Pacific Money | Economy | East Asia

TenPayGo and China’s Digital Opening to Foreigners

Tencent’s new payment app shows how China’s tech companies can lower barriers for foreign users without fundamentally changing the systems behind them.

Attracting foreign visitors to China takes more than easing visa rules or improving transport links; visitors also need to navigate the country once they arrive. In an economy where much of daily life runs through digital platforms, seemingly small tasks – from paying for a meal to accessing everyday services – can become obstacles that shape how accessible the country feels to outsiders. 

China’s effort to make itself more welcoming to tourists has thus also extended into its digital ecosystem. Tencent’s TenPayGo offers a glimpse of how one of China’s largest technology companies is approaching that challenge.

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