Tencent Holdings has launched a new mobile payment app, TenPayGo, aimed at facilitating transactions for foreign visitors traveling in China. The app, developed by Tencent’s WeChat Pay team, was introduced ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November in Shenzhen. This marks Tencent’s first payment platform designed specifically for international tourists and visitors in the country.

TenPayGo enables users to make payments at tens of millions of restaurants, shops, and attractions connected to Tencent’s payment network by linking their overseas credit cards or digital wallets to the app. The platform supports seven major global card networks, including Visa and Mastercard, and integrates approximately 60 international digital wallets, with Singapore’s Starryblu among the initial partners. Registration requires only an email address, streamlining the onboarding process compared to other Chinese apps, which often demand a local phone number.

In addition to payments, TenPayGo offers several features to enhance the visitor experience. These include QR code access to Shenzhen’s public transportation system—buses and metro—allowing users to ride without needing a local SIM or physical transport cards. The app also incorporates artificial intelligence tools such as instant menu translation and object identification to assist tourists in navigating menus and products across China’s largely digital consumer ecosystem. Tencent is reportedly working with local banks to add a tax refund option, further supporting foreign shoppers.

This launch positions TenPayGo as a competitor to Ant Group’s Alipay, which has been the dominant mobile payment platform for foreign visitors since 2019, when it first provided international access to its services. The rapid adoption of digital payments in China has made it challenging for visitors to use cash or foreign cards effectively, especially given the widespread integration of mobile payments into daily life through “super apps” like WeChat.

The rollout comes amid a notable increase in international tourism to China, driven partly by relaxed visa policies that grant visa-free entry to citizens from multiple countries, including the UK, France, and Spain. According to government data, inbound visits reached 22.9 million in the first half of 2026, representing a 20 percent rise compared to the same period in the previous year. Chinese destinations such as Zhangjiajie and Hainan have intensified marketing efforts to attract higher-spending foreign tourists.

Tencent’s initiative also reflects the company’s broader strategy to capitalize on rising cross-border tourism and digital payment usage. Transactions made through overseas accounts on WeChat Pay in China reportedly surged over 80 percent in volume and value during the first eight months of 2026, underscoring the growing demand for accessible mobile payment solutions among international visitors. The app is available on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play, expanding its accessibility ahead of the APEC summit and anticipated influx of foreign attendees.