Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in China easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
Don’t rely on American Express in China. Hotels like Hyatt or international business chains accepted it, but once I went to local noodle shops, tea houses, or street markets, it was completely useless. ATMs didn’t even give me the option to use Amex. I had no issues with Visa debit. Carry ¥200-300 cash daily for small payments, and link Mastercard to mobile pay. Amex will cause frustration if you’re moving around outside Shanghai or Beijing.
In China, credit card culture itself is different. Most locals use mobile wallets, so even Visa/Mastercard aren’t everywhere, but at least you can withdraw cash from ATMs. My Amex card was rejected at almost every store. Only some luxury boutiques in Beijing took it. I’d suggest linking a Visa/Mastercard to Alipay for seamless travel. Budget-wise, ¥500-700 daily covers taxis, meals, and attractions, but cash is still king if you don’t use apps.
I travelled in Guangzhou and Xi’an - Amex was pretty much useless. Even chain restaurants preferred UnionPay or Visa/Mastercard. ATMs at Bank of China and ICBC worked fine with Mastercard but not Amex. If you’re spending ¥50-100 on meals and another ¥200+ for attractions like the Terracotta Warriors, carry Visa. Amex was only accepted at my Marriott hotel. Don’t depend on it for daily transactions, especially outside major tourist areas.
In China, American Express is accepted in a very limited way. High-end hotels in Shanghai or Beijing may take it, but don’t expect restaurants or shops to accept Amex. ATMs also mostly run on UnionPay and work smoothly with Visa or Mastercard. I budgeted about ¥400-600 per day for food, metro, and entrance tickets. Using Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a Mastercard was much easier. Amex felt outdated in China, honestly.