Qianhai enhances consumers' experience ahead of APEC

Video by Li Bing'er

With about a month to go before Shenzhen hosts the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Qianhai is upgrading services for international visitors, including cross-border mobile payments, bilingual signage and menus, multilingual assistance and a new Chinese-English guide to local businesses and attractions.

TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform, and ShopeePay recently launched a service allowing users of the Southeast Asian digital wallet to pay at Weixin Pay merchants in China. Visitors can use the ShopeePay or Shopee app to scan a merchant’s Weixin Pay code or show their own payment code. They do not need to exchange large amounts of cash in advance or download a new payment app. The service enables them to pay at millions of Weixin Pay merchants across China.

A sign at a Qianhai business displays the international bank cards and digital wallets accepted, highlighting convenient payment options for overseas visitors. Photos by Shenzhen Daily

Since the service launched, several visitors from Southeast Asia have tried it in Qianhai and praised the area’s convenient payment options and international visitor-friendly services. Thai visitor Poly Atcharanan said English signage at the Uniwalk Shenzhen Qianhai shopping mall made it easy to get around. Staff members were also able to help her in English, she said.

Malaysian visitor Yuri Azrani said the extensive bilingual signage on Qianhai’s streets and in its shopping districts made it easy to find his way and reach his next destination. He no longer needs to exchange cash in advance: he can pay by scanning a code with the e-wallet he already uses at home. One phone takes care of everyday payments for dining, transportation and accommodation, without the need to switch between payment apps, he said.

An international visitor uses a QR code to make a mobile payment at a clothing store in Qianhai, Shenzhen.

Weixin Pay now supports nearly 60 overseas digital wallets from 16 countries and regions, according to the company. From January to August, the value of transactions made in China using overseas wallets rose 80.6% from a year earlier, while the number of transactions increased 81.8%, Weixin Pay said.

At a Sept. 24 event in Qianhai, Tencent also introduced TenPayGo, a payment app for international visitors to China. It supports international bank cards, Apple Pay and overseas wallets, and offers services including urban transportation, AI menu translation and departure tax refunds.

Russian vlogger Marina Vilchinskaia introduces Qianhai’s new Chinese-English international consumer guide, which provides information on dining, shopping, accommodation and payment options.

To help international visitors plan their trips and activities, Qianhai has released a bilingual Chinese-English guide covering dining, shopping, hotels, attractions, payments and entertainment. The guide provides information on popular restaurants, shopping areas, hotels and attractions, along with practical instructions for cross-border payments.

Russian vlogger Marina Vilchinskaia was among the first to try the guide after its release. She used it to explore Qianhai’s dining, accommodation and entertainment options, and described it as a practical resource for international visitors.

A Bank of China self-service departure tax refund machine at Qianhai MixC in Shenzhen offers international shoppers a more convenient way to process tax refunds.

Qianhai is also expanding its departure tax refund network. With guidance from the Shenzhen Tax Service of the State Taxation Administration, the Qianhai Authority and Bank of China’s Shenzhen branch are introducing self-service machines to make the refund process faster and paperless.

The machines have been installed at the Qianhai MixC shopping area and Conrad Shenzhen, allowing international visitors who shop at eligible tax refund stores anywhere in Shenzhen to claim refunds at convenient locations in Qianhai. Two more machines will soon be installed at the Qianhai Museum and the Registration Center.

Once all four locations are operational, Qianhai will have a tax refund service network covering shopping districts, luxury hotels, cultural attractions and international business facilities. The expanded network aims to make claiming refunds more convenient for overseas visitors, removing another potential hurdle from their shopping experience in Shenzhen.

Multilingual signs at Qianhai Stone Park help international visitors navigate the area.

Qianhai continues to improve its services for international consumers. It has upgraded 401 bilingual signs across 20 major shopping areas, installed 344 electronic screens supporting multiple languages and deployed 66 portable translation devices at key service locations. It has also worked with 430 restaurants to add bilingual menus.

Statistics show that Qianhai’s 15 high-end hotels hosted about 135,000 international guests in the first half of 2026. The total is expected to exceed 300,000 for the year, up more than 60% from 2025.

From more convenient cross-border payments to improved services, Qianhai is tailoring its facilities to the needs and habits of international visitors. The improvements are reflected in everyday experiences — from scanning a payment code and following clear directions to communicating with staff. These practical improvements are making Qianhai more accessible and welcoming to international visitors, while helping the area prepare to showcase its openness and international appeal during the upcoming APEC meetings.