A foreign visitor uses a QR code to pay at a retail store in Shenzhen. Photo by Zhen Jianhong

Shenzhen has significantly improved payment services for international visitors as the city ramps up preparations for the upcoming 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

At a press conference held July 28, the Shenzhen Branch of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said acceptance of overseas-issued bank cards across the city continued to expand. By the end of June, 41,000 merchants in Shenzhen accepted such cards through 51,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals. The network now covers airports, border checkpoints, major commercial districts, hotels and cultural and tourism sites frequented by overseas visitors.

QR code payments have also become easier to use. The PBOC Shenzhen Branch has worked with Weixin Pay to streamline the card-linking process for about 7 million overseas users from more than 200 countries and regions. The number of transactions made with overseas-issued bank cards rose 68% year on year in the first half of the year. 

More than 40 overseas e-wallets, including PayPal, Singapore’s LiquidPay and Thailand’s K PLUS, can now be used to make QR code payments in Shenzhen. 

Average daily transaction volume through overseas wallets increased by 350% year on year.Cash services have also expanded. More than 3,600 ATMs across the city now support withdrawals using overseas-issued cards. In addition, over 1,600 bank branches, 40 licensed currency exchange providers and 23 designated exchange points offer foreign-currency exchange services, covering currencies from all 21 APEC member economies.

The city has also broadened payment-related support services for international visitors. The municipal government and charities have set up five comprehensive service centers at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, Futian Checkpoint, Luohu Checkpoint and a commercial area in Longhua. By the end of June, these centers had provided payment assistance on nearly 40,000 occasions.

All Shenzhen Metro fare gates have also been upgraded to accept contactless payments using overseas-issued bank cards, with the service now undergoing trials. To streamline tax refunds for overseas visitors, the PBOC Shenzhen Branch and Shenzhen tax authorities worked with local commercial banks to launch China’s first Visa card “tap-to-refund” service.

A foreign visitor scans a QR code to pay for a bus ride in Shenzhen, as the city expands digital payment services to improve convenience for international travelers. File photo

Shenzhen also opened the country’s first centralized “three-in-one” service center in Huaqiangbei, integrating tax refunds, currency exchange and payment services. By the end of June, the city had more than 2,500 stores offering departure tax refunds, 15 shopping districts providing instant tax refunds upon purchase, and more than 1,000 participating stores. 

Sales of goods eligible for departure tax refunds exceeded 1 billion yuan (US$147.69 million), up 130% year on year.To help visitors prepare before arriving, the PBOC Shenzhen Branch and the Shenzhen office of the Civil Aviation Administration of China have extended their outreach to international flights. 

Since June, they have shown videos and distributed brochures introducing the Payment Service Guide for Overseas Users in Shenzhen on international services operated by carriers such as Shenzhen Airlines and Donghai Airlines. They have also promoted the guide on social media and other digital platforms.

The campaign allows overseas visitors to familiarize themselves with Shenzhen’s payment options before arrival, making it easier for them to pay for goods and services during their stay.