China is often described as a cashless country, and for foreign visitors that used to be a real problem. Until recently, the dominant payment apps were built around Chinese bank accounts and phone numbers. That has changed quickly since 2023. Today, a visitor from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Manila has several ways to pay — and cash has not disappeared.

This guide explains what works in 2026, what it costs as officially stated, and where the gaps remain.

Why this matters now

More foreigners are travelling to China than ever. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) reported 22.91 million inbound entries by foreign nationals in the first half of 2026, up 20.4% year on year. Of these, 17.82 million were visa-free entries, up 30.6% and equal to 77.7% of all foreign entries.

Payments have been a deliberate part of Beijing's push to attract visitors. In March 2024, the State Council's General Office issued guidelines to make payments easier for elderly people and foreign visitors, stating: "Large business districts, tourist attractions, hotels, hospitals and other key locations are required to support diversified payment options, including mobile, bank card and cash payments." For context on the 2026 holiday travel picture, see our Golden Week 2026 report.

Option 1: Link a foreign card to Alipay or Weixin Pay

Both of China's big wallets now let visitors link an international card and pay at the same QR codes locals use.

Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay). According to the official Weixin help centre, you can verify with a passport and an international phone number that receives SMS codes; a mainland +86 number is not required. Linked foreign cards work for everyday purchases in mainland China but not for red packets or money transfers. Transactions under RMB 200 carry no fee, while a 3% fee applies above that. The Beijing municipal government lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover Global Network, JCB, Diners Club and UnionPay cards as linkable, and in March 2026 described an additional fee waiver for first-time international card users on purchases under RMB 1,000 for 60 days per user, from the first transaction, with a maximum saving of 30 yuan per transaction. Check in the app whether the offer is still running.

Alipay. Alipay applies the same structure: no service fee under RMB 200 and a 3% international card service fee above it, as set out in a Bank of China (Malaysia) customer FAQ for a 2025 fee-waiver promotion. On limits, Ant Group raised the single-transaction cap for foreign visitors from US$1,000 to US$5,000 and the annual cap from US$10,000 to US$50,000 in March 2024, CFOtech Asia reported. NDNews could not find a newer official Ant Group statement on limits, so check the app before large purchases.

Option 2: Use your home wallet or banking app

Many ASEAN travellers do not need to download a Chinese app at all.

Alipay+ wallets. Ant Group's Alipay+ network lets selected overseas e-wallets pay at Alipay merchants in China. A February 2026 report published by the Hangzhou municipal government said more than 30 foreign wallets from 13 countries and regions operate in China, including Malaysia's Touch 'n Go (TNG Digital). It cited Ant Group data showing more than 10 million inbound travellers used its Alipay+ and card-binding services in 2025, with transactions through foreign e-wallets up 160% year on year. Bank apps are also joining: China Daily reported in June 2026 that Singapore's OCBC lets customers scan Alipay, UnionPay and, since February 2026, WeChat Pay QR codes directly from its app.

Indonesia's QRIS. Bank Indonesia (BI) and the People's Bank of China (PBOC) soft-launched the QRIS cross-border link in Beijing on 30 April 2026, Antara reported. It followed a sandbox trial from 17 August 2025, during which Indonesians made only about 8,000 outbound transactions in China worth Rp6.4 billion, against 1.64 million inbound transactions by Chinese visitors in Indonesia worth Rp556 billion. IDNFinancials reported 24 Indonesian participants (16 banks and 8 non-banks) and 19 Chinese counterparts.

Sources differ on which Chinese networks were connected at launch. Antara said transactions were limited to the Alipay system, with WeChat Pay and UnionPay still to be added. Republika and Investortrust named both Alipay and UnionPay. BI said a formal launch would follow in Shanghai in June 2026. NDNews could not confirm from official sources whether that event took place or whether WeChat Pay has since been connected. Indonesians should check with their bank or wallet which Chinese QR codes their app can scan.

Option 3: Cards and cash

Bank cards are accepted at more hotels, airports and large stores than before, but small vendors still mostly rely on QR codes.

Cash remains legal tender. A 2018 PBOC announcement states: "No organization or individual shall refuse to accept cash by means of standard terms, notices, statements, announcement, etc., except in cases where non-cash payment instruments shall be used according to law." In December 2020 the central bank said it would investigate and punish those that refuse valid banknotes and coins, China Daily reported. In practice, some small sellers may still struggle to give change, so carry small notes.

What about the digital yuan?

The PBOC's e-CNY app is an option but a niche one. Since a September 2023 update, foreigners can register with a foreign phone number, and iOS users can top up with Visa and Mastercard, according to China Briefing. For most short-stay visitors, Alipay, Weixin Pay or a home wallet will be simpler.

Visa rules for ASEAN travellers

Payment is only half the trip. Under China's mutual visa exemption with Malaysia, in force since 17 July 2025, Malaysians can stay up to 30 days per visit and 90 days in any 180-day period. China's foreign ministry has said it has visa-free arrangements with Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. In June 2025 it also introduced an "ASEAN visa": five-year multiple-entry visas for business travellers from all ten ASEAN states and Timor-Leste, with stays of up to 180 days.

Indonesian passport holders generally still need a visa for standard visits. However, since 12 June 2025 they have been eligible for 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit now through 65 ports in 24 provinces after an expansion on 5 November 2025, if they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. NDNews found no new visa-free entry policy for Indonesians announced in 2026.

Practical tips

  • Set up before you fly. Install and verify Alipay or Weixin Pay at home, where your SMS codes arrive reliably.
  • Mind the RMB 200 line. Splitting payments is not always possible, so expect the 3% fee on larger bills and compare it with your card's foreign-exchange charges. New Weixin Pay card users may get the fee waived on purchases under RMB 1,000 in their first 60 days, if the offer is still running.
  • Check your home app. QRIS, Alipay+ and bank-app QR scanning may avoid the card fee entirely, but coverage varies by network.
  • Carry a backup. Bring a second card and some RMB cash in small notes.
  • Remember what does not work. Foreign-card accounts cannot send red packets or transfers.

What to watch

  • Whether BI and the PBOC confirm a full QRIS launch and add WeChat Pay and UnionPay.
  • Any official update by Ant Group or Tenpay to limits or the RMB 200 fee threshold.
  • NIA data for the second half of 2026, and whether China extends visa-free entry to more ASEAN countries.

For the currency backdrop, see our ASEAN currencies outlook.

Key numbers

  • 22.91 million foreign entries into China in H1 2026, up 20.4% (NIA)
  • 77.7% of those entries were visa-free
  • RMB 200: fee-free threshold for foreign cards on Weixin Pay and Alipay; 3% above
  • US$5,000 / US$50,000: Alipay single and annual limits for visitors (announced March 2024)
  • 30 April 2026: QRIS–China soft launch
  • ~8,000: outbound QRIS transactions by Indonesians in China during the sandbox trial

This is general information, not financial advice.

This article was researched with AI assistance and reviewed by the NDNews editorial team. It is based on official data and media reports as of 7 October 2026. It is not financial advice.