This move aims to provide more payment options for inbound travellers to China. Credit: sylv1rob1/Shutterstock.

UnionPay cards issued outside mainland China can now support Alipay and Weixin payments, enhancing the payment experience for international travellers to China.  

This move aims to provide more payment options for inbound travellers to China and bridge the differences in payment preferences between China and the rest of the world, supported through a collaboration with Weixin Pay and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). 

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International visitors to China can now experience the convenience of QR payments by downloading Alipay or Weixin applications and linking their local UnionPay cards.  

This payment method, which includes no service fee as an initial promotion, covers online and offline use cases such as food and beverage, accommodation, transit, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment.  

It also supports consumer-presented, merchant-presented, in-app payments, and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC). 

To use this service, cardholders need to enter the required UnionPay card information and complete the linking process after their card issuer performs authentication.  

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UnionPay International said that the latest move reflects its “stepped-up efforts to work with other industry stakeholders to promote payment interoperability and develop a sustainable business model.”   

Over 250 million UnionPay cards have been issued in 83 countries and regions outside mainland China. These cards are accepted for payments in 183 countries and regions. 

Earlier this year, UnionPay introduced SplendorPlus, a new card product tailored to international visitors to China. 

In July 2024, UPI and BankservAfrica partnered to support e-commerce transactions for UPI cardholders across Africa’s online merchants.