Foreign tourist spending on Alipay surges in China over May Day Holiday

China saw a surge in foreign tourist spending on its digital platforms during the first three days of the May Day holiday, with Alipay reporting a 180% year-on-year increase in inbound tourist transactions. The increase was partly driven by travelers from countries eligible for China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy, whose use of Alipay’s “Tap and pay” feature grew nearly 50% compared to earlier in April. The feature allows short-term visitors to make mobile payments without needing a Chinese bank account and is now supported in over 400 cities. Top destinations for foreign users included Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou. Wholesale markets known for manufacturing and exports, such as Yiwu, Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei, and Guangzhou’s International Textile City, also drew particular interest. Popular purchases included souvenirs, clothing, and electronics. Alipay now supports major international cards including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, and UnionPay International. It also accepts several overseas e-wallets. [iThome, in Chinese]