Alibaba Group’s Amap has introduced a ride-hailing feature on the English version of its platform, allowing foreign visitors to access transportation in over 360 cities across mainland China.

This new feature follows the launch of Amap’s English version in February.

The ride-hailing option is available through a button on the homepage. It supports phone numbers from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Users can make payments via Alipay and WeChat Pay, both of which accept international bank cards.

This introduction coincides with China’s visa-free travel policy. This policy allows visitors from 43 countries to stay in the mainland for up to 30 days.

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🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s digital ecosystem rapidly adapting to capture visa-free tourism surge

Amap’s English-language ride-hailing feature is part of a broader trend of Chinese tech companies adapting their services for international visitors following the country’s visa-free policy expansion.

The timing is strategic. China saw 14.64 million international visitors in the first half of 2024 alone, with visa exemptions accounting for 52% of all entries, demonstrating the policy’s effectiveness in boosting tourism 1.

This adaptation extends beyond Amap to apps like DiDi Chuxing, which launched English interfaces with translation features specifically designed to overcome language barriers between foreign passengers and Chinese drivers 2.

These developments reflect a coordinated effort between government policy and private enterprise to remove practical barriers for international visitors, as evidenced by the 73% year-over-year increase in foreign visitors during the recent Labor Day holiday.

By enabling international payment options through WeChat Pay and Alipay, these platforms are eliminating one of the most significant obstacles foreign travelers face in China: accessing local payment systems that dominate the nearly cashless society.

2️⃣ Digital mobility services becoming essential infrastructure for China’s tourism ambitions

China’s expanded visa-free policies have generated impressive results, with inbound tourism surging 82.9% and over 20 million visa-free trips in 2024 alone 3, creating demand for accessible transportation solutions.

Transportation apps play a critical role in this ecosystem, with previous research showing that foreign visitors consider ride-hailing and navigation apps among the “must-have” applications when traveling in China, alongside communication and payment platforms 4.

The Chinese government’s strategy of using visa-free travel as an economic stimulus aligns with projections of 4.8% GDP growth for 2024, with tourism expected to be a significant contributor to this expansion 5.

For context, before introducing its English version, Amap was already essential for Chinese users, functioning similarly to Google Maps while offering integrated services across the Alibaba ecosystem that connects users to local businesses.

This integration of mobility services into China’s digital ecosystem represents a sophisticated approach to tourism infrastructure, potentially giving China a competitive advantage over destinations with more fragmented digital services for travelers.

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