How should a first-time foreign visitor pay in China?

The regulator names five routes, not one — and the order is the useful part

The central bank's own visitor guide covers bank card, mobile payment, cash, bank account and e-CNY. The common framing that China is “mobile payment only” is not the regulator's framing: the card and the cash routes are named alongside the app, which is what gives you something to fall back on.

Where in the source: PBOC visitor guide: covers five payment routes in order — bank card, mobile payment, cash, bank account, and e-CNY.

A UnionPay card is stated to work at every mainland POS terminal

The guide states UnionPay is accepted by all merchant POS terminals in the mainland, while other networks are accepted where their logo is displayed at the checkout counter. That is the practical difference between the two card situations, and it is the regulator saying it rather than a card issuer's marketing.

Where in the source: PBOC visitor guide: UnionPay accepted by all merchant POS terminals; other networks where the logo is displayed at the counter.

The networks named as displayed at counters

UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover are the logos the guide shows as accepted at counters. If your card is on none of these, the card route is the wrong one to plan around and the cash or wallet route is where to put your preparation.

Where in the source: PBOC visitor guide: logos shown as accepted at counters — UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Discover.