Originally Posted by
warakorn
This is just my personal opinion.
I couldn't another thread where this issue is being discussed.
China (esp. Shanghai) is moving away from a cash to a digital money economy.
While foreign cards were always a problem, cash was usually king - for a long time.
However, recently most shops prefer payment via Alipay and Wechat Pay. This is a problem for foreigners, because setting up Alipay and Wechat Pay is a hazzle.
I am not 100% sure about that, but usually you'll need a Chinese mobile number (not a big problem) and a Chinese bank account (a big problem) to fund the payments.
Without Wechat Pay and Alipay:
- You cannot hire any bikes in Shanghai
- You will have trouble ordering or finding a taxi
- Traders look in a weird way at you, when you try to pay with cash.
My fear is that the Chinese Government may do away with cash within the next 3-5 years.
China in one area has jumped ahead of the rest of the world with electronic payment, there is good and bad.
But I have yet to fail to be able to get something with good old hard cash. There are a lot of things where w/o AliPay/Wechat Pay like food/laundry delivery that are impossible, but not sure how many foreigners trying to live like a local.
I am there every other week, taxi drives, stores and most places still take cash. Sadly few places take MC/VISA/AMEX. I certainly don't feel screwed or limited in my shopping/purchasing/eating nor travel
I know a few places like company cafeteria that don't take cash but have their own "cards" that do allow you to buy a payment card.
Given the fact there is a huge amount of expat and foreigners I don't think Government nor business are that stupid to not enable foreigners to get about and spend $, now will it be as convenient as a local, maybe not.
From what I know getting a local bank account is getting harder, I should have done it 6 months ago, but you can still secure a local account with passport and once you got that you are golden with AliPay and Wechat Pay.
BTW at least with OFO they enable foreign CC, mine has been working.