The International Service Center at Hangzhou International Airport. [Photo/Tide News]

China has launched a national initiative to improve digital services for inbound visitors, with Hangzhou among the first batch of pilot cities.

The pilot program also includes Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Sanya. It aims to test scalable models for improving entry-related digital services for foreign visitors, leveraging cities with strong infrastructure and international tourism demand.

Hangzhou was selected for its advanced digital ecosystem and strong performance in inbound tourism growth.

In the first five months of 2026, the city received 761,000 inbound overnight visitors, up 51.8 percent year-on-year, while inbound tourism revenue reached $781.33 million, up 60.1 percent. As of June 30, outbound tax refund sales had risen by 65.17 percent from the same month in 2025.

The one-touch check-in service in Hangzhou is available via Alipay. [Photo/Tide News]

Hangzhou has rolled out a wide range of digital services for foreign travelers, covering the entire journey from arrival to departure. These include seamless airport arrival assistance, instant SIM and eSIM activation, multi-channel cross-border payment solutions, and streamlined accommodation check-in via digital identity tools.

Visitors can also enjoy: smart luggage delivery across airports, rail stations, and hotels; AI-powered itinerary planning and multilingual travel assistance; as well as fast and convenient tax refund services for overseas shoppers.

A recent innovation also allows foreign tourists to apply for temporary driving permits online and pick up rental cars upon arrival, further enhancing travel convenience.

Hangzhou authorities said they will continue to expand the city's easy travel ecosystem and provide scalable digital service solutions for national replication, aiming to make inbound travel smoother, smarter, and more accessible.