A foreign visitor scans a QR code to pay at a tea shop in Shenzhen in this undated file photo. Zhen Jianhong
Shenzhen has significantly upgraded its payment infrastructure to better accommodate overseas travelers as the city ramps up preparations for the upcoming 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.
At a press conference earlier this week, the Shenzhen Branch of the People's Bank of China said acceptance of overseas-issued bank cards across the city continued to expand. As of the end of June, 41,000 merchants across Shenzhen were equipped with 51,000 point-of-sale terminals capable of processing overseas cards. This network spans the airport, border checkpoints, major commercial districts, hotels, and popular tourist destinations.
Beyond physical cards, QR code payments have also seen significant progress. In the first half of the year, transaction volume from overseas-issued cards rose 68% year over year. Over 40 international e-wallets—including PayPal, Singapore's LiquidPay and Thailand's K PLUS—are now accepted for QR code payments.
Cash services have similarly been bolstered. More than 3,600 ATMs throughout the city now support withdrawals using overseas-issued cards. Furthermore, over 1,600 bank branches and 40 licensed currency exchange providers offer services covering the currencies of all 21 APEC member economies.
For on-the-ground assistance, five comprehensive service centers have been established at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, the Shenzhen Bay, Futian, and Luohu checkpoints, and Longhua District's major commercial hub.
The city is also modernizing public transit. All Metro fare gates have been upgraded to accept contactless payments by overseas bank cards.
To ensure visitors arrive well-informed, an outreach campaign has been underway on international flights since June, providing instructional videos and brochures that detail payment options.
