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Shanghai – On the morning of September 27, the launch ceremony for the "Meet China" inbound tourism digital consumption screens was held at Shanghai's iconic Yuyuan Garden, marking the national pilot of this innovative project.The "Meet China" initiative aims to assist international visitors by fulfilling four core consumer needs: instant understanding, instant selection, instant access, and instant payment. It establishes China's first self-service cultural tourism consumption system specifically designed for foreign tourists, addressing the "last mile" challenges in inbound tourism spending. The project was jointly developed by China Digital Culture Group, Shanghai Normal University, and UMS (Union Mobile Smartpay).These interactive digital kiosks integrate product guides, storytelling, multilingual interaction, and international payments, enabling a seamless, self-service journey from discovery to purchase. The system showcases curated offerings—including dining, experiences, and souvenirs—on indoor and outdoor digital screens. Featuring text and audio descriptions in ten languages, along with intuitive explanations and cultural narratives, the kiosks help visitors quickly grasp the cultural significance of products. Bundled options are clearly displayed, significantly reducing decision-making time for tourists.For the initial rollout in Yuyuan, the first two kiosks focus on "What to Eat" and "What to Do & Buy." The "What to Eat" screen features four time-honored Yuyuan brands: Lübolang, Huxinting Teahouse, Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, and Songyuelou. These vendors offer special menus tailored to the preferences and dining habits of international visitors. Each dish is accompanied by easy-to-understand descriptions, multilingual translations, and clear ingredient labeling—including allergen and vegetarian indicators—ensuring a convenient and reassuring experience. The "What to Do & Buy" kiosk highlights experiences and souvenirs, currently featuring traditional makeup and styling services from Yuyuan and an immersive VR experience based on iQiyi's series "Tales of the Tang Dynasty." Plans are underway to install 20 additional kiosks throughout Yuyuan, continually enriching the content scenarios covering dining, activities, shopping, and tours to create a comprehensive digital consumption experience for inbound tourists.A key feature is the payment process. The project incorporates an international micro-payment terminal, co-developed by China Digital Culture Group and UMS, enabling transactions under RMB 1,000 to be completed contactlessly and without a password using international bank cards. This "swipe-and-go" mechanism, similar to tapping into a subway system, is being implemented for the first time in a Chinese cultural tourism consumption scenario, offering a frictionless payment experience for overseas visitors.International partners expressed enthusiasm for the project.
Arne Weber, CTO of Germany's Pyramid AG, a manufacturing partner, stated, "We are honored to participate and hope to introduce more international technology through this platform to help tell China's stories effectively." Oren Tepper, Global Chief Commercial Officer of payment partner Nayax, highlighted payment convenience as a top concern for inbound tourists, expressing eagerness to collaborate further to enable "instant buying" for international visitors in China. Jan Dolezal, CEO of technology partner Smart Guide, shared that the team's goal is to help foreign tourists better understand the cultural context behind products, hoping to integrate Chinese culture more deeply into visitors' experiences and lives.Have you tried these digital screens? Welcome to leave your comments at the bottom of this page.(Images provided by the organizer)*The opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author.*GBA Expats: Free services offered by BAFLA and Bay Area International Exchange Service Center外语圈: BAFLA's Chinese channel 中文频道
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