing up is not a guarantee that every payment will pass.

When is paying directly by card the better choice?

Pay with the physical card when the counter shows your card's logo and staff confirm they take it. That usually means hotels (including the deposit), airport and station ticket offices, big attractions, international chains, large malls and supermarkets, and duty-free or tax-refund shops.

Where a physical international card is more or less predictable
Situation	What to expect	Good practice
Hotel, major mall, chain or ticket counter	More likely to have a card machine for international cards, but not guaranteed.	Ask before paying and keep the card ready for a deposit hold.
Street stall, small independent shop or rural service	A local QR code or cash may be the only practical way to pay.	Use your app if it works; otherwise switch to RMB cash rather than assuming the card will work.
Large purchase	Paying by card avoids the app's 3% fee and wallet limits, but your bank can still decline it.	Check your available credit, overseas setting and exchange-rate cost first.

Cash is still usable—and still worth carrying

Cash is still legal tender, and China's central bank, commerce ministry and foreign-exchange regulator tell major shops, hotels and transport to accept it and to fix refusals. Small shops may lack change and some gates take no notes, so carry small notes as a backup rather than your main budget.

Getting RMB cash: ATMs, money changers and your bank's limits

Three different places can limit access to RMB cash
Where it can fail	What can stop you	What to check
ATM or card network	The machine may not show your network logo, may have a per-withdrawal cap or may impose an extra local restriction.	Use an ATM with the matching logo, read the screen and keep the receipt. Shanghai's official visitor page says an ATM usually limits one withdrawal to RMB 3,000; UnionPay gives the same figure for cards issued outside mainland China.
Your bank	The bank may set a daily or monthly cash limit, block overseas use, require a PIN or charge a cash-advance or foreign-transaction fee.	Ask your bank before you fly. Its limit is separate from the ATM's.
Exchange counter or machine	Available currencies, opening hours, rate and service charges vary by bank, airport, money changer and location.	Use a marked bank or authorised exchange point, compare the displayed rate and keep the receipt.

2026 fees and limits: the official numbers

Current reference numbers are ceilings or provider rules—not a promise that every payment will pass
Rule	Current reference	How to read it
Mobile-wallet ceiling for overseas visitors	Up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 a year for international cards in Alipay or WeChat Pay (Shanghai government payment page, updated 24 July 2026).	These are regulatory ceilings. Your app, bank, the shop or a particular service can set a lower limit or refuse the payment.
International-card fee	WeChat Pay: free up to and including RMB 200; 3% of the whole amount above that (Tenpay notice, 15 January 2026). Alipay: the Ministry of Commerce's 2024 guide gives the same rule, and UOB's and Bank of China (Malaysia)'s waiver terms describe a 3% fee on Alipay bills of about RMB 200 and up; we found no current Alipay page that states the fee (checked 24 September 2026).	Expect 3% above RMB 200 on both apps, and read the payment screen before confirming: a promotion, your card or the payment route can change the final cost.
Temporary WeChat Pay promotion	Users who link a foreign card to WeChat for the first time between 27 May and 31 December 2026 pay no 3% fee for 90 days from their first purchase, on up to RMB 1,000 of spending a day (Tencent, 27 May 2026).	The RMB 1,000 is a daily total, not a per-payment allowance. Check that the offer shows in your account.
RMB brought into or out of China	The current State Council visitor guide says each visitor may take up to RMB 20,000 in cash into or out of China each time.	This is a customs and foreign-exchange rule, not a recommendation to carry that amount. Check the current official rule for your own circumstances.

When payment fails: a short recovery order

Recover without creating a duplicate charge or losing the trip's only payment route
Problem	First response	Fallback
QR scan fails or the screen hangs	Check the transaction history before trying again. Confirm the amount and whether you are scanning the shop's QR code or showing your payment code, then retry on a stable connection.	Switch to the other app, a physical card if the logo is displayed, or RMB cash.
The card is declined or binding fails	Stop repeated attempts. Check your bank's overseas, online and fraud settings, your available limit and the security code; then contact the app and your bank with the exact error.	Use a second card or cash while the cause is being checked.
The phone has no data or battery	Find a reliable connection, charge the phone and keep the transaction status visible before retrying.	Use the physical card or cash. A second adult's independently prepared phone is the best family backup.
An ATM refuses the card	Cancel, use a lower amount or another machine with the correct network logo. Do not hand the card to a stranger offering help.	Use an authorised exchange counter, another card or the cash already carried, then call your bank.
You are not sure whether you were charged	Check the wallet or bank transaction history and ask the merchant to check its record before making a second payment.	Pay another way only after the first attempt has clearly failed or been refunded.

Payment questions answered before you fly

How can I pay in China as a tourist?

