TL;DR: There are several ways to send money from the US to China, including an online money transfer service like Remitly or an international bank wire. When comparing your options, don’t look at the fee or exchange rate alone. Look at both together — and especially at how much CNY your recipient is expected to receive. With Remitly, you can review your exchange rate, applicable fees, recipient amount, and estimated delivery time before you send.
Maybe you’re helping family, sending money to yourself, or covering an expense for someone in China. Whatever the reason, you probably want the same things: a simple way to send your money, a reasonable cost, and confidence that it will get where it needs to go.
The good news is that you have options.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the main ways to send money from the US to China, including how sending with Remitly works, what it costs, how your recipient can get their money, and what information you’ll need before you start.
We’ll also cover transfer times, sending limits, and a few simple ways to help keep your money safer along the way.
What are your options for sending money to China?
There are a few ways to send money from the US to China. The best choice for you will depend on things like cost, speed, and how your recipient wants to receive the money.
Send money to China with Remitly
With Remitly, you can set up an international money transfer to China from the United States online or through our app.
Depending on what’s available for your transfer, money may be delivered to your recipient through Alipay or Weixin, or have it deposited to UnionPay or another supported bank card.
Before you send, we’ll show you the exchange rate, applicable fee, how much your recipient is expected to receive, and the estimated delivery time. That way, you can review the details before you confirm your transfer.
Send an international bank wire
You can also send money directly through your bank.
With an international wire, you’ll provide your bank with your recipient’s banking information, and the bank will arrange the transfer.
One thing to pay attention to is cost. Depending on the banks involved, there may be fees from your bank, an intermediary bank, or your recipient’s bank. Exchange rates and processing times can vary too.
Before sending a wire, check what you’ll pay and, if possible, how much yuan your recipient should expect to receive.
Try another money transfer service
There are other international money transfer services that may also let you send money from the U.S. to China.
When you’re comparing your options, look at:
- The exchange rate
- Transfer and payment fees
- How much your recipient actually gets
- How quickly the money should arrive
- available delivery methods for your recipient
- Any sending limits
A low transfer fee can look great at first glance, but it doesn’t tell you everything. The exchange rate matters too.
Looking at the final yuan amount your recipient is expected to receive can give you a clearer way to compare your options.
How to send money to China with Remitly
Sending money to China with Remitly is straightforward. You’ll create your account, set up your transfer, enter your recipient’s information, and review everything before you send.
Here’s how it works.
1. Create your Remitly account
Start on Remitly.com or download our app for iOS or Android. You can create an account using your email address.
You may also be asked for personal information or identity verification before you can send money.
2. Set up your transfer
Choose China as your destination and enter how much you’d like to send.
We’ll show you the exchange rate, applicable fee, how much your recipient is expected to receive in CNY, and an estimated delivery time.
Take a moment to look at those details together — especially the final recipient amount.
3. Decide how your recipient should get the money
Next, choose the option that makes the most sense for the person you’re sending money to.
| Delivery method | Good to know |
| Alipay or Weixin | Money goes to a supported mobile wallet, which can be convenient if your recipient already uses one of these apps. |
| UnionPay and other supported bank cards | Money is deposited to an eligible bank account or card, giving your recipient another option if they don’t use a mobile wallet. |
Some transfers can be delivered in minutes. Timing isn’t the same for every transfer, though, so check the estimated delivery time we show you before you send.
4. Add your recipient’s details
Next, enter the requested information about your recipient.
Exactly what you’ll need depends on how they’re receiving the money, but it could include their:
- Full legal name
- Contact information
- Bank or card details
- Mobile-wallet information
- App-specific information, such as their WeChat number or Alipay number
It’s worth checking everything one more time before moving on. Even a small mistake in someone’s name or account details can hold up a transfer.
5. Choose how you want to pay
Next, choose how you’d like to fund your transfer.
For transfers from the US to China, you can pay by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.
Your choice can make a difference to the cost. In particular, paying by credit card comes with an additional processing fee, which we’ll break down below.
6. Give everything one last look
Before you hit send, check:
- How much you’re sending
- The USD-to-CNY exchange rate
- Your transfer fee
- Any additional payment fee
- How much your recipient is expected to receive
- When the money is expected to arrive
Instead of focusing on one number, like the fee or exchange rate, look at the transfer as a whole. The amount your recipient is expected to receive can give you a clearer picture of what you’re getting for your money.
