Pay like a Local

To save your hassles of converting and traveling with cash, I recommend you use any of the three e-payment Apps if you travel in Mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau. 

Basically, they cover almost every payment scenario of daily life, transport, food delivery, merchant/vendor, taxi, Uber, supermarket, you name it!

• Any electronic payment with Master/Visa/AX over CNY 200 is subject to 3% service fee (non-refundable, and CNY 300 is charged at CNY 309, etc). You could negotiate with the vendors about breaking the exceeding amount down to save some expenses. (e.g, pay CNY200 five times, so you get CNY1000)

• Petty cash is desired for city transport (subway and bus) if you find it inconvenient for foreigners to activate QR code on Alipay. (You need to reveal your personal information to Alipay), or you could go to self-service machine to buy tickets (Scan the QR code of the machine)

• For Chongqing Metro Transit, Visa/Master via Alipay hardly works. It is advised to use "balance" in your Alipay or WeChat Pay, or seek assistance from staff (pay cash). So far, Chongqing Metro Transit has launched "day-pass" product/package (CNY18/ 24 hour, or CNY45/72 hour, unlimited)

• Since 2025, foreign tourists can directly tap (Visa, Master and AX) credit cards at the gate, without paying cash nor buying tickets from ticketing machine, so far available in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.

• In Hong Kong, Visa card with the chip is eligible for tapping ticket machine and Tram, and then you are ready to go! Sign up for rebate on Visa before tapping!

• In Hong Kong and Macau, some chain stores/canteens can accept e-payment and credit card, but street vendors and local eateries may REJECT e-payment.  You may need to prepare some local currency.

• In Hong Kong and Macau, please prepare local currency instead of Chinese Yuan which is not applicable. There conversion stores are available on streets. Alternatively, you could enable Alipay HK version (Not Alipay MainlandChina).

Prepare a valid mobile number, your passport, and that's all!

Alipay HK App is different from Alipay Mainland China!

In HongKong and Macau, conversion stores are available on the streets, which is not so avaialble in the Mainland China. It is time-consuming to convert your money into CNY at the bank counter (on average 30-40 min). Please pay attention, and act accordingly.