How to pay for everything — from street food to hospital bills
China is virtually a cashless society. Mobile payments (Alipay and WeChat Pay) dominate. You can now link your international Visa/Mastercard to both apps. Cash still works but many vendors won't have change. Set up payments before you arrive.
Set up at least one of these before arriving in China
Alipay TourCard allows you to link an international Visa or Mastercard. No Chinese bank account needed. Best for visitors.
Integrated into WeChat. Also accepts international credit cards. Essential for scanning QR codes at small shops and street vendors.
Pay by scanning: Open the app, scan the vendor's QR code, enter the amount, and confirm with your fingerprint or face ID.
Receive by showing: Open "Pay" or "Collect", show your QR code to the vendor, and they scan it to deduct the amount.
It's that simple — no PIN, no signature, just scan and go. Most transactions complete in under 2 seconds.
Where international cards are (and aren't) accepted
International hotels (Marriott, Shangri-La, etc.), upscale restaurants, large shopping malls (MixC, Coastal City), hospitals (Nanshan Hospital), and airport shops. Visa and Mastercard are most widely accepted.
Street food stalls, small local restaurants, taxis, metro stations, buses, convenience stores (most), markets, and small shops. Basically anywhere that isn't a major chain or international venue.
Always carry ¥200–500 in cash as backup. Get some RMB at the airport ATM upon arrival. Tell your bank you're traveling to China so they don't block transactions.
Still useful as a backup — know the basics
Red note, Mao Zedong
~$14 USD
Green note
~$7 USD
Brown note
~$3 USD
Blue note
~$1.4 USD
Tipping is NOT customary in China
No tipping needed. Some upscale restaurants add a 10–15% service charge to the bill automatically. Check your receipt.
No tipping. Pay the exact metered fare. Drivers will round down if you don't have exact change. Rounding up is not expected.
No tipping for bellboys, housekeeping, or concierge. International hotels may accept tips but it's not expected. A sincere "thank you" is sufficient.
Our concierge team can assist you with setting up Alipay, WeChat Pay, and managing your finances during your Shenzhen stay.
Contact Our Concierge