PETALING JAYA: For many Malaysians, the main draw of travelling to China is no longer just about the Great Wall or the scenic landscapes – it is the sheer convenience of stepping into a cashless society.
With the rapid integration of cross-border payment systems, the days of fumbling for yuan notes are over, making China a top destination for tourists who want a stress-free holiday.
Contractor Tony Tan, 55, said the advanced digital ecosystem is a major highlight of his travels, noting that the ability to go entirely cashless has made the country far more accessible to Malaysians.
“The first time when I went there in 2023, I did not use a single Chinese note that I changed. I just used my Touch ‘n Go e-wallet, which automatically converts to AliPay when I am scanning a QR code for payment.
“I was really amazed at how advanced they are. Even regular hawkers there are using cashless payment systems there,” he said.
The turning point of going cashless, said Tan, was when he was pick-pocketed at an airport in Vietnam in 2022.
“It was really traumatic because I lost a stack of cash that was meant to buy presents for my family,” he said.
For Ariff Azman, 34, a tech consultant who travels frequently to China and Japan for work, safety lies in the digital trail.
The days of being ripped off by unscrupulous money changers or receiving counterfeit notes are over,” he said.
“In China, cash is almost obsolete, and it’s also safer for me as a foreigner,” Ariff explained.
“I link my e-wallet to Alipay. Every transaction is logged.
“I once had a dispute with a vendor in Shanghai who claimed I hadn’t paid.
“I just showed him the time-stamped transaction on my phone. It de-escalated the situation immediately.
“You don’t get that kind of proof with cash. The digital ledger is my witness.”
For frequent traveller Gary Lim, 42, the convenience of using e-wallets also means not dealing with “leftover currency”.
“I used to come back from China with pockets full of coins and small notes money changers in Malaysia won’t accept.
“This time, I paid exact amounts for everything digitally. I didn’t withdraw a single yuan from an ATM.
“When I landed at KLIA, I didn’t have a pile of useless foreign cash. That, to me, is the ultimate travel hack,” he said.
For tech consultant Alex Yoong, 35, the biggest surprise of his recent trip to Shenzhen was the familiarity of the process.
He didn’t need to download a new app, register a foreign account or visit a money changer.
“I just used my TNG eWallet – the same one I use for tolls and parking in KL – and scanned the blue Alipay QR code at a roadside stall,” he said.
“The app instantly converted the ringgit to yuan. The vendor got their money, I got my dumplings, and the whole thing took three seconds.”
Since July 17 last year, Malaysian citizens can enjoy visa-free entry to China for short-term visits totalling up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The visa-free entry applies to purposes such as tourism, family visits, business, cultural exchange, private affairs, medical treatment and travel as crew members.