7. Send and track your money
Everything look right? Confirm your transfer and you’re on your way.
You can track your transfer with Remitly along the way. Keep your confirmation or reference information handy until you know the money has arrived.
What information do you need to send money to China?
It can be easier to get through the transfer process if you have everything ready before you start.
What you’ll need can vary depending on how you’re sending the money and how your recipient is getting it, but you may be asked for:
- Your personal information
- Proof of identity
- Your recipient’s full legal name
- Their contact information
- Their bank, card, or account details
- The amount you want to send
- The reason for the transfer or supporting documents, if required
You won’t necessarily need every item on that list. Requirements can vary depending on the amount, delivery method, and other details of your transfer.
How much does it cost to send money from the US to China?
When you’re comparing ways to send money to China, it’s tempting to focus on the transfer fee or exchange rate. But neither tells you the whole story on its own.
What really matters is how much your recipient is expected to receive after the exchange rate and any applicable fees are factored in.
Say you’re sending $1,000. Instead of asking only, “Which service has the lowest fee?” or “Which one has the best exchange rate?”, follow the money from start to finish:
$1,000 sent → fees → exchange rate → CNY your recipient receives
That final amount gives you a clearer way to compare your options.
Keep in mind that some transfer methods can come with extra costs. International bank wires, for example, may involve fees from multiple banks, while certain payment methods can have additional charges.
The key takeaway: Don’t judge a transfer by the fee or exchange rate alone. Look at how much money your recipient is expected to receive.
How much does it cost to send money to China with Remitly?
Our fee for sending money from the US to China is $1.99 USD. How you pay can affect your total cost:
| How you pay | Fee |
| Debit card | $1.99 USD |
| Bank transfer | $1.99 USD |
| Credit card | $1.99 USD + 3% processing fee |
If you’re keeping an eye on fees, paying from your bank account can help you avoid the additional 3% processing fee that comes with paying by credit card.
If you’re new to Remitly, you may be eligible for no fees on your first transfer and promotional rates on your first two transfers. Terms and eligibility requirements apply. See the applicable promotional terms for details.
But remember: the fee is only one part of your transfer.
Before you send, we’ll show you the exchange rate, applicable fees, and how much your recipient is expected to receive. Because rates can change, it’s worth checking the final recipient amount each time you send.
That way, you can look at the whole transfer rather than trying to understand its value from one number alone.
How can Remitly deliver money to someone in China?
Your recipient doesn’t necessarily need a traditional bank account for delivery.
We offer several ways to receive money in China, depending on what’s available for your transfer.
Alipay or Weixin
If your recipient already uses Alipay or Weixin, you can send money to a supported mobile wallet, giving them a convenient way to access the funds digitally.
UnionPay and other supported bank cards
If your recipient would rather receive the money through their bank, you can also send to eligible UnionPay and other supported bank cards.
It can help to ask your recipient how they’d prefer to get their money before you start your transfer.
How long does it take to send money to China?
Sometimes you need money to arrive quickly. Other times, keeping costs down may matter more.
International transfer times can depend on things like:
- How you’re sending the money
- How you’re paying
- How your recipient is receiving it
- Bank processing times
- Identity verification
- Compliance checks
- Weekends and holidays
- Whether all the recipient information is correct
When comparing your options, check the estimated delivery time for the transfer you’re considering.
How fast can I send money to China with Remitly?
Some Remitly transfers to China can be delivered in minutes, including transfers through supported options such as Alipay, Weixin, and bank cards.
Timing can vary from one transfer to another. Additional verification, recipient information, receiving-bank processing, holidays, or compliance checks can sometimes affect delivery.
We’ll show you an estimated delivery time before you confirm your transfer, so you’ll know what to expect before you send.
Is there a limit on how much money you can send to China?
There isn’t one sending limit that applies to everyone.
Your limit can depend on things like:
- The transfer service you’re using
- Your bank or payment method
- Your account and verification status
- Requirements that affect what your recipient can receive in China
When you send with Remitly, check the limit available for your account and transfer before making plans around a particular amount.
Is it safe to send money to China online?
Sending money online can be a safe and convenient option, but it’s still worth taking a few precautions.
Use a trusted money transfer service
Choose an established money transfer provider and understand how the transfer works before you send.
Check the recipient details — then check again
Make sure the name, account number, card details, or mobile-wallet information matches your recipient.
It’s much easier to correct a typo before the money is sent.
