UnionPay has officially launched the Nihao China app, a one-stop digital platform designed to make travelling in China significantly easier for international visitors. Unveiled at the China International Travel Mart on 19 December 2025 in Haikou, the app aims to remove long-standing friction around payments, transport, language, and daily services.
Positioned as more than just a travel utility, Nihao China functions as a digital bridge between overseas visitors and everyday life in China, supporting smoother cross-border experiences and deeper people-to-people exchange.
One App, All Payments
Getting started is straightforward. Users can register with an email address or sign in via Apple accounts, then bind international bank cards including UnionPay, Visa and Mastercard issued outside mainland China. The app also displays real-time exchange rates for over 160 currencies.
For online transactions, Nihao China connects to more than 300 platforms across key travel and lifestyle categories, including:
- Immigration arrival card via 12367
- Train ticketing via 12306
- Food delivery through Meituan and Ele.me (Taobao Shangou)
- Hotel bookings on Ctrip
- E-commerce shopping on JD.com
For in-store payments, the app integrates UnionPay, Alipay and WeChat Pay acceptance networks, allowing users to scan virtually all QR codes with a single app across more than 1,000 service scenarios nationwide.
The app also supports tax refunds in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, with plans to progressively expand coverage to all tax refund scenarios for international visitors across China.
Seamless Mobility Across Cities and Regions
Nihao China extends beyond payments into daily mobility. It supports metro systems in 43 major Chinese cities and public bus networks across more than 1,760 county-level regions, effectively creating a rail-plus-bus payment network.
Visitors no longer need to purchase or manage multiple transit cards. Payments are handled directly within the app, enabling simple tap-and-go travel.
An English-language map further helps users locate nearby ATMs, currency exchange counters, and essential services based on real-time location.
Smart Tools With Minimal Language Friction
To address language barriers, the app includes real-time Chinese-English translation, with additional smart recognition for Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Russian. In-app page translation allows users to navigate Chinese-language interfaces more confidently.
Beyond translation, the built-in smart assistant answers questions related to attractions, dining and transport. It also provides customised route planning that combines public transport, walking and other travel modes into a single journey view.
Upcoming Features and Service Expansion
UnionPay has confirmed that Nihao China will continue to expand its functionality. Planned enhancements include:
- Integrated visa services, including application guidance, appointment booking and status tracking
- Virtual SIM card activation for instant mobile data on arrival
- One-tap reservations for popular museums and scenic attractions, including the National Museum of China
These additions aim to consolidate more pre-arrival and on-ground services into a single digital experience.
A Broader Push for Inclusive Payments
The Nihao China app sits within a wider effort by UnionPay to improve payment accessibility for international users. To date, over 200 million UnionPay cards and more than 200 UnionPay-partner wallets issued outside mainland China are accepted across 183 countries and regions worldwide, with particularly strong coverage within China.
UnionPay has also issued over 10 million SplendorPlus Cards through 59 issuers in 20 international markets. These cards offer benefits across categories such as airport lounges, transport, tourist attractions, cultural experiences and dining, targeting travellers, students and professionals spending time in China.
UnionPay says it remains focused on strengthening its acceptance network, products and services to deliver a more user-friendly and secure payment environment for international visitors.
