Published on: 2026-08-07
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Beijing, August 7 /Xinhua/ — In the border city of Heihe in Heilongjiang Province (Northeast China), the province’s first mobile payment application “Nihao China” was successfully launched recently. The application is designed to link foreign bank cards to the domestic Chinese payment system. This effectively addresses the payment issues for Russian citizens entering China. This was reported by the newspaper “Heihe Daily”.
A new application was implemented by the Heihe branch of the People’s Bank of China /Central Bank/ together with the Heihe section of the Heilongjiang pilot free trade zone. After the introduction of the visa-free regime between China and Russia in September 2025, there was a significant increase in human traffic, cross-border trade, and cultural-tourism exchanges at the Heihe border crossing, which caused a sharp rise in demand from foreign citizens for convenient payment methods within China.
The “Nihao China” app has a low registration threshold and a user-friendly interface. Russian users can quickly register via commonly accepted international channels such as foreign email, mobile phone number, and Apple ID, as well as link a UnionPay card issued abroad without undergoing identity verification within China. At the same time, the app is fully compatible with QR codes for receiving payments in WeChat, Alipay, and all major banks.
The new application covers all common life situations, including payment for catering and hotel accommodation, retail trade, transportation services, as well as expenses for attending sporting events. Currently, the number of foreign users registered in this application in Heilongjiang Province has already exceeded 2,800.
To fully realize the service’s potential, the promotion of the “Nihao China” app is closely integrated with international events in Heihe, including cross-border marathons, cultural fairs, dance festivals, and football tournaments. Additionally, explanatory work and consultations on its implementation and use are regularly conducted, enabling foreign guests to clearly appreciate the effectiveness of the new cross-border payment service. -0-
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