I would say extremely difficult to get one.  You must have a steady job and good income for over one year, have work permit and residence permit, and of course, anj account with the bank and some sort of credit record.

I gave up on getting one, I do use the debit card from a savings account instead.

I even tried to get a prepaid one, and Bank of China refused it.  But I do have heard that Construction Bank is issuing credit cards to foreigners, a couple of my friends managed to get one, but their credit limit is 600 Rmb.  For that to me is not worth the effort.

Bank of China told me that they are reluctant because they feel foreigners will run up the tab, and then go home and "forget" the payments.  Maybe they are not too far off in their thinking, since most foreigners in China are here temporarely.

I gave up trying to get one. However, I must say I don't really need it. I have a UnionPay credit card, a normal Union Pay card, and they work in most places around Asia. I have a Master Card from back home to take care of any emergencies (none have happened so far, but I did use it for an incredibly expensive bottle of water in Zurich airport last summer)

I don't have a credit card but have found a loophole. 

I'm a citibank customer both in China and Australia and both my accounts are linked together. If I have to use my credit card use my Australian one when it comes to paying the debt just transfer money across which is a breeze to the credit account in Australia.

Ha ha Ha ha Forget it!!!!!!!!!!! It's IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!! This is CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also tried like many others!!!!!!!

My Chinese girl friend had 2 visa cards and she doesn't make much. I don't know how you would get one in China. Visa's moto is Visa, don't leave home without it. Get them before you go. I carry backup cards.

What about Visa Debit card? Try China Merchant's Bank, Visa or MC logo. I got it with 1000 Rmb deposit.

Card is good for online purchases too, butt......you can enter Card data only on Chinese version web site. English version web site is still in 'construction' (it doesn't work on English web site).

http://answers.echinacities.com/question/laowai-friendly-bank-china

Visa credit card, you've got no chance. China law fordids credit to foreign nationals.

What you can do, like me, is open a Gold Card account at CMB (China Merchants Bank). They will tell you that you need to keep a balance of 50,000rmb, however if you have less then it's a 30rmb/month "account management fee". I opened the account with a balance of 0 and there was no problem at all.

The gold card is basically a debit card so you spend what you put in it. It's much easier than using a card from back home and having the expense and hassle of transferring money and paying the charges to send money etc.

I got one by accident and being somewhat, a little naive.

Went to my local ICBC with my limited Chinese for an ordinary visa debit card.

All  I needed was my passport, resident permit and of course my z visa.

I now know they used a credit checking agency to verify my credit history from back home (UK) and within a month I had my visa credit card. Just for reference its not possible to have a visa debit card in China as far as I know.

Good luck

@Tazl1: try China Merchants Bank, Gold Visa (Debit) or MC Card with little or no deposit.

You must first be employer with a good salary and a stable work plus an apartment will guarantee the chance of getting one,it's not impossible but extremely dificult.

I have a Mastercard (credit card) with a limit of 200,000 RMB or the equivalent in USD, issued on my name (foreign name) by Guanfa Bank. (ex Guangdong Development Bank)  I don't work in China. There is a "small" trick, my credit card is linked to my wife's credit card and my wife is a Chinese citizen.