Beijing has greatly enhanced payment convenience for foreign tourists, making it easier to use foreign bank cards and cash, exchange currency, use mobile pay, and open local accounts, according to the Beijing branch of the People's Bank of China (PBC).

In February, the city launched payment service demonstration zones and centers at its two major international airports, Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport.

At the China Bank branch in the capital international airport, numerous foreign visitors have opened bank accounts and exchanged currencies. The branch's self-service exchange machines can process 20 different foreign currencies for conversion into RMB, with the process taking just three minutes.

Beijing has taken the lead in establishing airport payment service demonstration zones and centers, ensuring that all merchants at the airports accept payment through international bank cards, and that all ATMs provide small-denomination currency withdrawals. 

Moreover, international departure and arrival areas have been equipped with 24-hour manned counters for foreign currency exchange, allowing exchanges of over 40 currencies.

To further increase payment convenience for international visitors throughout the capital city, local authorities have identified and prioritized around 18,000 key merchants based on the preferences of foreign tourists.

Efforts have been made to promote the installation and upgrading of POS terminals to support international bank cards. Currently, 98% of merchants on the priority list accept major international cards, a significant increase from the 30% acceptance rate among the first batch of 11,000 merchants at the end of February.

The PBC has also underscored the importance of maintaining cash availability as a critical backup to payment needs of foreign visitors.

In the second quarter of this year, approximately 510,000 "Change Wallets," which are small packets containing petty cash, were distributed across Beijing. 

As of July 28, a total of 692,000 Change Wallets had been distributed, representing an increase of 640,000 since the end of February. 

Additionally, the number of ATMs in the city that support international card withdrawals has reached 11,500, with 1,978 ATMs now supporting small-denomination currency withdrawals.

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