Be careful with unexpected requests for money
Someone rushing you to send money is a good reason to slow down.
Be especially cautious if you’re being asked to send money to someone you’ve never met, respond to an unexpected emergency, move money on another person’s behalf, or send immediately without having time to verify what’s going on.
Once money has been delivered, getting it back can be difficult. When something doesn’t seem right, verify the request independently before sending.
Bank wire or money transfer service: how do you choose?
Here’s a quick way to compare the two:
| Factor | Money transfer service | International bank wire |
| How you send | Usually online or through an app | Bank website, app, or branch |
| Exchange rate | Depends on the provider | Depends on the bank |
| Fees | Depend on the service and payment method | May include several bank charges |
| Speed | Depends on the transfer | Depends on the bank and route |
| Ways to receive | May include wallets and bank deposits | Usually a bank account |
| Limits | Provider-specific | Bank-specific |
There’s no single option that’s right for every transfer.
Think about what matters for this particular payment. Does your recipient need the money quickly? Would they rather get it through a mobile wallet? Are you mainly trying to keep costs down?
Then compare the actual numbers — including how much CNY your recipient is expected to receive — before deciding.
Before you send money to China with Remitly
A quick check before you send can save you trouble later.
Make sure you:
- Know how your recipient wants to receive the money
- Have their correct information ready
- Check your USD-to-CNY exchange rate
- Review your transfer and payment fees
- See how much CNY your recipient is expected to get
- Check the estimated arrival time
- Read the terms if you’re using a new-customer offer
- Check the recipient details one more time
- Save your transfer confirmation
And if you need help with your transfer, you can contact our customer support team.
Tips for sending money from the US to China
Look beyond the transfer fee. A low fee may catch your attention, but the exchange rate also affects how much money reaches your recipient. Look at the final recipient amount when comparing your options.
Ask your recipient how they’d like to get the money. If they already use Alipay or Weixin, a mobile wallet may be convenient. Others may prefer money deposited through a supported bank card.
Think about how you’re paying. When you send with Remitly, paying by credit card comes with an additional 3% processing fee.
Check names and account details carefully. A minute spent checking now can help prevent a delay later.
Give yourself some extra time when money is important. Even a transfer that can normally arrive quickly may occasionally need additional processing.
Save your confirmation. Keep your receipt or reference number until you know your recipient has the money.
Don’t let anyone rush you into sending. If a request for money seems unusual, verify who you’re dealing with first.
Frequently asked questions about sending money to China
Can I send money from the US to China online?
Yes. You can use an international money transfer service like Remitly or, depending on your bank, set up an international bank wire online.
Can I send money from the US to Alipay or Weixin?
Yes. We offer Alipay and Weixin as mobile-wallet delivery options for supported transfers to China. You’ll see the delivery methods available to you when you set up your transfer.
Can I send money to a UnionPay card with Remitly?
Yes, you can send money to UnionPay and other eligible bank cards. We’ll show you the delivery options available for your transfer when you set it up.
How much does Remitly charge to send money to China?
Our transfer fee from the US to China is $1.99 USD when you pay by bank transfer or debit card. If you pay by credit card, there’s also a 3% processing fee.
Remember that your fee is only one part of the transfer. Before you send, we’ll also show you the exchange rate and how much CNY your recipient is expected to receive.
How long does a Remitly transfer to China take?
Some transfers can be delivered in minutes, depending on the payment and delivery method. We’ll show you the estimated delivery time for your transfer before you confirm it.
Ready to send money to China?
Sending money across the world can sound complicated, but the process itself doesn’t have to be. With Remitly, you can see your exchange rate and applicable fees before you send, choose from available delivery options like Alipay, Weixin, and supported bank cards, and track your transfer along the way. And when you’re thinking about cost, remember that no single number tells the whole story. A transfer fee doesn’t account for the exchange rate, and an exchange rate doesn’t account for the fees. The more useful number to look at is the one at the end: how much CNY your recipient is expected to receive.
Before confirming, give your transfer details one last look — what you’re sending, what you’re paying, how much your recipient should get, and when the money is expected to arrive.
Start your transfer from the U.S. to China with Remitly.
Terms and eligibility requirements apply. Rates, fees, promotions, delivery speeds, limits, and delivery options are subject to change and may vary depending on transfer details. Review the applicable rate, fees, recipient amount, estimated delivery time, and terms before confirming your transfer.
