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Katie Frost_
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UnionPay card 💳 Where does it work? How to pay?

UnionPay from Rosselkhozbank in China Traveling to China becomes significantly more convenient if you have a UnionPay card from Rosselkhozbank. It's one of the most reliable payment methods in a country where traditional Visa and Mastercard are almost completely unavailable. The main advantage of UnionPay is its versatility. Based on my own travel experience (including mine), the card works almost anywhere there's a UnionPay terminal. These terminals are found in virtually every store, cafe, and hotel. ✔️ Where UnionPay from Rosselkhozbank works in China — real-life examples 🛍 Shops and markets * Shopping malls (Joy City, Global Harbor, MixC, IFC). * Brand boutiques and sporting goods stores. * Souvenir markets, art districts like Tianzifang or Xintiandi. * Grocery stores — from chain supermarkets to small shops. You can insert or swipe your card everywhere—UnionPay terminals are literally everywhere. 🍜 Restaurants and Cafes * Chain cafes: Starbucks, Luckin Coffee, KFC, Haidilao, Tim Hortons. * Family restaurants, street food stalls, bubble tea bars. * Even small cafes in water villages (Suzhou, Tongli, Zhouzhuang). If there's a terminal, it almost certainly supports UnionPay. 🚆 Transportation and Tickets * Payment at train station ticket counters. * Subway ticket machines or at the ticket counter. * DiDi taxis—you can often link a UnionPay card. * Aeroexpress trains, bus tickets, tourist shuttles. 🏨 Hotels and Apartments * Any international chains: Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, IHG. * Business and boutique hotels of Chinese chains. * Guesthouses - especially in tourist areas. 🎫 Tourist attractions Museums, observation decks, theme parks. Shanghai Disneyland and Shanghai Tower accept UnionPay without any problems. 🧾 Commonly available payment formats Physical card - works by inserting or swiping. Contactless payment (if supported by the card) - depends on the specific terminal. Online payments - often used for purchasing tickets, tours, and booking hotels. 💡 Important: Some Chinese websites require a local phone number, but technically, the UnionPay card itself is recognized and accepted. 🤝 UnionPay in China is like Mastercard in Europe: familiar, ubiquitous, and reliable. The main reason why the UnionPay card from Rosselkhozbank is ideal is that China is the birthplace of UnionPay, meaning its terminals are designed specifically for it. You can pay for almost everything with a card: from a 15-yuan cup of coffee to expensive purchases worth tens of thousands. 🔐 A few tips for travelers Notify your bank about your trip to avoid being blocked due to suspicious activity. Carrying cash is not necessary, but 100-200 yuan is convenient just in case. If a vendor says "it's not working," ask them to insert the card instead of swiping contactlessly. At markets and small shops, UnionPay terminals are the norm, even more common than WeChat Pay for foreigners. ✨ Summary The UnionPay card from Rosselkhozbank is one of the simplest and most efficient payment methods in China. It works anywhere there is a POS terminal, and they are everywhere: in cafes, hotels, stores, transport hubs, and tourist spots. #Shanghai #Shopping #Market #UnionPay
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Posted: Dec 12, 2025
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