Shenyang - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
No, you must get a Chinese bank account and use Wechat to buy anything. Wechat recently allowed foreign credit cards to be used within the app, but in Shenyang it is rarely accepted (in the bigger cities like Shanghai, it's much more acceptable). People don't use cash anymore, so if you are here longterm you must get Wechat (or Alipay) set up to pay for everything. - Jun 2024
No. Most people use cash or mobile phone payment systems via WeChat or Alipay. ATMs are common in banks, and usually legit. - Mar 2019
The economy in this part of China is largely cash-based. Recently a cellphone-based payment service, similar to Apple Pay or Google Pay, has become popular. A local bank account is necessary to get this service, which is possible to get, but cash is still always accepted. The only time I've ever used my U.S. credit card is at large hotels while traveling in-country. - Jul 2016
Most places only accept China's union pay credit card. Discover has a partnership with them but many vendors don't know that and won't accept your card. Import stores sometimes take Visa. China Construction Bank doesn't charge Bank of America users ATM fees. Most of the time you want to pay in cash. - Aug 2014
Check with your bank to find out where you can withdraw money without a fee. This is a cash society. Very few places take Western credit cards here in Shenyang. Bring lots of checks you can cash at the consulate. - Nov 2013
