East Asia
Money, cards and tipping in China
CNYYuan Renminbi
Money in China
Practically cashless Almost everything is paid by QR code. Link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival and carry some yuan as backup. US$1 ≈ ¥6.71 (03 Oct 2026).
Key facts
- Tipping: Not expected; some upscale hotels and restaurants add a service charge.
- ATMs: Bank of China, ICBC and other big-bank ATMs take Visa and Mastercard; per-withdrawal limits are low and fees vary.
- Paying by phone: Alipay and WeChat Pay with foreign Visa or Mastercard work almost everywhere; small fee on larger payments. Apple Pay rarely.
- Price level: about 47% of US prices (World Bank PPP).
Cash or card, by place
| Place | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Practically cashless | Practically cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card work nearly everywhere. Carry some yuan for older vendors. |
| Shanghai | Practically cashless | Practically cashless via Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card. Cards are accepted in hotels; carry some yuan for small shops. |
| Xi'an | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay work nearly everywhere, including market stalls. Carry some yuan for older vendors. |
| Chengdu | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere, even market stalls. Carry some yuan as a backup. |
| Guilin | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere in town; keep some yuan for small stalls and rural trips. |
| Chongqing | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere; carry a little yuan for older stalls. |
| Shenzhen | Practically cashless | Practically cashless via Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card; foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and malls. |
| Guangzhou | Practically cashless | Practically cashless; Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere. Carry a little yuan for older stalls. |
| Hangzhou | Practically cashless | Alibaba's home city is nearly cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay work everywhere. Carry a little yuan as backup. |
| Zhangjiajie | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in town and the park; carry some yuan for remote villages and small stalls. |
| Yangshuo | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in town and most hostels; carry some yuan for villages, rafts and rural stalls. |
| Lijiang | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere; carry some yuan for small stalls and mountain villages. |
| Suzhou | Practically cashless | Practically cashless; Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere. Carry a little yuan for small stalls. |
| Harbin | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere; carry a little yuan for older vendors. |
| Sanya | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay are used everywhere, even on the beach; a few small stalls and tour operators prefer cash. |
| Xiamen | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere, including metro and buses; keep a little cash as backup. |
| Dali | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work almost everywhere, including market stalls; some village stalls and e-bike rentals prefer cash. |
| Lhasa | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in shops and taxis; a few markets, monastery donation boxes and pilgrim stalls need cash. |
| Huangshan | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work at tickets, hotels and shops; carry some cash for summit vendors and village stalls. |
| Kunming | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay are used everywhere, including markets; a few street stalls and bus conductors prefer cash. |
| Qingdao | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay are used almost everywhere, including markets; a few small stalls prefer cash. |
| Nanjing | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay are used almost everywhere; a few small stalls prefer cash. |
| Shangri-La | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in shops and hotels; carry cash for monastery entrances, remote stalls and village drivers. |
| Jiuzhaigou | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in tickets, hotels and shops; carry some cash for small stalls and local drivers. |
| Changsha | Practically cashless | Alipay and WeChat Pay are used almost everywhere, including street stalls; a few small vendors prefer cash. |
| Pingyao | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted in most shops and inns; carry cash for small stalls and cart rides. |
| Dunhuang | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in shops, hotels and the night market; carry some cash for camel rides and small stalls. |
| Kashgar | Cards almost everywhere | Alipay and WeChat Pay work in most shops and restaurants; carry cash for the bazaar and small stalls. |
| Wuhan | Practically cashless | Almost everything is paid by QR code with Alipay or WeChat Pay; link a foreign card before arrival and keep some yuan as backup. |
| Tianjin | Practically cashless | Almost everything is paid by QR code with Alipay or WeChat Pay; link a foreign card before arrival and keep some yuan as backup. |
Quick answers
Do you tip in China?
Not expected; some upscale hotels and restaurants add a service charge.
Is China cashless?
Practically cashless. Almost everything is paid by QR code. Link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival and carry some yuan as backup.
What currency does China use?
The Yuan Renminbi (CNY). US$1 ≈ ¥6.71 (03 Oct 2026).
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- US State Department travel advisory
- National Immigration Administration
- NIA online arrival card
- China Railway 12306
- Speedtest Global Index: China
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.