Accepted at hotels, airports, tourist restaurants, and international malls only. Most local merchants (street food, taxis, small shops) do not accept foreign Visa/Mastercard. Linking to Alipay/WeChat Pay recommended for 90% of purchases.

Works at major bank ATMs (Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank). Single withdrawal limit is 3,000 yuan (~$420). Expect steep fees (bank charges + foreign transaction fees + unfavorable exchange rates).

Foreign cards work on some international merchant sites but Chinese e-commerce platforms (Taobao, JD.com) require local payment methods. Transaction limits 3-5,000 CNY may apply for foreign cards.