China Travel Money Guide

China is the opposite of Japan. Locals pay for almost everything by scanning a QR code on their phone, from a hotpot dinner to a bag of chestnuts from a street vendor. As a visitor you don't have to go fully digital, but you do need a plan: a foreign card on its own can be hit and miss, and cash alone can be awkward. The best approach is a bit of all three.

When to exchange

The yuan is managed more tightly than most currencies, so it moves slowly against the ringgit. That means a few days' difference rarely changes much, and the bigger saving is in which changer you use. Compare the live rates before you go, because the gap between the best and worst counter on CNY can be wider than you'd expect.

Tip: Buying yuan in KL is usually cheaper than withdrawing at a Chinese ATM with a Malaysian card, once you add the bank's overseas fees. A modest amount of cash from home is a good fallback.

How much cash to bring

Because so much of your spending can go through your phone, your cash budget is the smallest part of the plan. A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — ¥100–250/day (noodle shops and canteens are cheap, hotpot and Peking duck dinners are not)
• Local transport — ¥20–50/day on metros, buses and the odd taxi
• Attractions — ¥100–300/day (many sights are ¥50–150 each, so it varies a lot)

Paying with Alipay and WeChat Pay

Mobile payments are the way most people pay in China, and visitors can join in:

• Alipay — you can link a foreign Visa or Mastercard in the app's wallet section and pay by scanning merchants' codes. Set it up and verify your card before you leave Malaysia, as it can take a few tries and some banks block the first attempts.
• WeChat Pay — also supports foreign cards, with a similar set-up. Many travellers keep both apps, because some merchants only show one code.
• Fees and limits — your card issuer may charge a foreign-transaction fee, and the apps may set limits on foreign cards. Check both in the app and with your bank.

Using Touch 'n Go eWallet in China

If you don't want to install Chinese apps, Touch 'n Go eWallet works at merchants that display the Alipay QR code in mainland China, through the Alipay+ network. You scan the merchant's code from your normal TNG app and the payment is deducted in ringgit. It is worth trying once before you leave: check that it is available in your app and that your wallet is topped up. Some small vendors only take WeChat Pay, so having a second option helps.

Where to exchange in KL

These three changers currently post the best CNY rates. Tap to see their branches and live rates:

Payment tips on the ground

• Cash is still legal tender — Chinese authorities have told merchants not to refuse cash, and major tourist sights are expected to keep manned ticket counters. Smaller shops may struggle to give change, so carry smaller notes.
• Foreign cards are accepted at bigger places — international hotels, department stores and major attractions increasingly take Visa and Mastercard, but don't count on cards at small restaurants or markets.
• Keep your passport handy — many train, museum and attraction bookings need it for ID.
• Download offline basics — a maps app that works in China and a translation app save more money than any exchange-rate tip.