Mobile payments transform daily life for inbound visitors in China

Mobile payment apps are rapidly gaining popularity among inbound visitors in China, with an 86 percent penetration rate of mobile payment reflecting how QR code scans, integrated payments on delivery apps, and other tech-driven services are reshaping daily transactions for tourists, international students, and business travelers.

In Hangzhou City, home to China's e-commerce giant Alibaba, a cashless society has already become a reality. The city's advanced payment ecosystem, which includes efficient express delivery, takeout services, community group buying, and fresh food delivery, allows local residents and international visitors to enjoy an enhanced lifestyle. "I've become used to paying with my phone every day, ordering takeout, and arranging express deliveries. I like ordering fruit, milk tea, and coffee - delivery takes just 15 minutes," said Ya Wei (in literal translation), a Russian student at Zhejiang International Studies University.

In Xi'an City, in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Anna, a Russian student at Xi'an Jiaotong University, said mobile payment apps have made shopping effortless. After two years in China, she has come to appreciate the simplicity of everyday life, including scanning QR codes at her favorite mall.

At the Hekou port in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a bustling border post between China and Vietnam, Vietnamese tourists arrive each morning. Many head directly to local supermarkets, where mobile payment platforms enable secure transactions using just their smartphones.

"We use WeChat Pay and Alipay with our passports to log in. It's very convenient and we don't need to exchange cash," said a Vietnamese visitor.

In the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, Rita, a Spanish entrepreneur, relies on a mobile phone app to order drinks daily. For her, the speed and tech-forward nature of everyday services - like having milk tea delivered in minutes - highlight a broader societal shift.

Shenzhen is not just a great place to live, but it is also where she can build her career, Rita said.

A freight train and a bus collided in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday afternoon, killing at least eight people, local media reported.

At around 15:40, a train collided with a bus at a railway crossing in Ratchathewi District, triggering a fire accompanied by an explosion. Several other cars and motorcycles were also involved.

More than 20 people were injured, according to the Thai transport ministry, as rescuers rushed to the scene to put out the fire and carry out rescue operations.

Deputy Minister of Transport Siripong Angkasakulkiat said in an interview with Thai media that the bus had stopped at the railway crossing due to a red light, preventing the railway barrier from lowering. The freight train was too heavy to brake in time, leading to the collision.