Alipay revamps its app to offer services to global visitors in China

By Gloria Mathias

Alipay, the digital payment and lifestyle service platform in China, has announced during the 2023 Alipay Partner Conference the launch of an updated “International Version” of the app with customized services for overseas travellers to China.

The new international version, with language options including English and an easy-to-use translation tool, aims to fulfil international travellers’ mobile payment needs in China and enhance their local travel experience.

It also integrates frequently used travel services, including hotel booking, air ticket booking, car-hailing, public transport, and exchange rate checking. The updated version also includes services related to the Asian Games through the Smart Hangzhou mini program.

Since 2022, Alipay has partnered with international card networks to upgrade its payment service for international travellers further. After downloading the Alipay app, overseas tourists can sign up and link their international credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club International to pay at tens of millions of Alipay partner merchants across China, including restaurants, cafes, tourist attractions, shopping malls, street stalls and public transport.

“We will continue to optimize our products and services to better serve international visitors to China by enhancing their travel experience with convenient mobile payment services,” said Yaoyao Jin, Alipay’s product lead in charge of its international version. “We also encourage more merchants and service providers operating digitally on the Alipay platform to enhance their services for international travellers.”

Alipay is the open digital daily life services platform operated by Ant Group. In 2004, Alipay launched an escrow service to address the issue of trust between online buyers and sellers in the early days of e-commerce in China. The platform has grown through continuous innovation to serve more than 1.2 billion users worldwide and its global e-wallet partners.

Alipay has created online payment channels for buyers and sellers in more than 200 countries and regions. Alipay supports transactions in 27 different currencies and tax reimbursement in 35 countries and regions. Foreign tourists and foreigners living in China can also use Alipay for mobile payments while in the country.