How to Pay in China as a Foreigner: Subway to Street Food

Coming to China as a foreigner, the part people worry about most is paying for things. I live in Beijing, so here is how it actually works, place by place. Before you fly: verify Alipay and WeChat Pay, add two bank cards from different banks, and keep the phone number your bank sends codes to. Then get a little cash once you land. SUBWAY Across the whole Beijing network, including the airport lines, you can tap any major international card right at the gate. UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express. Use the same card going in and going out. No transit app, no transit card. BUS Use the Transport code inside Alipay. Most buses take cash too, but they usually won't give change, so keep coins and small bills. TAXI The simplest way is to order a Didi inside Alipay, and a private car is paid in the app. For a regular taxi, whether you order it or flag it down on the street, cash always works. CONVENIENCE STORES AND COUNTER SHOPS Open your pay code in Alipay or WeChat and let the cashier scan your screen. This is the simplest way, and usually the most reliable. RESTAURANTS Many places don't hand you a paper menu anymore. You scan the code on the table, and what opens is the restaurant's own mini program, often in Chinese, sometimes asking you to log in or sign up as a member. If it wants a Chinese phone number, ask the server to help you order. Most will, and some still have paper menus. STREET STALLS This is the one place a foreign card can fail. A business payment code is usually fine. If the code belongs to the owner personally, a foreign card can't send that money, and you'll see a message saying your card isn't supported. Pay cash and move on. HOTELS, NICER RESTAURANTS, MALLS Most take international cards directly. For a bigger purchase, your physical card at the counter is usually easier and cheaper than paying through an app. WHEN A PAYMENT FAILS Don't keep tapping. First check whether it says failed or just processing, then open your bank app and see whether you were actually charged. The six things to try, in order, are at 4:39. That part is worth a screenshot. FEES, checked July 2026 Paying with a foreign card through Alipay or WeChat Pay, the rule right now is that 200 yuan, about 28 USD, or less is free, and above that there may be around a 3% fee. WeChat sometimes waives it for new users. Your own bank may add a foreign transaction fee on top. These rules do change, so check the amount on the payment screen before you confirm. Chapters: 0:00 The four things you need 0:32 Two ways to pay 1:52 Subway, bus and taxi 3:01 Ordering food from a QR code 3:53 Card fees 4:39 If a payment fails 5:46 Before you go Part of my Beijing guide series for first time visitors: getting around, common mistakes, where to stay, and now paying. #Beijing #ChinaTravel #Alipay #WeChatPay #BeijingTravel