Payment Backup Guide: Cash, ATM, and UnionPay QuickPass

Why You Need Backup Payment Methods

Mobile payment can fail. Be prepared:

• Card registration issues
• Some merchants reject foreign cards
• Network problems
• Dead phone battery

💡 Golden rule: Always have mobile payment + physical card + cash. Three options minimum!

Payment Method Comparison

Method	Merchant Coverage	Fees	Convenience
Alipay/WeChat Pay	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	3% (over ¥200)	⭐⭐⭐⭐
UnionPay QuickPass	⭐⭐⭐⭐	0.8%	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cash	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Exchange rate	⭐⭐⭐
Visa/MC Card	⭐⭐⭐	1-3%	⭐⭐⭐⭐
ATM Withdrawal	—	¥20+extra	⭐⭐⭐

Cash (人民币)

Why Carry Cash

Advantage	Details
Legally required	Chinese law requires all merchants to accept cash
No tech needed	Works without apps or internet
Small shops	Traditional markets and vendors prefer it

Cash Downsides

• Exchange rate losses
• Theft/loss risk
• Inconvenient for large purchases

How Much to Bring?

Situation	Recommended
Daily spending	¥200-500 per day
Emergency reserve	At least ¥500-1,000
Entry limit	Maximum ¥20,000

Best Places to Exchange (Best Rate First)

Rank	Location	Rate
1	Bank of China (中国银行)	Best
2	ICBC, CCB (major banks)	Good
3	Your home country bank	OK
4	Airport exchange	Bad (5-10% worse)
5	Hotel	Worst ❌

Bill Tips

Tip	Reason
Get small bills	Many shops can’t break ¥100
Keep ¥20, ¥10, ¥5, ¥1	Useful for vendors, taxis
Split your cash	Don’t keep it all in one place

Where Cash Works Best

✅ Traditional markets, street vendors (preferred) ✅ Small restaurants ✅ Buses ✅ Taxis (though drivers prefer mobile) ✅ Hotels, big stores (backup)

ATM Withdrawals

You can withdraw yuan from Chinese ATMs with foreign cards.

Supported Cards

Card	ATM Coverage	Notes
UnionPay	1.1M+ ATMs	Best coverage
Visa	Major bank ATMs	Limited
Mastercard	Major bank ATMs	Limited
Cirrus/Maestro	Some ATMs	Limited

Best ATMs for Foreign Cards

Bank	Features
Bank of China (中国银行)	Best for foreign cards, English menu
ICBC (工商银行)	Wide coverage
CCB (建设银行)	English menu
ABC (农业银行)	Available in smaller cities
HSBC, Citibank	Familiar interface

How to Use ATMs

1. Find ATM with UnionPay/Visa/MC logo
2. Select English (usually available)
3. Insert card, enter PIN
4. Select Withdrawal
5. Enter amount (max ¥3,000 per transaction)
6. Choose CNY (local currency) ← Important!
7. Take cash, keep receipt

ATM Fees

Fee Type	Amount
China ATM fee	¥20 per transaction
Your bank fee	$3-5 per transaction
Exchange margin	UnionPay 0.8%, Visa/MC 1-1.1%

⚠️ DCC Warning: If asked “Pay in your home currency?”→ Say NO! Choose CNY for better rates.

ATM Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
Card rejected	Try different ATM, check overseas withdrawal enabled
PIN rejected	Add 00 before 4-digit PIN (if 6 digits needed)
Limit exceeded	Try under ¥3,000

ATM Locations

• Bank lobbies (safest, may close after hours)
• Shopping malls
• Airports (24/7)
• Hotel lobbies
• Train stations

UnionPay QuickPass (闪付)

UnionPay QuickPass is NFC tap-to-pay. Tap your card on the terminal—done.

QuickPass Advantages

Advantage	Details
No app needed	Just your card
Low fees	~0.8% (vs Visa/MC 1-3%)
Metro compatible	Shanghai, Beijing, major cities
Fast payment	Just tap

How to Use

1. Look for QuickPass (闪付) logo on terminal
2. Tap your card
3. Enter PIN for larger amounts
4. Done!

Mobile Wallet Integration

You can also use QuickPass via phone:

Wallet	Support
Apple Pay	✅ Add UnionPay card
Samsung Wallet	✅ Add UnionPay card
Huawei Pay	✅ Add UnionPay card

Metro QuickPass Payment

City	Support
Shanghai	✅ All lines
Beijing	✅ All lines
Guangzhou	✅
Shenzhen	✅
Most Tier 1/2 cities	✅

How: Tap card/phone at turnstile—that’s it!

Recommended UnionPay Cards

Check with your local banks for UnionPay card options. Many international banks now offer UnionPay cards optimized for China travel.

Visa/Mastercard Direct Payment

Hotels, big stores, and airports accept Visa/Mastercard directly.

Where They Work

✅ International hotel chains ✅ Large shopping malls ✅ Airport duty-free ✅ Global chains (Starbucks, etc.) ✅ Metro (contactless supported)

Shanghai Metro Foreign Card Tap

Since June 2024, Shanghai Metro supports foreign card tap on all 21 lines, 517 stations!

Supported
Visa
Mastercard
UnionPay
Discover

How: Tap card at turnstile → auto payment!

Fees

Card	Foreign Transaction Fee
Visa	1.0-3.0%
Mastercard	1.0-3.0%
UnionPay	0.8%

Payment Strategy Summary

Recommended Approach

Priority	Method	Use For
1st	Alipay/WeChat Pay	Most purchases
2nd	UnionPay QuickPass	Metro, when mobile fails
3rd	Cash	Vendors, small shops, emergencies
4th	Visa/MC Card	Hotels, big stores

Pre-Trip Checklist

• Exchange some yuan (¥500-1,000)
• Enable overseas ATM/payment on cards
• Notify bank of travel plans (fraud prevention)
• Get UnionPay card if possible
• Download UnionPay app for ATM locations

Post-Arrival Checklist

• Withdraw ¥500-1,000 at airport ATM
• Get small bills (¥20, ¥10, ¥5)
• Test QuickPass on metro
• Keep multiple payment options ready

Daily Strategy

• Use mobile payment first
• Carry ¥200-500 cash
• Keep QuickPass card always with you
• Withdraw from ATM every 2-3 days (don’t carry too much)

Emergency Backup

When All Mobile Payment Fails

1. Use physical card (UnionPay/Visa/MC)
2. Use cash
3. Ask hotel front desk for help

When You Have No Cards or Cash

1. Visit a bank (bring passport)
2. Receive wire transfer (Western Union, etc.)
3. Contact your embassy/consulate

Emergency Contacts

Service	Number
Police	110
Tourism Complaints	12301

Summary

The safest combo:

1. Alipay + WeChat Pay (set up both)
2. UnionPay physical card (QuickPass enabled)
3. Cash ¥500-1,000
4. Visa/MC card (hotels, big stores)

With these four options, you’ll be covered anywhere in China!

Other Guides

Alipay for Tourists: Complete Setup Guide (2026)

Complete guide to setting up Alipay for foreign travelers and tourists. Card registration, NFC tap-to-pay, and transaction limits up to $5,000 per purchase.

Digital Yuan (e-CNY) Guide: Zero-Fee Payments

China's central bank digital currency explained. No fees, no ID verification for basic wallets, offline NFC payments—here's everything you need to know.

Card Registration Troubleshooting: Fix Alipay & WeChat Pay Issues

Card registration failed? SMS not arriving? Payment rejected? Complete troubleshooting guide for foreign cards in China.