China travel apps are taking off

Frederik Reinder Hak captures the attention of a roomful of international tour operators as he takes the stage to introduce a new app during a major travel event in Haikou, the capital of the southern island province of Hainan, in mid-December.

The China UnionPay employee from the Netherlands adeptly navigates the functions of the Nihao China app, developed by UnionPay, to send a clear message that a smoother journey into China is now at their clients' fingertips.

Speaking at the China International Travel Mart, he drew on his nearly seven years of local experience to outline common hurdles for foreign travelers and the digital solutions now available to tackle them head-on.

"You can log in with an overseas email directly on your phone to complete bank card binding," he explains, adding that the app supports a wide range of domestic and international cards for payments, from ordering food to booking taxis.

Navigation and language barriers are also addressed.

"With just a tap, you can see the navigation. Foreigners can switch to the English version."

Beyond logistics, the app builds cultural bridges.

"You can find tickets for attractions, museums, and introductions to other scenic spots in China," he notes, adding that it even simplifies processes like tax refunds with its built-in translation tools.

The Nihao China app is among a wave of new products showcased at the three-day mart in Haikou, which gathered over 1,000 agents and representatives from 101 countries. Airlines, travel agencies, and tech companies unveiled plans to enhance the inbound travel experience across the 65,000-square-meter exhibition space, which also hosted vibrant tourism presentations and large-scale business matchmaking sessions.

Payments to pathways

As Nihao China addresses payment issues, another app, HiChina, developed by Travelsky Mobile Technology, an internet technology company specializing in informatized infrastructure, tackles other hurdles faced by international visitors to China.

"On the foundation of providing travel convenience for Chinese passengers, we also began considering whether we could create a one-stop travel facilitation tool for foreigners coming to China," says Travelsky's vice-president Liu Feng, explaining the app's origin.

He identifies key points the app aims to address, including language barriers, complex domestic transportation for long-distance and cross-city travel, and limited daily service access.

It offers four primary functions in 10 scenarios, including seamless entry and communication.

"Through HiChina, you can conveniently select different entry cities to complete the corresponding information form. You can also preselect a Chinese mobile network or data plan on the HiChina platform,"Liu says.

The built-in translation tool supports voice and text translation, he points out.

For instance, for daily transportation and navigation, the app integrates ride-hailing with real-time translation to bridge communication gaps between drivers and passengers.

For public transit, the app integrates public transit cards for over 330 cities nationwide, allowing inbound travelers to simulate an NFC transit card with their phones.

"It also provides English maps and a smart AI assistant," Liu says.

The company has also extended its core aviation technology to the HiChina app, bringing the convenience of its star app Umetrip to international travelers.

Chinese travelers have widely used Umetrip to inquire about official flight data and for seamless, paperless travel.

"We have also integrated these capabilities onto the HiChina platform, hoping that when international tourists travel by air in China, they can experience the convenience brought by the modernization and intelligent development of civil aviation," Liu says.

Additionally, HiChina integrates domestic train ticket booking, which Liu says can be a more troublesome feat for international guests.

From flights to railways

China Eastern Airlines has unveiled its Changyixing (easy journey) air-rail service, which aims to create seamless travel for international visitors entering and transiting through China, says Gong Picai, deputy general manager of the marketing department at China Eastern Airlines.

The core advantage of the product is to provide both transportation and a window into what China has to offer, Gong emphasizes.

"The product allows one-stop ticketing on our overseas website for international flight segments, plus domestic high-speed rail segments. We have integrated China Eastern Airlines' 83 overseas sites globally and support 13 foreign currencies for payment," Gong says.

The service includes coordinated check-in and luggage transfer at Shanghai's Hongqiao hub, developed with rail authorities.

Comfort and culture are also prioritized.

"We have launched a door-to-airport luggage reservation and direct delivery service in 24 major cities in the Yangtze River Delta, allowing travelers to truly 'free their hands and travel light'," Gong states.

The accompanying China Pass integrates transportation, cultural consumption, and attractions across 336 cities.

"We look forward to guiding travelers deep into the fabric of the cities, to experience the most vibrant and authentic aesthetics of Eastern life."

Curating the journey

As a major tour operator, China Tourism Group Travel Services has launched the new platform Travel China to simplify travel planning for international visitors eager to explore China.

"The global cultural and tourism market is currently experiencing accelerated recovery, with inbound tourism to China, a vital cultural bridge connecting the country to the world, ushering in unprecedented opportunities for growth," says Zhang Kexiong, assistant general manager of China Tourism Group Travel Services, adding that alongside these opportunities come distinct challenges.

"We are keenly aware that international travelers often encounter real-life difficulties when planning a trip to China, such as fragmented information, overly complex travel guides, and limited access to truly distinctive local experiences," he elaborates.

The Travel China portal was designed to break down these barriers and build a more authoritative, comprehensive, and convenient service platform for inbound tourism, he says.

The website prioritizes authentic storytelling.

"Through multimedia forms like high-definition images, text and short videos, we present a vibrant China in all its dimensions, allowing overseas tourists to be captivated before they even depart," he explains.

The platform also filters essential information to provide complete travel solutions.

"From the tourists' perspective, the platform systematically integrates the entire journey's practical information, including visa processing, transportation, accommodation choices, mobile payments, and tax refund policies, providing one-stop tourism services," Zhang notes, adding that it also offers tailored itineraries for different traveler profiles through expert collaborations.

To ensure immersive cultural experiences, the platform will also update real-time nationwide cultural and tourism activity information, new scenarios, and novel ways to explore, Zhang says.

He reveals that it is not only a service platform but also "a bridge connecting cultural and tourism enterprises, scenic spots, travel agencies, and tourists".

Underpinning these industry efforts is supportive national policy.

Gu Hui, minister-counselor of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed China's commitment to facilitating visits.

"China's door to high-level opening-up will only open wider," he states, extending a warm welcome to more international friends to "see and experience Chinese modernization".