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Money & currency

Money in China

Updated 2026-09-24

Money & Currency
¥

Chinese Yuan (CNY)

Currency code: CNY

Practical Money Tips

Link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival

China has leapfrogged cash and cards into a mobile-payment society. WeChat Pay and Alipay are used for virtually everything — from street-food stalls and taxis to hotel bills and museum tickets. Foreign Visa and Mastercard holders can link their cards directly to both apps without needing a Chinese bank account. Download Alipay (the better primary of the two) and WeChat, link your card, complete passport verification and set a six-digit payment PIN before you leave home. The name on your card must match your passport exactly. Prepaid and virtual cards are typically rejected. Do this at home rather than on arrival: the app stores and verification steps are far easier to reach on your own network.

The currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY)

The official currency is the Renminbi (RMB), with the basic unit being the yuan (CNY). The yuan is subdivided into jiao (1/10) and fen (1/100, effectively obsolete). Banknotes circulate in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan denominations. Exchange foreign currency at bank counters (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank) or at airport exchange desks — never with unlicensed street changers. Exchange rates fluctuate; check the approximate rate before departure but avoid memorising a specific number as it will shift.

ATMs work in cities but are rare in rural areas

ATMs operated by major Chinese banks (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China) accept foreign Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards and dispense yuan. They are widely available in cities but uncommon in small towns and rural areas. Two separate caps apply and it is worth knowing which is biting: the Chinese machine sets a per-transaction limit, commonly in the 2,500–3,000 CNY range, while your own bank sets the daily total. Hitting the first simply means withdrawing twice. Fees apply from both ends. Always have a backup plan — do not rely solely on ATM access.

Foreign credit and debit cards have limited direct acceptance

Despite the Visa and Mastercard logos on some hotel and department-store terminals, direct card swipes at point of sale remain unreliable for foreign-issued cards. International cards work most consistently at upscale hotels, airport shops and some chain restaurants in major cities. For everyday spending — markets, taxis, street food, convenience stores, smaller restaurants — mobile payment via Alipay or WeChat Pay is the only practical electronic option. Domestic-only debit schemes from your home country, the kind that work everywhere at home but carry no international network logo, should be assumed not to work here at all.

Carry some cash as a safety net

Despite the dominance of mobile payments, carrying a moderate amount of yuan in cash is prudent. Some taxi drivers, small vendors and rural businesses still prefer or require cash. Cash is also essential when your phone battery dies, your app malfunctions or the merchant's QR code scanner is offline — all of which happen. Withdraw from ATMs in cities, keep notes in various denominations (100, 50, 20, 10) and carry them alongside your linked mobile-payment apps.

Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.

Common Money Questions

What is the currency of China?

The currency is the Renminbi (RMB, meaning “the people's currency”), with the basic unit being the yuan (CNY). One yuan divides into 10 jiao. The fen (1/100 yuan) exists in theory but is no longer in circulation. Banknotes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan; coins in 1 yuan, 5 jiao and 1 jiao. The 100 yuan note is the largest denomination, which surprises visitors used to bigger notes — it is roughly a mid-range lunch for two, so cash adds up in bulk quickly.

How do I set up Alipay and WeChat Pay as a foreigner?

Download the Alipay app, go to “Me” then “Bank Cards”, add your Visa or Mastercard, and complete passport verification. You will need to set a six-digit payment PIN. The process takes a few minutes. For WeChat Pay, open WeChat, go to “Me” then “Services” then “Wallet” and add your card. Both apps require your card name to match your passport exactly. Set both up before arriving in China — the app stores and verification services you need are much harder to reach from a mainland connection than from your own.

Do ATMs in China accept foreign cards?

Yes, ATMs at major Chinese banks (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank) accept foreign Visa, Mastercard and in many cases UnionPay-affiliated cards. Look for the Visa/Mastercard logos on the ATM. They are widely available in cities — railway stations, airports, shopping areas — but scarce in smaller towns and rural regions. Expect withdrawal fees from both the Chinese bank and your home bank.

Can I use my credit card directly at shops and restaurants?

Rarely. International credit cards work at upscale hotels, some department stores and airport outlets in major cities, but the vast majority of everyday commerce — from restaurants to convenience stores to taxis — runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes. If you haven't linked your card to one of these apps, you will struggle with daily payments.

Do Apple Pay and Google Pay work in China?

Google Pay is not usable in mainland China — Google services are not reachable on mainland networks and the Play Store does not operate there, so install anything you need before you arrive. Apple Pay is technically supported, but with a foreign-issued card it only works at terminals that accept your card's network (Visa or Mastercard), which is uncommon outside upscale hotels and chain stores. The practical mobile-tap equivalent is Alipay's in-app NFC tap-to-pay, which becomes available once you have linked your foreign card. For everyday spending, the QR-code scan via Alipay or WeChat Pay remains the dominant flow.

Is tipping expected in China?

Tipping is not customary in mainland China and is not expected at restaurants, taxis or hotels. In fact, offering a tip can sometimes cause confusion. High-end international hotels and restaurants that cater to foreign guests may add a service charge. Tour guides and drivers on organised tours may appreciate a small gratuity, but it is never obligatory. Hong Kong follows different conventions — tipping is more common there.

Should I exchange money before I travel?

Exchanging a small amount of yuan before departure can be useful for immediate expenses on arrival (taxi, SIM card, first meal), but exchange rates at home-country banks tend to be poor for CNY. The best approach is to arrive with your Alipay/WeChat Pay linked, withdraw yuan from a Chinese bank ATM at the airport for immediate cash needs, and rely primarily on mobile payments for everything else.

How expensive is China for travellers?

China offers strong value for money, and quoting it in yuan is more useful than converting, since yuan is what you will be spending. Reckon on roughly 10–25 CNY for a street-food dish, 40–110 CNY a head for a sit-down restaurant meal, 300–600 CNY a night for a mid-range hotel, and 40–190 CNY for admission to a major attraction. High-speed rail over a medium distance runs about 250–600 CNY and a domestic flight 400–1,100 CNY — see the China transport guide for which of the two to choose. Eating is where the value is most obvious, and the China food guide covers what to order; Beijing and Shanghai sit noticeably above second-tier cities and the countryside on every line of this list.

Entry rules, visa types and practical notes live on the China overview.

Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.