China's Xinjiang Enhances Payment Services for Foreign Tourists
More than 180,000 foreign visitors to Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in northwest China used mobile payment services in the first half of 2026, an increase of 45 percent year on year, local authorities announced on Tuesday (11/8).
During the period, total mobile payment transactions by overseas visitors reached nearly 700 million yuan (1 yuan = Rp2,641).
As the region continues to streamline its payment services for inbound tourists, Xinjiang now allows visitors to make payments directly using digital wallets from their home countries or regions without needing to download additional applications.
According to the local government, the service now covers 228 overseas e-wallets from 37 countries and regions.
Meanwhile, foreign bank card transactions by inbound tourists in Xinjiang reached 148,000 transactions in the first six months of this year, or 1.68 times the figure for the same period last year. A total of 58,500 business entities in the region now support payments using foreign bank cards.
Tax refund and currency exchange services have also been enhanced. In Urumqi, the regional capital, 16 tax refund outlets now offer online tax refund services that can be completed in about five minutes.
Inbound tourists can access currency exchange services at nearly 5,000 locations across the region.
These measures come as China seeks to further expand its openness and attract more international visitors and business travellers.
In recent years, the country has expanded its visa-free policies, allowing longer stays and broader travel coverage.
Data from China’s National Immigration Administration shows that in the first half of 2026, the number of foreign nationals entering through visa-free facilities surged 30.6 percent year on year to exceed 17.8 million.
Li Bo, deputy head of the Xinjiang branch of the People’s Bank of China, the central bank, said the measures have enabled inbound tourists to make payments and receive tax refunds more smoothly, significantly improving their payment experience in Xinjiang.