UnionPay enhances payment access and streamlines services

Company making it easier for shoppers, seniors and global tourists to engage in transactions

China UnionPay launched Project Excellence 2024 in March to implement the Opinions on Further Optimizing Payment Services to Facilitate Payments by China's State Council and the arrangements of the People's Bank of China. To date, the project has achieved results in 41 key cities and 17 payment use cases nationwide.

To accommodate the payment preferences of inbound visitors to China and the elderly, China UnionPay offers a wide range of payment methods, including cards, QR (quick response) and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) pay products, and cash withdrawal. With the launch of the SplendorPlus card by Bank of China Singapore Branch and Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan, as well as the Guangxi Card and the Greater Bay Area Theme Card, China UnionPay has issued more than 240 million cards in 81 countries and regions outside the Chinese mainland and has rolled out nearly 200 UnionPay powered e-wallets in 36 countries and regions. As of the end of May, the number and value of in-store purchases made by UnionPay cards issued outside the Chinese mainland in China rose 85.2 percent and 48.6 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Greater convenience

China National Silk Museum, adjacent to the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, attracted large crowds during the Chinese Costume Festival. A tourist from the United Kingdom wearing a traditional Chinese dress had an immersive experience at the cultural event while shopping for embroidery-themed gifts. "I was worried about payment challenges, but the staff said I could use an international UnionPay card, which I happen to have. It couldn't be any easier," she said.

A businessman from Spain returned to the International Trade Mart in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, which he had not been able to visit for four years. A shopkeeper there recommended he pay with his international Union-Pay card, which made his wholesale purchases much easier.

During the Summer Davos Forum, Cheon Chang-Nyung from South Korea visited Dalian in Liaoning province for the first time — a trip that changed his opinion about payment services in China. "I will tell my friends back home to bring the Hana UnionPay card when they visit China," he said, adding that he also used Hana Pay to pay for his meal at a restaurant that accepts UnionPay QR codes.

At senior canteens in Shanghai, Fujian, Hainan and many other places, elderly patrons are enjoying the convenience of digital payment brought by offerings such as the senior-friendly version of the UnionPay App and facial recognition. "The artificial intelligence-enhanced canteen is very good," said Tan Fengzhen, a visitor from Shanghai. "I can pay with cash, mobile phone or with facial recognition. Sometimes there are even discounts." At a canteen in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, Granny Wang uses her UnionPay card designed specifically for seniors to pay for her subsidized meals. This particular card was introduced by China UnionPay and the Haixia Bank of Fujian for local customers over the age of 60.

Frictionless exchanges

The easy payment solutions allow global visitors and senior residents to benefit from the digital convenience of a diverse array of payment options. Since the launch of Project Excellence 2024, acceptance coverage of UnionPay cards has reached 93.4 percent among key merchants in 41 key cities and 17 use cases nationwide.

For transportation services, the development of payment pilot zones has been completed at several transit hubs, including Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport. UnionPay cards are also accepted for ticketing at the major high-speed railway stations in the 41 key cities and are supported by the English version of the 12306 ticket booking system's website and app. In addition, cross-boundary and cross-border transit infrastructure, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the China-Laos Railway, allows international passengers to pay with various UnionPay products.

China UnionPay and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism jointly released an action plan to boost culture and tourism spending in designated cities and commercial zones, which has made UnionPay payments broadly available at 10 exemplary tourist attractions such as Zhangjiajie Scenic Area in Hunan province and Gulangyu (Kulangsu) Island in Fujian province, along with 25 major shopping destinations including Hubin Pedestrian Street in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Kuanzhai Alleys in Chengdu, Sichuan province; Laomendong district in Nanjing, Jiangsu province; and Qilou Old Street in Haikou, Hainan province.

Additionally, Project Excellence 2024 has tabbed major hospitals, ports, harbors and hotels with three-star or above ratings, and with promotions continuing through the summer in China, UnionPay will provide high-quality, efficient and easy payment services across different use cases to customer groups including inbound tourists and senior residents.

Building consensus

Optimizing services to facilitate payments requires systematic efforts. Since its launch, Project Excellence 2024 has encouraged all industry players to reach consensus, creating an environment for joint investment and concerted efforts. China UnionPay has facilitated 61 key acquirers to accept UnionPay cards issued outside the Chinese mainland and 151 mainstream payment aggregators to support UnionPay-standard wallets launched overseas. By leveraging accumulated resources, major acquiring banks have enabled acceptance with their core merchants to improve payment access, while payment institutions, using their strength in technology and human resources, have worked to make POS terminals more cost-effective and intelligent.

China UnionPay is dedicated to implementing the requirements of the Chinese government. Guided by the PBOC and within the framework of Project Excellence 2024, the company will collaborate closely with industry stakeholders to improve payment services while contributing to the high-quality development of the payment industry, business environment optimization and high-level opening-up of China.