Link a Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly and pay by QR code in shops, restaurants and on transport. Card payments above RMB 200 carry a 3% app fee. Carry a physical card for hotels and big shops, and some RMB cash for small stalls or a flat phone.

How do I pay in China as a Malaysian?

Pay shops that show the Alipay+ mark with Touch 'n Go eWallet (TNG): it pays from your ringgit balance, and TNG says it charges no foreign-transaction fee. Add WeChat Pay with a Malaysian card for WeChat-only shops and in-app services; if you are new to WeChat Pay, Tencent's 90-day first-card waiver removes the 3% fee on up to RMB 1,000 a day. Carry a card and some RMB cash.

How can Singaporeans pay in China?

If you bank with OCBC, its app pays Alipay+, WeChat Pay and UnionPay shop codes from your SGD account with no transaction fee, at a rate that includes OCBC's mark-up (2% on UnionPay codes). Otherwise, pay shops with ShopeePay. For services inside the apps, such as metro codes and bookings, link a Singapore card to WeChat Pay: a first card linked by 31 December 2026 has no 3% fee for 90 days on up to RMB 1,000 a day. Carry a physical card and some RMB cash.

How can I avoid the 3% Alipay or WeChat Pay fee?

Pay shops from a home app instead of a foreign card: TNG from Malaysia, OCBC or ShopeePay from Singapore. If you have never linked a card to WeChat Pay, doing so by 31 December 2026 waives the fee for 90 days on up to RMB 1,000 a day. UOB UnionPay Cards skip it until 31 December 2026, and so do Bank of China (Malaysia) UnionPay debit cards on WeChat Pay under the bank's terms. Card payments of RMB 200 or less are free.

Can I use TNG eWallet in China?

Yes, at shops that show the Alipay+ mark, from a verified (eKYC) account: tap Scan to scan the shop's code or Pay to show yours, and you pay in ringgit at the rate shown. Verified accounts allow RM5,000 per payment and per day; a Pro account is also capped at RM5,000 a month, Premium at RM120,000. TNG says overseas payments are for merchant accounts and does not list WeChat Pay, metro codes or DiDi, so keep a card in WeChat Pay or Alipay for those.

Are Alipay and TNG the same?

No. TNG is a Malaysian wallet that can pay merchants on the Alipay+ network, from your ringgit balance. Alipay is a separate Chinese app: with a foreign card linked, it also opens services inside the app, such as ride-hailing, transport codes and bookings. Use TNG for shop payments and keep a card wallet for those services.

Can Malaysians use WeChat Pay in China?

Yes. Register WeChat with your Malaysian number, add a Malaysian Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card and complete the identity check. Payments above RMB 200 carry the 3% fee unless a waiver applies, such as the 90-day first-card waiver or, under the bank's terms, the Bank of China (Malaysia) UnionPay debit offer. TNG does not list WeChat Pay, so a shop that shows only a WeChat Pay code needs WeChat Pay itself or cash.

Can I use my YouTrip card in China?

Yes. Link it to Alipay or WeChat Pay like any Mastercard (YouTrip publishes the WeChat Pay steps), or use it as a physical card where Mastercard is accepted. The 3% app fee above RMB 200 still applies, because it comes from the app, not the card. The exception is a first card linked to WeChat Pay by 31 December 2026: no fee for 90 days on up to RMB 1,000 a day.

Which is better for tourists, Alipay or WeChat Pay?

Set up both if you can, so one can stand in if the other refuses your card. If you want only one card wallet and you pay shops with TNG, pick WeChat Pay: TNG already pays Alipay+ shops but does not list WeChat Pay, and the current fee waivers apply to WeChat Pay. Otherwise, use whichever app links your card without errors.

Is it better to take cash or a card to China?

Take both, plus a phone payment app. The app handles most everyday payments, a physical international card covers hotels and larger shops, and a small amount of RMB cash covers small purchases or a flat phone. A foreign card can usually withdraw up to RMB 3,000 per ATM withdrawal.

Can Singaporeans use Alipay?

Yes. Sign up with your Singapore mobile number, link a Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card and complete the passport check. Expect a 3% fee on payments above RMB 200, except on a UOB UnionPay Card until 31 December 2026. The OCBC app and ShopeePay can also pay Alipay+ shops without that fee.

How much cash can I withdraw from a Chinese ATM with a foreign card?

Shanghai's official visitor page and UnionPay both state a usual limit of RMB 3,000 per withdrawal for cards issued outside mainland China. Your bank's daily limit and the ATM's own rules apply separately, and each visitor may take up to RMB 20,000 in cash into or out of China each time.

How to Pay in China as a Tourist in 2026: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash and Cards