China UnionPay, the country’s state-backed card network, officially unveiled its ‘Nihao China’ mobile application on December 24 in a bid to eliminate one of the last pain points for international travellers: day-to-day payments. The app lets visitors register with an email address or Apple ID and bind international Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay cards issued outside the Mainland.
Key features include real-time English/Chinese translation, multi-language interface support, and the ability to top up metro or bus cards inside leading Chinese cities. UnionPay says a “virtual SIM” option will follow in early 2026, allowing inbound travellers to activate mobile data on arrival.
Before even boarding their flight, travellers can simplify the visa formalities too: VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks applicants through each step of the Chinese visa process, offers expert document review, and sends real-time status updates—providing a seamless pre-departure companion to Nihao China’s on-the-ground payment convenience.
![UnionPay Debuts ‘Nihao China’ Super-App to Simplify Payments for Foreign Visitors]()
For multinational mobility programs, the launch means assignees and business travellers can pay taxi fares, order food delivery or shop on e-commerce platforms without opening a Chinese bank account. The move also counters the dominance of Alipay and WeChat Pay, which recently expanded acceptance of foreign cards but still require additional KYC steps.
Tourism officials hope seamless payments will shorten the learning curve for first-time visitors and spur spending in second-tier cities that previously relied on cash. UnionPay cites 2024 data showing that international visits to China recovered to 65 percent of 2019 levels; it aims to capture the rebound by positioning itself as a “digital bridge” between travellers and local merchants.
Industry analysts predict that, if widely adopted, the product will complement China’s expanded visa-free schemes by removing a practical barrier that has deterred some leisure and conference travellers since the pandemic.
Key features include real-time English/Chinese translation, multi-language interface support, and the ability to top up metro or bus cards inside leading Chinese cities. UnionPay says a “virtual SIM” option will follow in early 2026, allowing inbound travellers to activate mobile data on arrival.
Before even boarding their flight, travellers can simplify the visa formalities too: VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks applicants through each step of the Chinese visa process, offers expert document review, and sends real-time status updates—providing a seamless pre-departure companion to Nihao China’s on-the-ground payment convenience.
For multinational mobility programs, the launch means assignees and business travellers can pay taxi fares, order food delivery or shop on e-commerce platforms without opening a Chinese bank account. The move also counters the dominance of Alipay and WeChat Pay, which recently expanded acceptance of foreign cards but still require additional KYC steps.
Tourism officials hope seamless payments will shorten the learning curve for first-time visitors and spur spending in second-tier cities that previously relied on cash. UnionPay cites 2024 data showing that international visits to China recovered to 65 percent of 2019 levels; it aims to capture the rebound by positioning itself as a “digital bridge” between travellers and local merchants.
Industry analysts predict that, if widely adopted, the product will complement China’s expanded visa-free schemes by removing a practical barrier that has deterred some leisure and conference travellers since the pandemic.
