SHENZHEN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's tech giant Tencent on Thursday launched TenPayGo, a payment app for overseas users traveling to China. This new platform is designed to make payments more convenient for inbound visitors as the country sees a growing number of international travelers.
The app supports bank cards issued overseas by seven major international card organizations including Visa and Mastercard, as well as Apple Pay and overseas e-wallets such as Starryblu, Tencent said.
After linking a payment method, users can scan and pay directly through TenPayGo, according to Tencent. The company unveiled the app at an international payment services launch event in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.
TenPayGo will also enable overseas visitors to activate a ride code for Shenzhen's buses and metro, with no phone number or transit card required, it added.
Tencent's WeChat, which serves as a multifunctional app beyond social media and messaging, offers digital payment services known as Weixin Pay in the Chinese mainland.
The launch of TenPayGo by Weixin Pay comes amid a surge in foreign visitor spending. Data from Weixin Pay showed that in the first eight months of this year, the value and number of overseas e-wallet transactions in China increased by 80.6 percent and 81.8 percent year on year, respectively. ■
