Originally Posted by
Peter_N-H
Once again: visitors to China need to do as the Chinese do. And for the most part, for the kinds of transactions under discussion, that's to pay in cash.
This is the correct advice. Most hotels catering to foreigners will take Amex etc, but for everything else plan on using cash.
Not unusual to see Chinese friends pull out bricks of 100 RMB notes when settling a large bill.