Teachers and students from Tianjin No1 Middle School visiting Glasgow. 2019. [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

Having a UK bank card I was able to pay in most places using ApplePay, however only up to 30 pounds - around 250 yuan. Anything over required card and PIN number. Again, meeting friends socially, I would be the one using smartphone payments. Taking a taxi, on one occasion, the driver only accepted cash. So, visiting the UK, better to have cash and cards.