By Sarah Clark
Travellers arriving at Beijing Capital Airport are now able to rent a dedicated mobile payments and local communications device from a service desk in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall, making it quick and easy to access local mobile payments services during their visit to China.
“The Beijing Pass device, co-developed by UnionPay, Bank of Beijing and Beijing Unicom, is a compact terminal that functions as a power bank, SIM card and payment device,” the China.org website explains.
“It supports Wi-Fi, QR code payments, and voice translation, making it a versatile tool for travellers.
“Foreign visitors can easily rent and return the device at the airport service counter, located within 100 metres of the international arrival hall.
“After presenting their passports, tourists can choose a short-term communication package, rent the device, open a Beijing Pass card account with the Bank of Beijing and top it up — all in just five minutes.
“The device supports both UnionPay QR code payer-initiated and payee-initiated payment methods, allowing foreign visitors to conveniently and efficiently pay at shopping malls, restaurants and specialty stores.”
“Tourists can top up the card using cash or by swiping another card. After that, they can insert the physical UnionPay card into the device to make QR code-based payments,” a service counter staff member told the news organisation.
The Beijing Pass card, introduced in July 2024, is a multi-purpose, reloadable prepaid card that can be used to make payments in stores, in taxis, at tourist sites and on public transportation in 300 cities across China.
The card has a maximum balance of 1,000 yuan (US$136.38) that can be topped up at any of 490 stations across the city’s 27 subway lines, or online via the SilkPass mobile app.
