Humberto from Brazil said that "GO BEIJING" (入京通) has everything international visitors need while traveling in China.

In the last few years, Beijing has been continuously improving services for international visitors and residents. By focusing on their needs throughout the entire journey — covering pre-trip preparation, arrival and entry, daily life in Beijing, and issue resolution, the city has built an integrated, user-friendly, and comprehensive service ecosystem for international visitors. This system integrates four core platforms: "GO BEIJING", the English version of the "Jingtong" (京通) app, the International Web Portal of Beijing, and "Beijing Service" airport service counters. By providing international visitors with multilingual and personalized services throughout their stay, Beijing continues to enhance its reputation as a hub for international exchange.

Centralized Resources for One-stop Services

Centered on service integration, the four major platforms combine resources and unify access points to provide foreign visitors and residents with comprehensive services across all aspects of daily life, including food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, and government-related tasks. By integrating resources from government, culture and tourism, transportation, finance, commerce, and daily life, these platforms transform fragmented services into a centralized solution, enabling one-stop inquiries, streamlined processing, and access to essential information.

The Beijing Municipal Administration of Government Services and Data Management, in collaboration with Alipay, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Beijing Municipal Tax Service, and other departments, created "GO BEIJING", a one-stop service platform for foreign users. By registering and logging in with a single click on the international version of Alipay, users can unlock 39 frequently used services, including ride-hailing, ticket purchasing, and hotel reservations, without the need to download multiple apps. The English version of the "Jingtong" app integrates over 30 popular services, such as hospital appointment booking, English-language maps, and SIM card applications, all presented with clear and user-friendly procedures. The International Web Portal of Beijing offers more than 20 scenario-based service packages, covering essential needs such as ticketing for attractions, scheduling medical visits, SIM card services, and patent applications for foreign-invested enterprises. It also features a "Policy Toolbox" that consolidates core policies on investment, taxation, and industry. "Beijing Service" airport service counters offer assistance with over 20 services across finance, telecommunications, transportation, and culture and tourism at the first stop for international arrivals. It combines consultation and guidance, processing of most needed services, city branding and visitor information, and distinctive value-added services.

Convenient and User-Friendly

Guided by the principles of user convenience and friendliness, the four major platforms focus on key stages of critical scenarios. By streamlining service procedures and lowering barriers to use, they aim to make services "faster, easier to navigate, and more user-friendly".

In terms of language support, the "GO BEIJING" app allows users to switch freely between 16 languages, including Chinese, English, Russian, Korean, and Arabic. The English version of the "Jingtong" app automatically adapts to English-language mobile operating systems. The International Web Portal of Beijing provides full coverage in 10 languages: English, Korean, Japanese, German, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Italian. "Beijing Service" airport service counters are equipped with multilingual visual smart translation devices where international visitors can make inquiries, seek advice, and conduct business in their native languages, ensuring seamless multilingual communication. 

In terms of user convenience, the "Travel Wallet" function of the "GO BEIJING" app provides foreign visitors with small-value payment services, making it convenient to buy Chinese souvenirs, enjoy local snacks, and ride buses and subways. It also offers features such as "Tap for Tax Refund" and "Tap to Enter" for attractions. The "Jingtong" app innovatively introduces an automated passport recognition system. Users only need to upload a photo of their passport, and the system will automatically recognize and extract identity information to expedite the login process. The "Travelling in Beijing" section of the International Web Portal of Beijing has been optimized and upgraded. It now features five curated categories: "Fancy Events", "Iconic Destinations", "Curated Shopping Choices", "Tasty Offerings", and "Essentials", providing foreign visitors with precise travel information and other services. The "Beijing Service" airport service counters offer on-site, instant services, helping foreign visitors with ATM cash withdrawals, SIM card registration, and airport bus ticket purchases.

A Complete Service Loop

Together, the four major platforms form a service ecosystem that spans all stages of a visitor's journey. It ensures services are seamlessly interconnected, whether about organizing a trip, navigating the city, handling administrative tasks, or addressing questions or issues. This closed-loop service model ensures visitors can arrive easily, stay comfortably, access support whenever needed, and give feedbacks efficiently.

It is worth noting that the "12345 Online" service is accessible on the International Web Portal of Beijing. If foreign visitors encounter any issues, have any inquiries, or wish to offer suggestions during their stay in Beijing, they can visit the "12345 Online" section and submit messages online in their native languages. All messages will be immediately transferred to Beijing's "Swift Response to Public Complaints" workflow, where relevant departments will collaborate and coordinate efficiently to resolve them, forming a closed-loop process of "submission — referral — resolution — feedback". By promptly addressing reasonable requests, 12345 Service Hotline aims to enhance the overall experience in Beijing for those living, working, or travelling here. The "12345 Online" section can also be accessed directly on the English versions of both the "GO BEIJING" and "Jingtong" apps. "Beijing Service" airport service counters also provide on-site support for consultations.

As Jelena from Serbia observed, "I think Beijing is opening its arms to people from all around the world. And when you've arrived, you soon realize how incredibly convenient everything is."

(Source: Beijing Municipal Administration of Government Services and Data Management)