Bubble tea in 15 minutes, no cash, a passport instead of a bank card, and a cashless society that has become reality

As reported by CCTV+, mobile payment applications are rapidly gaining popularity among foreign tourists in China. The penetration rate of mobile payments is 86 percent. Scanning QR codes, integrated payments in delivery apps and other tech-savvy services are transforming everyday transactions for tourists, international students and business travelers.

In Hangzhou, where Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is headquartered, a cashless society has already become a reality. The city’s advanced payment ecosystem includes efficient express delivery, takeout services, group buying and fresh produce delivery. Locals and foreign tourists alike enjoy an enhanced lifestyle.

Ya Wei, a Russian student studying at Zhejiang International Studies University, said: “I am used to paying by phone every day, ordering takeout and arranging express delivery. I like ordering fruit, milk tea and coffee — delivery takes only 15 minutes.”

In Xi’an, located in northwestern China’s Shaanxi Province, Anna, a Russian student at Xi’an Jiaotong University, said mobile payment apps have made shopping incredibly simple. After two years of living in China, she has come to appreciate the ease of everyday life, including scanning QR codes at her favorite shopping mall.

At the Hekou port in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province, a busy border crossing between China and Vietnam, Vietnamese tourists arrive every morning. Many head straight to local supermarkets, where mobile payment platforms allow them to make secure transactions using only their smartphones.

One Vietnamese tourist shared: “We use WeChat Pay and Alipay by entering our passport details. It is very convenient, and we don’t need to exchange cash.” In the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, Rita, a Spanish entrepreneur, orders drinks through a mobile app every day. For her, the speed and tech-savvy nature of everyday services — bubble tea delivered in minutes — highlight broader social changes.

Rita said: “Shenzhen is not only a wonderful place to live, but also a place where she can build her career.”

In China, mobile payments are not just a way to pay. They are the air. Russian students order bubble tea in 15 minutes, Vietnamese tourists scan a QR code instead of exchanging currency, and a Spanish entrepreneur builds a career in a city where speed rules. 86 percent of foreigners are already inside this system. They are not learning to pay — they are simply living. In Hangzhou, Xi’an, Hekou and Shenzhen.

China does not explain how a cashless society works. It just shows it. Technologies spread faster than we used to think. And work is also underway in Turkmenistan. There is no need to reinvent the wheel — we can take the best and use it. Until then — order some coffee. It will arrive in 15 minutes.