The short answer
Foreign Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB and UnionPay cards work at ATMs of major banks — Bank of China, ICBC, ABC, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications and others — that display your card’s logo. A typical per-transaction cap is about ¥3,000 (subject to your own bank’s limit). Expect two fee layers: the Chinese ATM operator and your home bank’s foreign-exchange / foreign-transaction fee.
Which ATMs take foreign cards
- Bank of China & ICBC: most reliable for foreign cards, common at airports and city centres.
- ABC, CCB, BoCom: widely accept international cards.
- Airport arrival halls: easiest first stop for cash on landing.
- Avoid standalone machines in tiny shops — stick to bank branches and airport/hotel-adjacent ATMs.
Step-by-step withdrawal
- Insert your card or tap if the terminal supports contactless.
- Choose English on the language screen.
- Select Withdrawal and your account type (checking/savings).
- Enter the amount (remember the ~¥3,000 per-transaction cap).
- Enter your PIN. Some foreign cards also trigger a 3-D Secure SMS to your home number — keep roaming or eSIM on.
- Take cash, card and receipt. Decline any “convert at ATM” rate prompt and let your bank do the exchange.
The real fees
| Fee | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Chinese ATM operator | ¥0–15 per withdrawal (varies by bank) |
| Home bank FX / foreign-transaction | 1–3% of amount |
| Dynamic currency conversion (ATM) | Avoid — always choose RMB |
To minimise cost, withdraw a larger single amount (within the cap) rather than many small ones, and never accept the ATM’s “pay in your home currency” conversion — it is worse than your bank’s rate.
Withdrawal limits
Most Chinese ATMs cap a single withdrawal around ¥3,000, sometimes ¥5,000 at newer machines. Your home bank may impose its own daily ceiling. If you need more, do multiple transactions or use a bank counter with your passport (slower, may need paperwork).
When you still need cash
- Remote villages, temple donation boxes, small roadside stalls.
- Shops whose QR terminals are down or reject foreign cards.
- Emergency backup when your phone dies or apps are risk-controlled.
Cash pairs well with mobile pay — our foreign-card fees guide shows how to split spending to dodge the 3% app fee, and our decline-fix guide covers ATM rejections.
Pay with confidence
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