Paying
Should I carry cash in China?
Short answer
Carry ¥300–500 in cash. Mobile payment covers almost everything in cities, but cash is what works at market stalls, small temples, rural transport and in the first hours before your wallet is set up and verified.
Where cash still wins
- Small market stalls and street food carts
- Rural attractions, village transport and mountain areas
- Temple donations and small entry fees
- The first day, before verification completes
How much
¥300–500 is enough for a typical trip as a buffer. Bring small notes — change for a ¥100 note is a real friction point at a stall.
Withdraw from an ATM at the airport on arrival rather than exchanging at home, where the rate is usually worse.
What cash does not solve
Cash will not book a high-speed train online, reserve a museum slot or pay for a DiDi. Treat it as a fallback layer, not a strategy.
Related questions
Can I pay in US dollars or euros?
No. Only CNY is accepted in normal retail. Exchange at the airport, a bank or an ATM.
Are ATMs hard to find?
Major bank branches and airports are reliable. Look for Visa Plus or Mastercard Maestro marks on the machine.
Should I tip in cash?
Tipping is not customary and may be refused. No need to budget for it.
Related guides
Verified 2026-09-11. Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.
Get ChinaPass — these answers offline, with the phrase cards that work at the counter when your data does not.