Is it safe to withdraw cash in China or not?
Cash is becoming less used in China - almost everyone pays via WeChat Pay or Alipay. Foreign cards work at bigger bank ATMs, but it's wise to withdraw during the day when staff can assist if something goes wrong.
In Guilin, I tried a Bank of China ATM outside my hostel. The street was quiet, but the machine worked, and it didn’t feel risky. The biggest challenge was the language on some ATMs - not all offer English menus.
While traveling through Chengdu, I found that most ATMs near metro stations were well-maintained and available 24 removed link I withdrew cash after 9 PM in a high-traffic area without issues. Just make sure your card is China UnionPay compatible or linked to a global network like Mastercard.
In Shanghai, I used an ICBC ATM on Nanjing Road around 10 PM. The area was full of people, well-lit, and the machine worked smoothly. ATM use in China at night, especially in tier-1 cities, is efficient and feels completely safe in public zones.