Cash and Mobile Payment Ratio Recommendations
In China, mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) has covered over 90% of consumption scenarios, but cash still plays a role in small transactions, remote areas, or special occasions. According to your itinerary, we recommend the following allocation ratios:
1. Urban Travel (such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other first-tier cities):
- Mobile Payment Percentage: 80%-90%
- Cash Percentage: 10%-20%
In urban areas, almost all merchants (including taxis, convenience stores, scenic spot tickets, etc.) support mobile payments, while cash is mainly used for emergencies or individual traditional markets.
- Remote Areas or Small Towns (such as Lijiang Ancient City in Yunnan, Guizhou Villages, etc.):
- Mobile Payment Percentage: 60%-70%
- Cash Percentage: 30%-40%
Some small merchants or rural markets may only accept cash, so it is recommended to prepare in advance.
Small Cash Carrying Suggestions
- Suggested Total Amount: 500-1000 RMB
- Focus on small denominations (10 RMB, 20 RMB, 50 RMB notes), which are convenient for paying taxi fares, street food stalls, lockers at scenic spots, etc.
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Some temples or traditional venues may require cash donations or incense purchases, so prepare a few 1 RMB and 5 RMB notes.
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Priority of Cash Usage Scenarios:
- Taxis (some drivers may not be familiar with foreign credit card payments)
- Street-side food stalls, night markets
- Small shops or deposit services within scenic areas
- Remote area public restrooms (some charge 0.5-2 RMB)
- Emergency backup (such as when your phone runs out of power or network issues occur)
Mobile Payment Preparation Guide
- Steps to Enable WeChat Pay/Alipay:
- Bind an international credit card (Visa/Mastercard/JCB, etc.), which supports most consumption scenarios.
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Use the "TourPass" function (within Alipay): pre-load an e-wallet for users who cannot bind a credit card.
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Precautions:
- Ensure that your phone has international roaming enabled or purchase a local SIM card in China (such as China Mobile/Unicom) to receive SMS verification codes.
- Some high-end hotels or international chain stores support direct swiping of foreign credit cards, but the fees are higher.
Cash Exchange and Withdrawal Channels
- Exchange within the Country:
- Airport/Bank Counters: lower exchange rates, it is recommended to exchange 300-500 RMB for emergencies.
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Hotel Front Desk: some hotels offer exchange services, but with higher limits and poorer exchange rates.
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ATM Withdrawals:
- ATMs with UnionPay logos support overseas debit cards (cross-border withdrawal functions need to be activated beforehand).
- The single withdrawal limit is usually 2000-3000 RMB, with handling fees of about 1%-3%.
Safety Tips
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, distribute it between luggage and carry-on bags.
- When using mobile payments, disable the "password-free payment" feature and set up a payment password.
- Keep emergency contact information handy (such as bank card loss reporting numbers, embassy phone numbers).
