What Actually Works on the Ground
Paying for things in China is far simpler than many travellers expect. In fact, it’s one of the areas that surprised us the most — in a good way.
China operates largely as a cashless society, and once you understand how payments work, it becomes incredibly easy to move through daily life without worrying about money.
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Mobile Payments Are the Norm
Around 95% of payments in China are made using mobile apps, mainly Alipay and WeChat Pay.
During our entire month travelling across China, we:
- Did not carry cash
- Were never required to use cash
- Paid almost exclusively using barcode payments
From large cities to small towns, mobile payments are everywhere.
Where Cash or Cards May Be Requested
The only times we were asked about alternative payment methods were:
- When our network connection briefly failed
- In larger department stores
- At tourist-focused shops such as jade, tea or pearl stores visited on tours
In these places, staff often asked if we could pay by:
- Mobile app
- Credit card
- Or cash
Everywhere else — mobile payments were the default.
How Barcode Payments Work
Paying is very straightforward, even if you don’t speak the language.
Sometimes:
- You scan the vendor’s barcode
Other times: - The vendor scans your barcode
The shopkeeper will always indicate what they need you to do.
What amazed us most was how universal this system is. Even:
- Small fruit stalls
- Street carts
- Vendors selling oranges from old metal trolleys
…had barcodes hanging off their carts or displayed on their phones.
If one app didn’t work, they simply opened another — most vendors had multiple payment options ready.
When Something Doesn’t Look Right
Occasionally, a payment screen would pop up asking for additional information — usually in Chinese.
When this happened:
- We simply showed the screen to the vendor
- They tapped the correct options
- Payment went through without issue
It’s in the vendor’s best interest to process payments correctly, and we never felt uncomfortable or pressured. The system is so normal to them that they know exactly what to do.
No Cash Stress
Going cashless felt strange at first, but quickly became freeing.
Not having to:
- Find ATMs
- Exchange currency
- Count change
- Worry about losing cash
Made travel feel smoother and more relaxed.
As long as your phone is charged and your connection is working, paying for things in China is effortless.
Final Tohu Tip
Set up your payment apps before you arrive, make sure your mobile data is reliable, and trust the system once you’re there.
China’s payment culture is fast, efficient and surprisingly traveller-friendly — even in the most unexpected places.
🔗 More China Travel Guides
Want more China Inspiration?
Explore all our China blogs in one place — from ancient towns and national parks to mega-cities and night markets.
👉 Read all our China Destination Guides & China Travel Essentials Guides Here
🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.
- ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
- 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
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- 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
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- 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
- 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
- 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
- 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
- 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.
🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.
“Travel becomes easier when you learn to trust how things work, not how you expect them to.”