The short answer is no. You cannot rely on Apple Pay or Google Pay at physical stores in mainland China.
While Apple Pay technically functions on the domestic Chinese UnionPay network (mostly for locals using Chinese bank cards), standard physical stores do not accept Western e-payment systems like Google Pay or Apple Pay linked to foreign Visa or Mastercard. Furthermore, because Google services are blocked in China, Google Pay will not work at all.
What you must use instead
Mainland China operates on a completely cashless ecosystem driven by QR codes rather than NFC (contactless tap-to-pay) terminals. To shop, buy food, or take taxis, you need to download the international versions of China’s two dominant mobile wallets before you land:
- Alipay (Recommended for tourists): This is generally the easiest app for foreigners to set up. You can link your home country’s Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card directly to the app, pass a quick passport verification check, and pay by scanning merchant QR codes.
- WeChat Pay: Built directly into the WeChat messaging app, this wallet also allows you to link foreign credit cards for everyday purchases.
A quick note on cash: By law, physical stores in China are supposed to accept paper cash (RMB). However, because the country is so digital, many small vendors or taxi drivers simply will not have change for larger bills. It is a good idea to keep some cash as an absolute backup, but Alipay or WeChat Pay should be your primary way to pay.