By Alex 
During the 2025 “May Day” holiday (from May 1 to May 5), China’s UnionPay and NetUnion processed a staggering 23.44 billion payment transactions, amounting to a total value of 7.64 trillion yuan. Compared to the same period last year, the number of transactions increased by 20.49%, while the total transaction value grew by 3.21%.
Surge in Foreign Tourist Spending
Notably, transactions made by foreign tourists in China saw a significant spike. The number of payment transactions and the total transaction value made by inbound tourists increased by 244.86% and 128.04% respectively compared to the same period last year. This surge reflects the strong recovery of China’s tourism market and the growing interest of foreign tourists in China’s consumption environment.
Policy Support and Payment Convenience
The Chinese government has been actively promoting payment convenience for foreign tourists. Policies such as creating key commercial areas with convenient payment services for foreigners and providing multilingual promotional materials at major entry points have been implemented. These measures aim to enhance the payment experience for foreign tourists and encourage more inbound tourism.
Future Outlook
The robust growth in payment transactions during the holiday period highlights the ongoing recovery and dynamism of China’s economy. As digital payment methods become more widespread and convenient, both domestic and foreign consumers are increasingly turning to electronic payment options. This trend is expected to continue, with payment transaction volumes likely to maintain a stable growth trajectory in the future.