Back to all

Mastercard in China: what to use instead

Like Visa, Mastercard may work in some places, but daily life in China often revolves around QR wallets.

What People Use in China

Traveler Tips

  • Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay as your default day-to-day method.
  • Use your card as a backup for hotels, some larger stores, or specific scenarios.
  • Carry a small amount of cash for emergencies.

Things to Watch Out For

  • International card acceptance varies widely by city and merchant type.
  • Some transactions may fail without obvious reasons; always have a fallback.

Related