Can I use my Credit Card or Debit Card in China?
You might be able to use your credit card or debit card in China, but it depends on a few factors:
Card network: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Discover are generally accepted in China, especially in major cities and tourist areas. However, American Express acceptance is less common.
Location: Larger stores, hotels, and restaurants in major cities are more likely to accept foreign cards than smaller shops or rural areas.
Specific merchant: Even within major cities, some individual businesses might not accept foreign cards.
Your bank: Check with your bank to see if they have any foreign transaction fees or limitations on using your card in China.
Here are some alternative options to consider:
Cash: Carrying some Chinese Yuan (RMB) is always a good idea, especially for smaller purchases or taxis.
Mobile wallets: Linking your foreign credit card to a mobile wallet app like Alipay or WeChat Pay (if your bank and the app allow it) can be a convenient way to pay in many places, especially in larger cities.
UnionPay card: If you travel to China frequently, consider getting a UnionPay card, which is the most widely accepted card network in China.
How to Identify Counterfeit Money
Travelers may receive counterfeit banknote in the travel, especially the banknote of ¥100 and ¥50, so knowing simple ways to identify the counterfeit money is very necessary. Just like other currencies, the main ways to identify the fake money are by watermark, color change, texture and braille dots, etc.
1. Feel the texture of Chairman Mao’s collar and the braille dots besides him, the texture of these parts are rough; while the fake money doesn’t has this texture and feels smooth.
2. Hold the bill against the light with the Mao side facing you, you can see two watermarks, one is the image of Chairman Mao on the left blank space, and another is the number equal to the value of the bill on the left bottom next to the denomination number.
3. The color of the denomination number on the left bottom of the Mao side will change from different angle. For the ¥100 banknote, the number is green when you look from the front and will change to blue when you tilt the banknote upward. As for the ¥50, the number is golden from the front and turns to green when you tilt the banknote upward.
