WeChat QR payment access expanded for visitors to Chinese mainland

Chinese financial services provider UnionPay International, in collaboration with leading Chinese payment platform WeChat Pay, has introduced enhanced payment services for foreign visitors to the Chinese mainland, aiming to offer more diverse and convenient payment options.

Travelers using any of eight overseas e-wallets, including Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking and NAVER Pay, can now make payments on the mainland by scanning China's WeChat QR codes, according to UnionPay.

This upgrade is a significant step in China's broader efforts to ease the entry and stay for foreign visitors. On Tuesday, China announced a relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the permitted stay duration for eligible foreign travelers from the initial 72 hours and subsequent 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days.