Emergency alternatives

If both apps are down or restricted, here's how to get through the day.

💴

Cash (RMB)

Most reliable backup, always works

• Carry ¥500–1000 (about $70–140 USD) for the first few days.
• Exchange at the airport on arrival (worse rate but convenient), or at Bank of China / ICBC branches in the city.
• Works at: restaurants, taxis, large stores, convenience stores, and most hotels.
! Doesn't work for: shared bikes, shared power banks, some small street stalls that went fully cashless.

🏧

ATMs

Withdraw cash with your foreign card

• Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard.
• Fee: roughly ¥20–35 per withdrawal. Withdraw ¥1000–2000 at a time to minimize fee-per-yuan.
• Look for the Visa/Mastercard logos on the ATM before inserting your card.
! Your home bank may also charge a foreign ATM fee on top. Check before your trip.

🏨

Ask your hotel front desk

Surprisingly effective

• Most hotel staff are familiar with helping foreign guests with payments. Ask them to pay on your behalf and reimburse them in cash.
• They can also help you with bookings on platforms that require a Chinese account (tickets, restaurants).
• 3-star+ hotels in cities almost always accept Visa/Mastercard directly at the front desk for accommodation costs.

💳

International card at POS terminals

Works in more places than you'd expect

• International hotels, large mall chains, and upscale restaurants accept Visa/Mastercard directly.
• If your card has UnionPay (common outside the US), it's even more widely accepted at Chinese POS terminals.
• Apple Pay / Google Pay work wherever contactless terminals exist, using your linked Visa/Mastercard.

📱

Switch to the other app

If Alipay is down, try WeChat Pay and vice versa

• Always have both apps set up if possible — they're independent systems with separate restriction logic.
• If one account gets restricted, the other usually still works.
• Most merchants with a QR code display both — look for the second QR on the same device/stand.

⚠️

Things that always need a Chinese phone number

No workaround exists for these

• Shared bikes (Meituan, Hellobike, DiDi bikes)
• Shared power banks
• Most food delivery apps (Meituan, Eleme)
• For these, rely on hotel concierge, a local friend, or a tour guide.

A note on connectivity: Many payment failures happen when you're on weak hotel Wi-Fi. A China eSIM keeps you on a reliable 4G/5G connection everywhere. Airalo China eSIM is a simple option. (Affiliate link.)