Here is my experience based on my trip in summer of 2023, and my daughter's in Jan 2024
1) You don't need a single RMB cash if you have either Alipay or Wechat Pay, provided they are working. (They both require live internet on your phone) What I also mean is that the CC you setup within it having no issue for foreign transaction. Keep in mind that both Alipay and Wechat MAY freeze your account if backing by CCs, any time, for anti-fraud and risk control. Being there, and you have to call or create ticket in the app, which could be a pain when you need to finish the transaction. If there is already RMB in the account, then the freezing risk is much much lower.
2) For any transaction over RMB 200, your CC will be charged additional 3% fee, by Ali/Wechat pay. This is NOT the same as foreign transaction fee of your CC, as additional cost recovering by Ali/Wechat pay.
3) See 1) above, you are welcome to have some RMB cash in hand, if for whatever reason, Alipay doesn't work at that time. But keep in mind there is almost NO change, as rarely Chinese is carrying cash. So if you want to pay by cash, either preparing small Bills too, or accepting that you may loss some changes.
4) I don't think you need to prepare any cash before you land in China, if you already have Alipay. You can either exchange cash with your relatives, or withdraw from ATMs, while you are already settled down.
5) If you want to prepare for taxi/train tickets/hotel reservation/airline-tickets etc in advance, Alipay can handle them all.
1) You don't need a single RMB cash if you have either Alipay or Wechat Pay, provided they are working. (They both require live internet on your phone) What I also mean is that the CC you setup within it having no issue for foreign transaction. Keep in mind that both Alipay and Wechat MAY freeze your account if backing by CCs, any time, for anti-fraud and risk control. Being there, and you have to call or create ticket in the app, which could be a pain when you need to finish the transaction. If there is already RMB in the account, then the freezing risk is much much lower.
2) For any transaction over RMB 200, your CC will be charged additional 3% fee, by Ali/Wechat pay. This is NOT the same as foreign transaction fee of your CC, as additional cost recovering by Ali/Wechat pay.
3) See 1) above, you are welcome to have some RMB cash in hand, if for whatever reason, Alipay doesn't work at that time. But keep in mind there is almost NO change, as rarely Chinese is carrying cash. So if you want to pay by cash, either preparing small Bills too, or accepting that you may loss some changes.
4) I don't think you need to prepare any cash before you land in China, if you already have Alipay. You can either exchange cash with your relatives, or withdraw from ATMs, while you are already settled down.
5) If you want to prepare for taxi/train tickets/hotel reservation/airline-tickets etc in advance, Alipay can handle them all.
Statistics: Posted by arcane — Thu Feb 29, 2024 3:20 pm — Replies 7 — Views 341