Best Travel Cards for Australians Visiting China
Planning a trip to China from Australia? Whether visiting the Great Wall, exploring Shanghai's skyline, or discovering rural landscapes, having the right travel money card is crucial.
In China, you are likely to use your card to pay for accommodation, food, transport, and entertainment and to withdraw cash from ATMs.
To save you time, we have compared a list of the best international travel cards Australians can take to China in 2024 and have summarised their best points.
Top 5 Travel Money Cards for China in 2024:
- Wise Multi Currency Card for prepaid travel card
- Revolut Travel Card for low fees
- Commonwealth Travel Money Card for back up currency card
- HSBC Global Everyday Debit Card for best low fee debit card
- Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card for lowest interest rate
Wise Travel Card - Best Exchange Rates
- 40+ currencies available
- Best exchange rates globally
- One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees
- Extremely low costs to send money overseas
Fees and limits
- Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
- Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise Card charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
- Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
- Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
- It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
- Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted
Using the Wise card in China
The Wise Travel Card is an excellent choice for travellers heading to China, offering tailored benefits that cater to the specific needs of international visitors. Key among its features is the ability to access over 40 currencies at the interbank exchange rate, which is recognized globally as the most cost-effective option.
This is particularly advantageous for those traveling to China, as it allows for seamless conversion of their home currency into Chinese Yuan (CNY) at very competitive rates. However if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees. Finally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.
Revolut - Low Fees
- 30+ currencies available
- One of the best exchange rates globally
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
- No initial card fee
- Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
Fees and limits
- No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
- Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
- Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
Using the Revolut in China
The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.
Commonwealth Travel Money Card - Back Up Currency Card
Key Features
- 13 currencies available, including Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY)
- No issue fee, load fees, closure and card replacement fees
- Additional card offered
- Locked in exchange rates: 4%+ margin on exchange rates
- Can be accessed through Commonwealth Bank app
Fees and limits
- Min load of $1 and max of $100,000
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
- $3.50 fee at ATMs overseas
- 13 currencies offered CNY, USD, GBP, EUR, THB, NZD, SGD, HKD, CAD, JPY, AED, AUD & VND
- Available to 14 year olds, has a lower age restriction than most credit cards (18 year olds)
- When you use your card for a purchase or withdrawal in a currency that is not loaded, or when they automatically transfer funds between the currencies on your card to enable the completion of the transaction at the Visa retail exchange rate plus 4%
- To transfer money between currencies or a transaction account, it will be at the bank rate which is normally 4% above the market value
The Commonwealth Bank travel money card is great to take to China as you can preload Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) before you leave Australia. It is definitely worth taking as a backup in case one of your cards doesn't work in China.
We advise using this only for tap or swipe transactions as the ATM fees will make this card expensive to use in China. It can be used wherever Visa is accepted.
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card - Lowest Interest Rate
Key Features
- Lowest interest rate at 9.90%
- No international transaction fees on purchases
- Up to 55 days interest free on purchases
- Low annual fee
- Complimentary international travel insurance
Fees and limits
- Free annual fee first year, then $69 annual fee
- Free international travel insurance that includes the basics but does not cover cancellation costs, pre existing conditions and travellers over 80
- $6,000 minimum credit card
- 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then reverts to 9.90%
- 21.99% interest rate on purchases and cash advances
- Cash advance fee of the higher of $4 or 2% of cash advance
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
The Bankwest Breeze Platinum is a great no frills credit card that offers ‘no foreign transaction fees’ and the lowest interest rate on the market, at 9.90%. These two factors alone will save you hundreds of dollars when travelling.
In addition it has a low annual fee and complimentary international travel insurance. Finally for its price point it is a great value credit card that will be accepted most places that take Mastercard.
HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card - Best Debit Card
Key Features
- Great exchange rates
- No fees at ATMs to withdraw cash
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card, closure, account keeping or monthly fees
- No cross currency conversion fees
Fees and limits
- 10 Currencies can be loaded are JPY, USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, CAD, NZD, SGD, INR and CNY (currency restrictions on CNY)
- No maximum balance for any currency
- Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
- ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
- Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with payWave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100.
- Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
- Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card is a good option to take overseas and to spend money with no international transaction fees, international ATM fees and monthly fees.
There is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.
Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.
Why Choose a Travel Money Card for China?
Travel money cards are particularly useful in China due to:
- Ease of Use: They provide a convenient way to manage expenses without carrying a lot of cash.
- Security: Enhanced security features help protect against loss or theft.
- Cost Savings: Typically, these cards offer better exchange rates and lower fees than traditional bank cards.
Selecting the Best Travel Money Card
Consider these key factors when choosing your card for China:
- Currency Conversion: Ensure the card offers competitive rates for converting AUD to CNY.
- Transaction Fees: Opt for cards with minimal fees for purchases and ATM withdrawals.
- Acceptance: Since not all cards are widely accepted in China, choose one that is likely to be accepted at more locations.
- Reload Capabilities: Check if you can easily top up the card while abroad.
Using Your Card in China
Make the most out of your travel money card in China with these tips:
- Inform Your Provider: Notify your card provider about your travel plans to prevent any security holds.
- Withdraw Wisely: Utilize ATMs within bank branches for safer and potentially more cost-effective withdrawals.
- Carry Backup Options: It's advisable to have some cash in CNY and another form of payment for places where cards are not accepted.
- Monitor Fees: Be vigilant about dynamic currency conversion charges and choose to be charged in the local currency for better rates.
FAQs
The best travel cards to use in China are the Wise Multi Currency card, which offers the best exchange rate for Chinese Yuan Renminbi, a HSBC Global, Citibank Plus or Commonwealth Travel Money Card for ATM withdrawals and the BankWest Platinum Breeze card for credit purchases. All of these cards do not charge an international transaction fee of 3%.
A travel money card is a good compliment to cash in China and we highly recommend taking both to China. Many times a card will not work in China or they don’t accept cards so it is good to take cash. Other times it is too unwieldy to take the amount of cash required to pay for things like hotel accommodation, so a travel money card is better.
Yes, the Wise card does work in China, wherever Mastercard is accepted. You can pay for accommodation, restaurants with your Wise card. In addition you can withdraw cash from an ATM during your stay in China.
The best form of travel money in China is a mix of cards and cash. You need debit cards and credit cards and a prepaid travel card is a handy backup. China is also an economy that relies heavily on cash, so you need to buy Chinese Yuan before you leave or withdraw some from an ATM in China. The best cards to use to withdraw cash from in China are Citibank or HSBC to pay the least amount of fees.
You should use a travel money card for security. A travel money card is more secure than cash, you can only access your funds with your pin code, if the card is lost you can cancel it quickly. If you lose cash, you are unlikely to see it again.
To place most money on a travel money card, it’s best to do it online via direct deposit from your bank account in Australia. Some companies charge if you put money on via Bpay and most charge you to put money on a travel card in person.
Debit cards, prepaid cards and credit cards with Mastercard or Visa can be used in China in most places. Similar to Australia, American Express is also accepted but not as frequently, due to the costs American Express places on the seller. Best to avoid other types of cards as they might not be accepted.
No you can not use Australian dollars or US dollars in China. The currency used in China is the Chinese Yuan Renminbi, it is represented by the symbols 元 or ¥ and the 3 letter code is CNY. There are 7 banknotes in China and 3 main coins called yuan and jiaos.
