General Information » Money » Credit Cards

Almost all of Beijing’s three, four and five-star hotels accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB and Diner’s Club. Visa and MasterCard are now accepted at some high-end restaurants and in a selection of larger retailers. In smaller shops and markets, you’ll have to pay in cash. You can get cash advances with your credit card at large Bank of China branches, but a commission of at least 4% will be added in addition to those charged by your card provider.

For security purposes, it is worth subscribing to a credit card protection policy that will replace your card anywhere in the world in the event of loss or theft. You’ll be able to arrange for cash advances to be sent to you if you are stranded without money or cards, get temporary travel documents if you lose your passport and be covered in the event of credit card fraud. You can apply for these protection plans through your home bank or directly with companies such as CCP Direct (www.ccp.co.uk) or Sentinel Card Protection (www.sentinelcardprotection.com).

However, if you lose your card and are not subscribed to such a plan, call Visa 800 440 0027, American Express 800 610 0277, or MasterCard 800 110 7309.