"Now I can just scan a QR code to pay in the taxi—it's so much more convenient," said Miss Luo, a Hong Kong resident who went to Shenzhen to purchase New Year's goods before the Chinese New Year. At the Luohu Port taxi station, the driver informed her that she could pay directly via QR code using WeChat Pay Hong Kong.

Recently, WeChat Pay HK has expanded its network of supported merchants, connecting with individual merchants in the Chinese mainland to offer a smoother shopping and travel payment experience. Hong Kong residents can now use it not only for taxi fares but also to pay by scanning QR codes at small shops along the streets.

WeChat Pay HK now allows Hong Kong residents to pay for taxi fares by scanning the driver's QR code. After clearing customs at popular ports like Shenzhen Bay, Futian, and Luohu, visitors can hail a taxi and pay usingWeChat Pay HK—no need to exchange cash. Previously, it had already been integrated with public transportation networks in nearly 50 mainland cities, allowing users to scan QR codes to pay for bus and subway rides throughout the Chinese mainland.

Additionally, WeChat Pay HK has further extended its reach to individual merchants in the Chinese mainland. Street food vendors, market stalls, and small shops now accept payments via thise-wallet. Miss Luo, for example, enjoyed a bowl of steaming beef noodles with her parents at a street food stall in Shenzhen. "Before, we mostly went to big chain stores like Sam's Club. But now, street stalls also accept WeChat Pay HK, so we can enjoy more authentic local food," she said.

The expansion of WeChat Pay HK's merchant network not only makes it easier for Hong Kong residents to shop in the Chinese mainland but also provides new business opportunities for small merchants in the mainland.

With the Chinese New Year approaching, many Hong Kong residents are heading north to purchase New Year's goods. Mr. Wang, a stall owner in Shenzhen's Luohu District, has made ample preparations to welcome Hong Kong shoppers. "Before, Hong Kong customers had to pay in cash. Now they can scan with WeChat Pay HK, which is much more convenient," he said.

According to statistics, 81.91 million Hong Kong residents traveled to the Chinese mainland for shopping in 2024, a 53% increase compared to 2023. On weekends, it is common to see Hong Kong shoppers carrying large bags in Shenzhen's shopping malls. Traveling to popular tourist destinations nationwide has also become a growing trend. Peak travel periods for Hong Kong residents in 2024 include the Easter holiday in March, the summer vacation in August, National Day and the Chongyang Festival in October, and the Christmas holidays in December. Notably, during Christmas and New Year's, the volume and value of transactions made using WeChat Pay HK in the Chinese mainland more than doubled compared to the same period the previous year.

Source: Lingnan On the Cloud

一年8191万人次北上消费！港人北上更方便

“现在我们打的可以扫码付钱，方便多了！”香港居民罗小姐春节前到深圳置办年货，在罗湖口岸出租车专区打了一辆车，司机告诉她可以用WeChat港币钱包扫码直接付款。

近日，WeChat港币钱包进一步拓宽商户网络，连接内地个人商户，为用户提供更便捷的出行、购物支付体验，不仅可以付的士费，香港居民也可以用WeChat港币钱包扫街边小店的微信支付收款码支付。

WeChat港币钱包目前已支持香港居民扫司机二维码支付的士费，香港居民在深圳湾、福田和罗湖等口岸通关后，可以到口岸出租车专区打的，并使用WeChat港币钱包进行支付，无需换纸币。此前，WeChat港币钱包已累计连接近50个城市的公共交通网络，用户到内地各城市搭乘公交地铁，可以使用乘车码扫码出行。

与此同时，WeChat港币钱包也进一步连接了内地个人商户，如今路边小吃摊、市集小店、街头杂货店等也都可以用WeChat港币钱包支付。罗小姐这次来深圳买年货，就带着爸妈在路边小吃店里吃了几碗冒着热气的牛肉粉。“之前我们大多去山姆这些大型连锁超市，现在小吃摊也可以用WeChat港币钱包，我们可以多来吃更加地道的美食了。”

WeChat港币钱包进一步拓宽商户网络，不仅方便了香港居民来内地消费，也给内地个人商户带来更多生意机会。

春节将至，不少港人选择北上采购年货，在深圳市罗湖区摆摊卖年货的王先生，为迎接港人年货消费潮做足了准备。王先生表示：“之前在我这里买东西的香港人需要用现金支付，现在他们可以用WeChat港币钱包扫码了，方便多了。”

数据显示，2024年香港有8191万人次北上消费，较2023年增长53%。一到周末，深圳的商超便随处可见拎着大包小包的香港人。港人北上到全国各地热门旅游城市度假也成为新趋势，2024年3月复活节假期、8月暑期、10月国庆及重阳节假期以及12月圣诞节假期，都是港人北上高峰期，例如圣诞与元旦期间，WeChat港币钱包内地消费金额与消费笔数同比增长两倍。

文｜记者 王丹阳
图｜受访者提供
翻译丨麦芯羽
审校丨王枥焓