Yes — but mostly through your phone. Card terminals that read foreign Visa/Mastercard are common in international hotels, airports and big malls, yet rare in small restaurants, markets and taxis. The workaround is simple: link the same card to Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay by QR code.
Where your physical card works
- International hotel chains, airports, large department stores and some chain restaurants.
- ATMs at banks and airports for withdrawing RMB.
Where it usually doesn't
- Street food, small restaurants, markets, convenience shops in smaller towns.
- Taxis and many attraction ticket booths.
The fix: put the card in your phone
- Install Alipay (and WeChat as backup).
- Link your Visa/Mastercard and verify with your passport.
- Run the ¥10 (less than $2) test on this page to confirm your card goes through.