Ant Financial and TenCent have launched versions of their mobile payments apps for foreign visitors to China, making it easier for travellers to make purchases in the increasingly cash-averse country.
Previously, Ant Financial's Alipay app and TenCents' WeChat required users to have an account with a Chinese bank.
Now, visitors can download Alipay to their iOs and Android devices, register their overseas mobile phone numbers and then use the 'Tour Pass' feature to use a pre-paid service from Bank of Shanghai.
Users top up the pre-paid card with yuan with their international debit or credit card and can then make QR code payments with their phones at shops and restaurants.
TenCent has also moved to support international card schemes in its mobile wallet.
Visa says: "This partnership means that we’ll be working towards an environment where Visa cardholders will be able to use their Visa card in China at the millions of places where WeChat Pay is accepted, instead of having to rely on cash.”