[Photo via The Beijing News]

Beijing has introduced two new products that combine the convenience of communication and payment to simplify the payment process for international visitors to China. On January 8, the newly developed "Changyoutong" (畅游通) device and "Mifangka" (幂方卡) card debuted at the "Beijing Service" airport service counter in Terminal 3, Beijing Capital International Airport.

[Photo via Xinhua News Agency]

With a built-in display, camera and card slot, the "Changyoutong" device is only the size of a power bank but compatible with SIM card and bank card services, featuring multiple functions such as Wi-Fi access, QR code payment and voice interpretation. These cutting-edge portable terminals were co-developed by China UnionPay, the Bank of Beijing and China Unicom Beijing.

Rental and return services are available at the payment service counter located less than 100 meters from the International Arrivals Exit of Terminal 3, Beijing Capital International Airport. A foreign visitor can, after presenting his/her passport, select a short-term communication package, rent a "Changyoutong" device, open a Changyoutong card account at the Bank of Beijing, and top up the card in five minutes.

Payments with such a device can be made by both scanning the UnionPay QR code and having the UnionPay QR code on the device scanned. Every foreigner can pay with such a single scan when dining at a restaurant, shopping at a mall, or purchasing unique souvenirs from a street vendor, enjoying convenient and effective payment services.

NFC contactless payment is one of the mainstream payment methods commonly used by foreigners, and the SIM card-based "Mifangka" cards were specially introduced by the Bank of China, China Unicom, and Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card Co., Ltd., to meet their payment preferences. After obtaining such a card and inserting it into your smart phone, you can use the card to make calls, get Internet access, pay with e-CNY, and use Beijing's urban public transit system. What's more, when the battery of your smart phone is dead or your smart phone cannot be connected to the Internet, you can still pay via NFC if your smart phone has such a card in it.

Each "Changyoutong" account currently has a cumulative top-up quota of CNY 10,000 and a maximum single payment amount of CNY 1,000. The top-up amount for a single wallet of "Mifangka" shall not exceed CNY 5,000, and the single payment limit is CNY 500. Now these accounts can only be used for consumption, meaning that the money therein cannot be transferred or withdrawn.

(Source: Beijing Daily)