As of 2025, travelers' checks are essentially obsolete in China and are no longer accepted or exchangeable at most banks and hotels. Instead, most payments in Chinese cities — from taxis to street food stalls — are now made via mobile payment apps like Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which can be linked to a foreign credit card, alongside cash and international debit/credit cards for ATM withdrawals.
Problems around Chinese public holidays
Banks in China are open on weekends. However, around October 1 (China's National Day), exchanging travelers' checks at the Bank of China can sometimes be difficult — some branches will only exchange small amounts, or none at all. Hotels can have similar difficulties around this time. In that case, try a different bank, such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
Credit and debit cards in China
Credit and debit cards can be used to withdraw cash at ATMs in China. Good international hotels, and stores such as the Friendship Store in Beijing, also accept card payments.
There have been reports of ATMs retaining cards, requiring a trip to the branch counter (sometimes not until the next afternoon or the following day) to get them back. Withdrawing cash with a credit card is also comparatively expensive in terms of fees.
