Published on
September 11, 2025
Alipay, one of China’s favourite digital payment apps, just hit a big milestone: its contactless payment feature, Alipay Tap, now has two hundred million users. The news dropped at the 2025 INCLUSION · Conference in Shanghai and shows how quickly the Tap feature took off after the June 2024 launch. Alipay Tap is changing the game for both locals and tourists, making it super easy to pay at hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Since it rolled out, Tap has gone from a plain QR code scan to a smooth one-tap process. Users just unlock their phone, tap it on a merchant terminal or Alipay Tap Tag, and the payment goes through even the app doesn’t need to open. No more code-scanning or app-browsing; the phone just talks to the terminal. This quicker, no-fuss experience is especially loved by travellers, making Tap! a must-have in the tourism scene, where every second counts.
Alipay Tap Expands Beyond Payments into 1,000 plus Scenarios
Alipay Tap has grown rapidly, expanding into more than one thousand real-world scenarios across China, offering solutions that make everyday tasks easier for both locals and visitors. The application now supports an array of services, from vending machine payments and shared bike rentals to portable power bank access, all through a simple tap. With over eighty percent of Alipay users preferring this new Tap! functionality, it is clear that its widespread adoption is reshaping the landscape for consumer engagement, especially within tourism.
For travellers visiting China, the solution is also extending beyond just local users. International visitors can now link their foreign cards to an Alipay account, making it easier for them to pay for services and navigate their travels seamlessly. This is particularly advantageous for tourists who wish to immerse themselves in the local culture and experience the convenience of digital payments without the hassle of currency exchange.
Alipay Tap Enhances Tourism-Related Merchant Engagement
Merchants in China have also experienced the benefits of adopting Alipay Tap, with several reporting significant improvements in customer engagement and repeat purchases. In particular, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors have leveraged Alipay Tap! to enhance loyalty programs and offer faster, more efficient services. For instance, a national snack chain used the Tap! system to gain millions of new loyalty members and saw a marked increase in repeat customer purchases, directly impacting their bottom line.
Alipay’s penetration into the tourism industry is not limited to payment systems; it has become an essential part of the entire visitor experience. From faster checkout at shops and cafes to enabling local transportation services like bike rentals and metro access, the system is designed to offer tourists a frictionless, more connected journey throughout their stay.
Expanding the Reach: Alipay Tap on Wearables
Looking to the future, Alipay is expanding the Tap! ecosystem beyond smartphones, working with partners such as Xiaomi, Rokid, and RayNeo to introduce Tap! on wearables, including AR glasses and smartwatches. This will make the service even more accessible to users, offering more ways to interact with the digital ecosystem while travelling.
The seamless integration of this technology is expected to further enhance the tourist experience, as visitors will be able to make transactions on the go, without needing to pull out a phone or card. This will be particularly useful for travellers exploring busy tourist destinations in China, where speed and convenience are essential.
Alipay’s Future in the Tourism Industry
As Alipay Tap! continues to revolutionise payment solutions, its role in the tourism industry is only expected to grow. The convenience of digital payment solutions for tourists, coupled with the ongoing development of new AI-driven platforms, ensures that Alipay will remain at the forefront of China’s digital economy. From offering AI-powered assistants to making payments easier through wearable devices, Alipay is reshaping how the tourism sector interacts with technology, making travel more seamless, efficient, and enjoyable.
Simplifying Travel with Alipay Tap
Alipay Tap is a game-changer for anyone exploring China, both newcomers and regular locals. With this tool, getting around is a breeze: you simply tap your phone, and off you go. Renting a bike, grabbing a bite, or hopping on the subway all these daily tasks now feel automatic across more than one thousand typical situations in the app. As tech keeps moving forward, we can expect Tap to make every trip even smoother, turning payments into a background activity that tourists hardly notice and always appreciate.
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