Which are the best ATMs in China for foreigners - free & high limits?

On my China trip, I used Bank of China and ICBC ATMs exclusively. My Wise Visa worked smoothly with a CNY 3,000 withdrawal limit and a CNY 25 fee. ICBC also worked fine with my Revolut Mastercard. I withdrew once every three days for taxis, street food, and entrance fees, as most smaller shops didn’t take card. Big hotels and malls accepted cards, but cash was still essential. Overall, ATMs were reliable as long as I stuck with the top banks.

China can be frustrating for foreign cards. My HSBC debit was rejected twice at Agricultural Bank of China in Xi’an, and when it worked at China Construction Bank, the maximum limit was CNY 2,000. The fee was around CNY 25, which isn’t bad, but the rejections wasted time. Also, many smaller ATMs don’t accept international cards at all. Best advice: only use Bank of China, ICBC, or Construction Bank, and carry some USD or EUR as backup to exchange if needed.

I had no major issues withdrawing in China. My Monzo Mastercard worked fine at ICBC in Shanghai, letting me withdraw CNY 3,000 at once with a CNY 25 fee. Bank of China also accepted my Revolut Visa without issues. I usually withdrew once every few days to cover meals, metro, and small shops since many places still prefer cash despite mobile payments being dominant. ATMs had English instructions, and I found them safe and reliable at major bank branches.

In China, the only ATMs that consistently work for foreign cards are Bank of China, ICBC (Industrial & Commercial Bank of China), and China Construction Bank. I used my Wise Visa at Bank of China in Beijing, with a withdrawal limit of CNY 3,000 (~$410 USD) per transaction. The fee was CNY 25. ICBC allowed the same limit with my Revolut Mastercard. Smaller banks often reject international cards, so stick with the big three for the smoothest experience.