First Time in Xi’an: A Foreigner’s Guide to Navigating Payments Like a Local

Landing in Xi’an for the first time, my heart raced with excitement—I’d finally see the Terracotta Warriors, walk the ancient city walls, and lose myself in the Muslim Quarter’s bustling night markets. But as I stepped out of Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, a wave of hit me: How on earth am I going to pay for things here?

Back home, I’m used to tapping my credit card or using Apple Pay, but I’d heard China is a “cashless society” where even street vendors scan QR codes. I’d also read online that foreign cards don’t always work. With just 200 yuan in cash (a friend’s last-minute advice) and a slightly anxious smile, I grabbed a taxi to my hotel—my first real test of China’s payment system.

First Time in Xi’an: A Foreigner’s Guide to Navigating Payments Like a Local

Before You Leave: Prepping Your Payment Tools

My first tip? Don’t rely on just one payment method. Here’s what I did before my trip, and it saved me more than once:

Tell Your Bank You’re Traveling

This is basic but easy to forget. I called my bank (in the U.S.) to let them know I’d be in China for two weeks. Without this, my card might have been flagged for “fraud” and frozen. I also asked about foreign transaction fees—my bank charged 3% per swipe, which added up, but it was better than having no card at all.

Bring a Credit Card (But Know Its Limits)

I brought my Visa card, hoping to use it at hotels or big stores. It worked at the check-in counter of my upscale hotel and a few international-brand shops, but that’s it. Most small restaurants, local markets, and even the metro didn’t accept it. Lesson: Cards are for “big-ticket” items; daily life needs other solutions.

Cash: Your “Safety Net”

My friend told me to carry at least 500 yuan in cash when I arrived. I exchanged $100 at the airport’s currency counter (rate was ~7.2 yuan/dollar—worse than downtown, but convenient for emergencies). I broke it into 50s and 20s: small bills for street food, larger ones for taxis or entry fees. Pro tip: Chinese vendors often struggle to change big 100-yuan notes, so keep smaller bills handy!

In Xi’an: The Mobile Payment Game-Changer

Within 24 hours, I realized cash was clunky, and my credit card was useless for 90% of purchases. Enter Alipay and WeChat Pay—China’s mobile payment giants. As a foreigner, using them seemed impossible at first, but it’s actually easier than you think. Here’s how I got set up:

Step 1: Download the Apps

I already had WeChat (since I use it to message friends back home), but I downloaded Alipay too—turns out, Alipay is more foreigner-friendly for linking international cards. Both are available on the App Store/Google Play.

Step 2: Link Your International Card (The Easy Way)

This is the key step! Alipay lets you add foreign Visa/Mastercard/Amex cards directly. Here’s how:

• Open Alipay, tap “Me” (我的), then “Payment Settings” (支付设置).
• Select “Bank Cards” (银行卡), then “Add Bank Card” (添加银行卡).
• Enter your card number, name (as it appears on the card), and expiry date. Alipay will verify it with a 6-digit code sent to your phone (make sure you have international roaming enabled, or use WiFi).

Note: WeChat Pay also lets you link foreign cards, but it’s trickier—you often need a Chinese bank account or a “WeChat Pay Balance” funded by someone in China. Stick with Alipay for simplicity.

Once linked, I could pay by scanning QR codes just like locals! No more fumbling for cash.

Step 3: How to Scan and Pay

Every shop, restaurant, and even street vendor has a QR code—usually a green one for Alipay, a blue one for WeChat. Here’s the drill:

1. Open Alipay (or WeChat Pay).
2. Tap the “Scan” button (the camera icon).
3. Scan the shop’s QR code.
4. Enter the amount (the shopkeeper may type it into their device if you’re unsure).
5. Confirm with your fingerprint or Face ID (if you set it up) or your phone’s passcode.

First-time panic moment: At a noodle shop, I scanned the code, but the shopkeeper just stared at me. Then I realized—she’d handed me her phone to enter the amount! (Alipay lets the payer or payee input the amount, which is handy if you can’t speak Chinese.) Once I entered 25 yuan and hit “Confirm,” my phone buzzed, and she handed me my change. Easy!

Step 4: Top Up Your Balance (Optional but Helpful)

If you don’t want to use your foreign card for every small purchase (thanks to those 3% fees!), you can add cash to your Alipay balance. I did this at a “ convenience store” (便利店) like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart. Just go to the counter, tell the cashier “Add Alipay” (充支付宝), show them your Alipay QR code, and pay in cash. They’ll scan it, and the money appears in your balance instantly. I kept 500 yuan in my Alipay balance for daily snacks and metro rides—no fees, no hassle.

Where Mobile Payment Works (and Where It Doesn’t)

• Works everywhere: Street food stalls, night markets, metro stations, taxis, small “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants, convenience stores, and even some ticket booths (like for the City Wall).
• Sometimes works: Mid-range hotels or local shops—some may accept cards, but it’s hit-or-miss. Always have cash as a backup.
• Rarely works: Rural areas or very small villages (I didn’t go to any, but it’s good to know).

My best mobile payment memory: At the Muslim Quarter, I bought a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) from a cart. The vendor, an elderly woman, didn’t speak English, but she pointed to her Alipay QR code. I scanned it, she nodded, and I got my delicious, 8-yuan snack. No words needed—payment brought us together.

When Cash Still Reigns Supreme

Even in cashless Xi’an, there are times you’ll need physical yuan:

• Taxis: Some drivers prefer cash, especially older ones. I always had 50-yuan bills for this.
• Small Markets: At places like the “Antique Market” or some fruit stalls, vendors might not have QR codes (or their WiFi is down). Cash saved me here.
• Emergency Situations: If your phone dies, or you lose your wallet, having a hidden stash of cash is a lifesaver. I kept 200 yuan in my hotel safe, separate from my wallet.

Troubleshooting: What If Payment Fails?

I had two hiccups—here’s how I fixed them:

1. “Card Not Supported” Error: At a local café, my Alipay-linked Visa card was declined. Turns out, some small businesses only accept Chinese-issued cards. Solution: I switched to the cash I had on hand.
2. No Internet/Phone Battery: Once, my phone died while I was at the metro station. Solution: I used the metro’s ticket machines (they accept cash) or bought a temporary transport card at the counter (you can pay with cash and get a refund when you return it).

Final Tips for a Smooth Payment Experience

• Learn a Few Phrases: “Wǒ yòng zhīfùbǎo” (我用支付宝, “I use Alipay”) or “Wǒ yòng WeChat zhīfù” (我用微信支付, “I use WeChat Pay”)—shopkeepers will appreciate the effort.
• Keep Your Phone Charged: Portable chargers are a must! No power = no mobile payment.
• Don’t Tip: China doesn’t have a tipping culture, so you never need to add extra money to payments. (I almost did once—my friend stopped me just in time!)

The Verdict

By the end of my trip, I was a pro at paying in Xi’an. Mobile payments made life so much easier—no more counting coins, no more card rejections. Yes, there was a learning curve, but with a little prep (downloading apps, linking cards, carrying cash), I felt like a local.

Xi’an is a city where ancient history meets modern tech, and its payment system is no exception. Don’t let the fear of “how to pay” stop you from exploring. With these tips, you’ll spend less time worrying about money and more time marveling at the Terracotta Warriors, savoring biangbiang noodles, and getting lost in the magic of this incredible city.

Now go—your adventure in Xi’an awaits! And trust me, once you master Alipay, you’ll never want to go back to cash.