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Alipay has today announced that for the first time ever, international visitors to the Chinese mainland can now access and use Alipay, the mobile payment and lifestyle platform used by more than 1.2 billion people worldwide (incl. local e-wallet partners).

From today, a special international version of the Alipay app is available for download for both iOS and Android devices, enabling visitors to register with their overseas mobile phone number to access the ‘Tour Pass’ mini program.

Visitors can then use their international debit or credit card to load CNY onto a prepaid card provided by Bank of Shanghai, and immediately begin using Alipay’s mobile payment platform to dine, shop, travel and play.

In addition to QR code payments, visitors can now access a suite of lifestyle services enjoyed by Chinese users of the app, including the option to hail taxis, book hotel accommodation, and purchase train tickets, all within the Alipay app.

The minimum top-up for each card is CNY100, with the maximum balance capped at CNY2,000. The card is valid for 90 days, after which any remaining funds will be refunded automatically.

Alipay is the most popular digital payment platform in China, and is used by 87 per cent of people between the ages of 18 and 69[1], however prior to today access to the Alipay app required a Chinese bank account and phone number, making it inaccessible to short-term overseas visitors.

A week-long Twitter poll conducted by Alipay, with 1240 respondents, found that 18 per cent of visitors to China cite the inability to pay with their mobile phones as locals do as their biggest annoyance when visiting China.

China is one of Australia’s most popular outbound tourism destinations, with more than 734,000 Australians visiting the country in 2017.

According to analytics company App Annie, Alipay was the highest ranked non-social networking application worldwide by monthly active users in 2018.