ATM Fees in China
Chinese Yuan (CNY) • Updated April 2026
China is a cashless society. International visitors can now easily link foreign Visa/Mastercard directly to Alipay and WeChat Pay. This is essential as few places accept physical cash or foreign cards directly.
Tips for China
- • Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arriving - now available to foreigners with foreign cards
- • Cash is often rejected or vendors won't have change - setup Alipay/WeChat Pay immediately upon arrival
- • Bank of China ATMs most reliable for foreign cards
- • Keep some cash for emergencies and small vendors
- • Visa/Mastercard acceptance limited to international hotels and airports
Airport tips
- • Major airports have Bank of China ATMs for foreign cards
- • Set up mobile payments at airport kiosks if needed
- • Airport shops may accept foreign cards
- • Exchange some RMB at official counters
Don't forget your home bank fees
The fees shown above are charged by local ATMs. Your home bank may also charge additional fees for international withdrawals (typically 1-3% + a flat fee). Check with your bank before traveling.
Estimated daily expenses
How much cash you might need per day in China, per person.
Backpacker
Hostels, street food, public transport
CNY/day
≈ $30.74-60.02 USD
Mid-range
Hotels, restaurants, mix of transport
CNY/day
≈ $99.54-183 USD
Luxury
Premium hotels, fine dining, private transport
CNY/day
≈ $249-454 USD
Cash vs card acceptance
Where you'll need cash and where cards work in China.
Credit card acceptance
Low for Foreign CardsMobile payments dominate (Alipay/WeChat). Foreign visitors can now link Visa/Mastercard to these apps. Physical foreign cards rarely accepted. Cash backup essential.
You'll need cash for
- • Small vendors without mobile payments
- • Backup when mobile payments fail
- • Rural areas
- • Some restaurants
Cards usually accepted
- • International hotels
- • Airport shops
- • Some high-end malls
- • Foreign-oriented businesses
💰 Cheapest banks for foreign cards
These banks charge the lowest fees for withdrawals with foreign cards.
| Bank | ATM Fee | Est. Cost | Branches | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of China | 20-30 CNY | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~3.00 USD | 10,000 | Best for foreign cards |
| ICBC | 18-25 CNY | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~2.50 USD | 16,000 | Largest bank, may have issues with foreign cards |
| China Construction Bank | 18-25 CNY | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~2.50 USD | 14,000 | Variable foreign card acceptance |
📍 Most widely available ATMs
Sorted by number of ATM locations. More branches means easier access, but fees may be higher.
| Bank | ATM Fee | Est. Cost | Branches | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICBC | 18-25 CNY | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~2.50 USD | 16,000 | Largest in the world |
| China Construction Bank | 18-25 CNY | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~2.50 USD | 14,000 | Extensive network |
| Bank of China | 20-30 CNY | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~3.00 USD | 10,000 | Best foreign card support |