First things first, we have never been rejected when we pay with cash. There were instances where they didn't have cash to give us the change but they would either find someone to get some or offer to give us change via wechat (which unfortunately didn't work when tried maybe because we linked to a credit card). I noticed our guide in Tibet paid in cash. 

The one time we ran out of cash because it was our second last day and we intentionally tried to finish up the cash, both WeChat Pay and Alipay failed us. We were at a metro station in Chongqing on 1st May trying to get metro tickets at a ticket machine. Guess what came to rescue? Payment via a credit card through counter service. 

I don't have a WeChat account but sis does. We didn't set up any payment via WeChat initially but halfway through the trip, we managed to link up a foreign issued credit card to pay with WeChat . There are some limitations - purchases via the mini apps throgh WeChat needing local phone number that we don't have. We used e-sim with data only. Also, receiving money via WeChat doesn't work, maybe because it is linked to a credit card instead of bank account. 

As we ventured further west in Tibet, we noticed more shops only have WeChat Pay QR code. This was when we tried to set up the WeChat Pay. Sometimes payment with Alipay didn't work because of foreign credit card, sometimes the payment asked for second layer verification on the credit card side. Payment over CNY 200 will attract a 3% service fee for transactions with a foreign credit card. Most establishments are ok when asked to split the payment to avoid the service fee. The only time I paid for the service fee was during purchases of train tickets via Railway 12306. 

The official website to buy train tickets. The english version of the site seems to hit an error fairly often but the chinese version of the site works well. I added our passport details prior to purchasing the tickets and one can set a reminder as to when tickets go on sale. Tickets go on sale 14 days prior but the timings are different and I paid with Alipay. As the tickets are linked to passport (for foreigners), passport is used for scanning before boarding. 

We used Gaode map as Google map doesn't work as well. We are a little too used to the little man in Google map and usually had to turn 360 degrees and walk a little to confirm the direction of the triangle indicator. I'm worse than sis in using this. 

I couldn't get the mini app via Alipay to work as it kept on asking for verification code that was sent to my Australia mobile number. Fortunately the app downloaded separate worked and payment was via Alipay. You don't really need this one if you don't plan to take any shared rides. 

There are more hotels in China available on Trip.com and as we didn't have a local number, tickets to attractions like Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou and panda research base can be purchased from here. They also can help in getting train tickets.