Dedicated payment service centers launched at both Beijing airports

Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, the two airports in the Chinese capital, have launched dedicated payment service centers for the convenience of overseas travelers.

The centers, which were inaugurated on Monday, are strategically located near the exit of the international arrival halls at the airports and offer a wide range of services to cater to the diverse payment needs of foreign visitors.

Their primary objective is to offer comprehensive payment consultation and guidance to foreign visitors who arrive in Beijing. Travelers can seek assistance for downloading mobile payment applications and using ATMs for cash withdrawal, among other services.

A key feature of the Capital airport's payment service center is an automated currency exchange machine. According to the two staff members at the center, the machine can interact with users in eight languages and exchange 21 currencies, effectively meeting the cash needs of a majority of overseas visitors. In addition, the center has an ATM for cash withdrawal services.

Currently, the two airports collectively host five bank outlets, seven manned currency exchange counters, 24 ATMs and one automated currency exchange machine, while most businesses at the airports accept foreign bank cards.

According to the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, payment inconvenience experienced by some foreign visitors largely stems from the disparity in payment practices between China and other nations.

To address this issue, the PBOC and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange have prioritized key tasks such as mobile payments, acceptance of overseas bank cards, cash use and account services.

In other words, a comprehensive solution is being developed to facilitate payment services for foreign visitors in China, with the aim of resolving the payment challenges that they encounter.

Last year, the central bank said that China will continue to work on accepting foreign bank cards and facilitating mobile payments, cash use and account services, in order to create a more convenient payment environment for foreign visitors.

In China, mobile wallets such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are the most popular for financial transactions because they offer the convenience of just scanning a QR code using a smartphone to make payments.

However, in many foreign countries and overseas regions, cash and bank cards remain the preferred means of payment, posing challenges for travelers to China.

Karen Cunha, from Brazil, who recently visited China to see the Great Wall, said the country's mobile wallet practice took her by surprise. "It was my first time in China, and no one had told me about the payment system," she said.

Upon arrival in Beijing, Cunha and her friend tried to book a taxi, only to discover that credit card payments are not accepted. "We had to return to the airport, find an ATM and withdraw 300 yuan in cash," she said, adding that they found the ATM cash withdrawal service very convenient.

Martin Vonriedmatten, from Switzerland, who has visited China on 10 occasions, recalled the initial challenges he faced when making payments and highlighted the importance of cash withdrawal and currency exchange machines.

During his most recent trip, a shop at his hotel declined to accept international card payments, so he had to withdraw cash first. "I was staying only for two days," he said, adding that getting a mobile wallet didn't seem like a convenient option for such a short duration.

However, Jayant Uppal, from London, said he finds both Alipay and WeChat Pay wallets very convenient. Having previously worked for a Chinese enterprise in China, he had opened the mobile wallet accounts using his passport and foreign bank account.

"It's very convenient to buy things and pay for them in China (if you use the mobile wallets)," Uppal said, adding that in recent years, China has made sincere efforts to improve the overall experience of foreign visitors, and there are fewer obstacles for foreigners traveling to or working and studying in the country.