Beijing continues to enhance the quality and efficiency of payment services for international travelers by launching a new foreign bankcard service, allowing passengers to enter and exit subway stations with just a quick tap.
The city's subway network has introduced point-of-sale (POS) machines and an innovative card-tap service specifically designed for international travelers. With just a quick tap of a bank card, the system automatically calculates and charges the fare, streamlining the process and making it more convenient than ever.
Currently, Beijing's rail transit network, consisting of 28 operational lines -- 27 subway lines and one suburban rail line -- offers POS machines for ticket purchases. These machines are compatible with financial IC cards and magnetic stripe cards issued by overseas banks, including six types of international cards such as Visa and MasterCard.
International visitors who prefer mobile payments can also link their international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard, to Alipay or WeChat Pay to buy tickets.
"It's lovely because I don't have to download any application, I don't have to deal with the service of subway. I just as I do in Paris with my credit card. I just by visa card, just pass by the counter and pass to the train," said an international traveler at a Beijing subway station.
Beijing Rail Transit is rolling out tap-and-go payments with foreign bank cards this year, in an effort to further enhance its payment services.
Once passengers enter, the payment is processed through the card issuer as the system verifies it in real-time.
In addition, Beijing has introduced a prepaid card, known as the "Beijing Pass," which allows foreign passengers to access over 1,700 bus routes, 28 rail lines, and more than 20,000 taxis.
China has upgraded its payment services nationwide to simplify travel for overseas visitors in various settings, including hotels, airports, banks, tourist attractions, and now subways.
With the rising popularity of China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy, a growing number of overseas travelers are visiting the country for up to six days.
The enhanced payment services are now making their travel experience more convenient and hassle-free.
Beijing subway enhances payment services for international travelers with new tap-and-go system
More users of new energy vehicles (NEVs) are hitting the road during this year’s National Day holiday, as an expanded public charging network in China is significantly alleviating range anxiety for drivers.
Since Tuesday, the first day of the week-long holiday, expressways in east China's Jiangsu Province have seen daily traffic exceed 150,000 vehicles, with nearly 10 percent being NEVs. In Taizhou City, a service area reported all 12 charging piles occupied around 14:00 on Wednesday.
"The number of charging piles has doubled, and they are all fast chargers. What's even more reassuring is that the staff are always here to serve us, which really eases my range anxiety," said Meng Haoyang, a NEV driver.
Similar scenes were observed in Anhui Province, where electric vehicles are arriving for charging every ten minutes at a service area equipped with 16 functioning charging piles available around-the-clock.
"It is quite convenient to charge our vehicles here since there are staff providing full service, which reduces our waiting time," said Jiang Hao, another NEV driver.
A famous tourist attraction, the Shimen Village in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province has drawn an increasing number of visitors going on holiday via electric vehicles, thanks to the construction of a new EV charging station.
"It is very convenient. The car is parked outside being charged while we're enjoying our tour around the village. Things can be done simultaneously without delay," said a tourist Wan Qian.
Data from the State Grid's smart vehicle networking platform showed EV charging volume at expressway stations reached a record 15.58 million kilowatt-hours during the first two days of the holiday, up 56 percent from the same period last year.
Local authorities are actively fostering a user-friendly environment to accommodate the surge in EV traffic.
In Pinghu City, Zhejiang Province, three mobile charging stations have been added to a service area on the busy Shenyang-Haikou Expressway to resolve drivers' range anxiety and offer more flexible charging options.
"We have prepared mobile charging piles in service areas with large traffic and charging demand for the holiday, guiding drivers to charge in an orderly and fast manner," said Zhu Zhenyuan, a staff member from the State Grid Pinghu Power Supply Company.
The coverage of charging stations has been further expanded across the country.
In Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, charging facilities are available in all service areas and tourist attractions.
In Xiaogan, Hubei Province, 600 villages and rural scenic spots have been equipped with charging stations during this holiday, greatly facilitating tourist trips and family visits for EVs owners.
Expanded charging network boosts NEV use during National Day holiday
