Shanghai Launches “Easy Go” Platform to Revolutionize Smart Tourism and Ease Travel for International Visitors
Shanghai, China – July 3, 2025 – In a significant stride toward smart city innovation, Shanghai has launched “Easy Go”, a mobile-based digital gateway designed to transform the travel experience for international tourists. Developed collaboratively by multiple municipal and financial authorities, the platform eliminates long-standing barriers to travel in China—particularly language and cashless payments—marking a new era of accessibility, convenience, and digital inclusivity in global tourism.
The launch of Easy Go aligns with China’s broader push to enhance inbound travel experiences, dovetailing with recent visa reforms and tax policy improvements. Unveiled as part of Shanghai’s smart city evolution, the platform operates through the international version of Alipay, a widely used mobile payment service in China, now optimized for use by foreigners with internationally issued credit and debit cards.
A Unified Travel App for Dining, Transit, Sightseeing, and Shopping
The Easy Go app provides one-click registration and access to more than 30 mini-programs across four primary categories:
- Dining – Discover and reserve restaurants
- Transportation – Book metro, ride-hailing, and bike-sharing services
- Sightseeing – Access curated guides and attraction tickets
- Shopping – Locate stores with foreign-friendly services and tax refunds
All services are presented in English and other major languages, aided by real-time translation tools. This functionality removes one of the most challenging aspects of navigating China independently: the language barrier.
With Easy Go, tourists can browse restaurants, order food, locate halal or vegetarian menus, plan city tours, pay for metro rides, or enjoy scenic boat rides on the Huangpu River—all without toggling between apps or relying on translation tools.
“Tap for Tax Refund” and Smart Spending in Shanghai
Among Easy Go’s flagship features is the “tap for tax refund” option, which links users to an interactive map of retail shops offering tax refund services. By guiding users through the process in real-time, the app ensures that eligible travelers can claim value-added tax (VAT) refunds quickly and easily—boosting both visitor satisfaction and local economic activity.
The app also provides direct access to Shanghai’s official tourism content, including short videos, city tips, and cultural highlights from digital content creators and government agencies. This not only helps tourists better plan their trip but also encourages deeper cultural engagement.
Seamless Digital Payments for a Cashless City
Shanghai has long been at the forefront of cashless commerce, with nearly all public services, restaurants, and shops accepting mobile payments. Yet, international visitors often face difficulties using local platforms due to incompatibility with foreign-issued cards. Easy Go bridges this gap by supporting international payments via Alipay, allowing tourists to enjoy hassle-free transactions, from coffee shops to department stores.
According to the People’s Bank of China, this integration is part of a nationwide effort to make the country’s digital payment infrastructure more accessible to foreigners, particularly in key gateway cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou.
A Timely Launch Amid Visa-Free Expansion
The rollout of Easy Go coincides with expanded visa-free access to China. As of June 2025:
- Citizens from 55 countries can now enter select Chinese cities—including Shanghai—for up to 10 days under a 240-hour visa-free transit policy.
- 47 countries are included in China’s unilateral visa-free policy, which permits visits of up to 30 days without a formal visa.
These relaxed entry policies are part of China’s strategy to boost post-pandemic tourism and reassert its position as a globally connected travel destination. With tourist numbers rising—especially from Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America—the Easy Go platform ensures the infrastructure is in place to offer them a modern, safe, and user-friendly experience.
Future Enhancements: Hotel Booking, Itineraries, and Emergency Assistance
Shanghai officials have confirmed that Easy Go is not a static product. Planned upgrades include:
- Integrated hotel booking functions
- AI-powered personal itinerary planning
- Emergency service contact directories
- Offline accessibility for users in low-connectivity areas
- Embassy and consular access features
By centralizing all these services within a single interface, the app reduces travel anxiety and empowers travelers to explore Shanghai with greater independence and security.
A Model for Global Smart Cities
Shanghai’s leadership in digital urban infrastructure has long been recognized globally. With Easy Go, the city sets a new international benchmark in how technology can bridge gaps in language, culture, and commerce to enhance the tourism experience.
According to UNWTO and Smart City World Expo insights, more than 80% of urban travelers now expect mobile-first solutions for navigation, communication, and booking services. By proactively addressing these needs, Shanghai is positioning itself as a trailblazer in global smart tourism.
As the platform continues to evolve, its success may inspire other major cities—from Singapore to Paris—to develop similar solutions tailored to international visitors.
Conclusion
Easy Go is more than a tourism app; it’s Shanghai’s digital welcome mat to the world. By harnessing mobile technology to address real-world travel friction points, the city empowers global visitors with the tools to explore freely, confidently, and independently. As international tourism rebounds, Shanghai’s Easy Go platform stands as a blueprint for smart, inclusive, and future-ready travel infrastructure.
For more travel news like this, keep reading Global Travel Wire
