Cash still works. Here is how to get it.
- Carry a few hundred RMB as a backup, not as your main method.
- Withdraw from a major bank ATM inside a branch during opening hours.
- Keep small notes for markets, buses, and street taxis.
Compare the options
Fees and limits change. The app shows the final amount before you confirm.
| Cash | ATM withdrawal | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted at | All shops by law. Small vendors may struggle with large notes. | Not a payment method. You use the notes afterwards. |
| Cost | The exchange rate only, if you change money at a bank. | Your bank's fee plus any ATM operator fee. |
| Limits | What you carry and what the shop can change. | Your bank's daily limit and the machine's per-withdrawal cap. |
| When the network is down | Works with no signal and no battery. | Needs a working machine and a working card. |
| Best for | Markets, street food, buses, and small restaurants. | Topping up your cash backup in a city. |
Set it up
Do this before you leave the hotel or the airport.
-
Withdraw at a bank branch, not a street machine
Use ATMs attached to Bank of China, ICBC, or China Construction Bank. Go during opening hours so staff can help if a machine keeps your card.
About 10 min -
Decline the machine's own currency conversion
Some ATMs offer to convert to your home currency at a poor rate. Choose to be charged in RMB.
About 2 min -
Keep notes under 100 RMB
Ask the bank counter to break a large note. Small vendors and bus drivers may not have change.
About 5 min -
Split your cash and keep a card backup
Carry cash in two places. Leave one card in the hotel safe.
About 2 min
When it fails at the counter
Each error has its own page with three steps and a cash fallback.
No change available
Do Shops in China Still Take Cash? Yes, and Here Is How
Annual limit reached
Alipay Annual Limit for Tourists: What Happens at the Cap
Service fee
Alipay 3% Fee Explained: When Foreign Cards Cost More
Insufficient balance
Alipay Says Insufficient Balance Even Though Your Card Works
Payment failed
Didi, Trains and Attractions: Paying with a Foreign Card
Transaction cancelled
ATM Withdrawal Failed in China? Fixes Before You Retry
Network unavailable
Paying in China Without Internet: What Still Works
We do not accept that
Google Pay in China: Why It Does Not Work (2026)
Is this for you?
Good fit
- Travelers who visit markets and small towns
- Anyone whose card keeps getting declined
- Short trips with a tight data plan
Not the best fit
- Travelers who stay only in international hotels
- People who cannot use an ATM PIN abroad
- Long stays where carrying cash feels unsafe
Questions
Can a shop refuse cash in China?
No. RMB cash is legal tender for payments in China. Small vendors may ask for exact change, but refusing cash is not allowed.
Which ATMs accept foreign cards?
Major bank ATMs usually do, especially Bank of China and ICBC. Look for the Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay logo on the machine.
How much cash should I carry?
Enough for one day of small purchases plus a taxi ride. Cards and apps cover the rest.
Why did the ATM keep my card?
Some machines keep cards after three wrong PINs or a bank block. Call the number on the machine and your bank the same day.
Load before you land
Want a fixed spending amount?
Prepaid travel products change often. Compare them with binding your own card to Alipay before you load any money.
Compare prepaid options →Independent guide. Not affiliated with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or any card network. Rules checked 2026-10-26 (version 2026-10). Found a different result? Send it to us.