Cash
It’s always a good idea to carry cash on you even if you don’t need it.
You can withdrawal cash using your Visa or Mastercard Debit cards from most ATMs, check for the logo.
Just be aware of fees your bank may charge.
I recommend carrying 1,000 RMB (roughly $150) with you minimum at all times in case of emergencies.
Debit and Credit Cards
Debit and Credit cards, like Visa, MasterCard, AMEX can’t be used on most POS. China has it’s own card payment system “UnionPay” which as a foreigner you will most likely won’t already have.
If you’re staying in China for a long time it’s worth the hassle of registering for a local bank card.
WeChat is China’s all in one App developed by Tencent. It is one of the two main E-wallet payment methods.
As a foreigner you are able to link your Visa and or MasterCard to it to pay for items in China. The App should display like this below:
Do note that using foreign cards in WeChat will subject you to fees for larger payments e.g. 3% transaction fee will be applied for single transactions above 200 RMB. There are also transaction limits.
Alipay
Alipay is another E-wallet payment method. I suggest you download and link cards on both WeChat and Alipay before you arrive in China.
Again, there are similar fees and transaction limits for foreign linked cards.