Chinese holiday makers traveling throughout the country during the Labor Day holiday paid US$120 million worth of bills by means of bank cards, a record high and a rise of 350 percent over last year.

Bank cards carrying a UnionPay logo, including those issued by the country's major banks, may be used for payment or withdrawing cash from ATMs owned by other member banks in and outside places of residence within China, including Hong Kong.

China UnionPay says that during the seven-day holiday, travelers from the Chinese mainland spent 75 million yuan or about US$9 million in Hong Kong using bank cards.

China has been encouraging residents to travel to Hong Kong as part of its move to spur local consumption and thus boost the local economy.

(CRI.com May 10, 2004)