Tourists from New Zealand try electronic payment in Shanghai. Photo: Xi'an Zhongheng International Travel Agency

UnionPay International, a subsidiary of Chinese card payment giant China UnionPay, announced on Wednesday that UnionPay cards issued overseas now fully support binding with Alipay and WeChat Pay, which will provide foreign visitors with more diverse and convenient payment choices in China.

As of Wednesday, overseas visitors to China could download the Alipay or WeChat apps, link their UnionPay cards issued abroad, and experience seamless QR code payments just like Chinese mainland users, according to a statement issued on the company's official website.

The innovative payment model is part of China's intensifying effort to facilitate the entry of foreign visitors and their stay in China, in a bid to boost higher-level opening-up. 

For a limited promotional period, the cardholders will benefit from zero transaction fees for all payments within China, covering various online and on-site scenarios including dining, accommodation, tourism, shopping, medical care, education and more, according to the company.

More than 250 million UnionPay cards have been issued globally in over 80 countries and regions, and they can be used across 183 countries and regions for cross-border transactions, according to a statement on the website of UnionPay International on Wednesday.

China UnionPay is among the largest card payment organizations (debit and credit cards combined) in the world, offering mobile and online payments, based on the total value of payments. It is also the only interbank network in China linking all ATMs of all banks throughout the country, according to the World Economic Forum.

The State Council, the cabinet, in March issued opinions aimed at further optimizing payment services and enhancing payment convenience, to establish a multi-tier, diversified payment service system. 

Following the notice, the government stipulated that all three-star and higher-rated tourist hotels, 5A and 4A national attractions, national and provincial tourist resorts, and other tourist spots must accept both domestic and overseas bank cards, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Major payment service providers, including Alipay and WeChat Pay, have also eased payment operations and introduced foreigner-friendly functions, such as enabling the linkage of their international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard, to these platforms, per Xinhua.

According to data from WeChat Pay, from October 1 to 11, just ahead of the 136th session of the China Import and Export Fair (October 15 to Monday) held in South China's Guangdong Province, the number of inbound payment transactions in Guangdong doubled year-on-year, WeChat Pay's parent company Tencent told the Global Times in a statement.

The rapid roll-out of facilitation measures, including visa exemptions, instant digital payments and other services, has seen fruitful outcomes and sparked a global "China travel" boom.

The latest official statistics show that in the third quarter of this year, China received 8.186 million foreign travelers, up by 48.8 percent year-on-year. 

Among them, 4.885 million entered China visa-free, up by 78.6 percent year-on-year. Foreign media outlets reported that the number of travel bookings by European tourists coming to China was already higher than in 2019, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on October 22 during a regular press conference.

"We will further improve visa-free policies and other measures, and make travel and stays in China more foreigner-friendly. China's door to the world is always open. Welcome to unlock your experience here," said Lin.

Global Times