An initiative to help Xi'an – capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province – to be an international consumer friendly tourist destination was launched on May 24.

The event aimed to increase the convenience of payments and digital services, as well as to help domestic and international tourists to explore the city and promote the development of its cultural and tourism industries.

An initiative to make Xi'an an international consumer friendly tourist destination debuts on May 24. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

As one of the preferred destinations for overseas tourists visiting China, Shaanxi has been implementing various measures to boost its inbound tourism – having welcomed nearly 26 million inbound visits over the past decade.

Currently, Alipay's QR code scanning payment service enables inbound tourists in Xi'an to use various methods of payment. These are for things like city-wide ride-hailing services, public transport, bike rentals, dining, supermarkets, hotels and tourist attractions – offering a consumer experience as simple and convenient as that enjoyed by local residents.

Mike from France shows Alipay's convenience in Xi'an. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

French expat Mike has been lived in Xi'an for over 20 years. He recently said that life in China is very convenient and making it even more so was the fact that a person only needs a smart phone to dine out, shop and take public transport – all through the convenience of Alipay's scanning feature.

To encourage spending by overseas tourists in Xi'an, alongside the promotion of Xi'an as an international friendly tourist destination, Alipay's red envelope codes have been further opened up in the city.

In Xi'an, inbound tourists can now use Alipay to scan red envelope codes, receive red envelopes and enjoy various digital benefits, incentivizing shopping.

Khan Fawad from Pakistan uses Alipay to shop in Xi'an. [Photo provided to en.xa.gov.cn]

According to Alipay's data, in the first four months of this year, spending by inbound tourists in Xi'an using Alipay increased nearly sevenfold compared with the previous year.