The city is reporting major progress in its bid to make Shanghai a more welcoming destination for international tourists by simplifying payment processes.

Since the initiative kicked off in May, over 20 popular commercial districts, five iconic landmarks, and two international airports have adopted the new system.

For Filipino tourist Paul Albano, the change was nothing short of astounding, according to Shanghai Observer.

As general manager of GCash, one of the Philippines' largest e-wallets, Paul was impressed by Shanghai's seamless payment process.

"I never thought I'd be able to use my Kaspi e-wallet in China," he said. "The ease of using Alipay and scanning codes made shopping a breeze."

Paul's experience is not unique. In recent months, international tourists have been flocking to Shanghai, drawn by the city's vibrant atmosphere, rich cultural heritage, and now, its streamlined payment system.

According to data provided by Alipay, the number of foreigners using mobile payments by linking their overseas bank cards to Alipay or using overseas e-wallets in Shanghai has skyrocketed 13 times year-on-year, with transaction volumes growing 12 times.

Over 50,000 promotional materials have been distributed across the city, highlighting the ease and convenience of paying with your phone.

In addition, 2.5 million taxi drivers across the city are now equipped with Alipay scanners, making it easier for tourists to hail a ride and pay with their phone.

The program aims to make the city a more tourist-friendly destination, with businesses encouraged to display clear payment instructions in multiple languages and provide multilingual customer services.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with local businesses benefiting from increased foot traffic and sales.