Shanghai is gearing up for a major push to welcome international travellers this summer with the launch of Shanghai Summer 2026, a four-month initiative running from July to October. The programme is designed to remove friction points that often deter overseas visitors, from payment hurdles to navigating the city's sprawling transport network. By integrating services across payments, mobility, tax refunds, and hospitality, the city aims to position itself as one of Asia's most traveller-friendly gateways.
Visa expands contactless payments
Visa, a global strategic partner of Shanghai Summer, is broadening its Tap to Pay contactless network across the city, covering dining, accommodation, transport, tourism, shopping, and entertainment. The expansion comes as Visa reports a more than 50% increase in offline card spending by international visitors in Shanghai during the first quarter of 2026, with transaction volumes rising by over 60%. This growth underscores the pent-up demand from inbound travellers and the importance of seamless payment options.
China UnionPay is also stepping up its game for international visitors through the Nihao China App. This digital platform supports payments, transportation, travel information, and multilingual services, allowing users to top up with international Visa or Mastercard cards and pay via UnionPay QR codes at over 100,000 merchant locations. The app also facilitates metro and bus travel, real-time translation, navigation, and instant tax-refund services, making it a one-stop tool for visitors.
Tax refunds and transport simplified
The Bank of China Shanghai Branch has introduced an upgraded Tax Refund 2.0 programme, extending tax-refund services to hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, attractions, and international talent service centres. This is supported by integrated POS refund functions and self-service tax-refund machines, reducing the hassle for shoppers and diners.
For ease of navigation, the Shanghai Pass combines transportation, sightseeing, and merchant benefits, usable across the city's metro, buses, ferries, suburban railways, Maglev services, and taxis. Cardholders can enjoy privileges at nearly 150 merchants, making it a practical companion for exploring the city.
Hospitality and dining packages
Jin Jiang International's 2026 Jin Jiang Journey Shanghai Summer programme offers a comprehensive package combining hotels, cultural attractions, dining, guided city experiences, and family entertainment. The Shanghai Gourmet Passport 2.0 further connects dining, hotels, and cultural experiences for international visitors, encouraging them to explore beyond the typical tourist trail.
These initiatives collectively aim to make payment, transport, tax refunds, hotels, dining, and attractions more interconnected, facilitating a seamless experience for international visitors exploring Shanghai. For travel professionals, this signals a broader trend of cities investing in visitor infrastructure to compete for inbound tourism dollars. Similar efforts are underway elsewhere in Asia, such as Bangkok's climate agenda reshaping urban mobility, which also focuses on enhancing the visitor experience through sustainable transport options.
The move also aligns with China's broader push to attract more foreign visitors, as seen in the rise of budget hotels as a gateway for 150 million foreign visitors. By streamlining payments and services, Shanghai is positioning itself as a leader in the region's inbound tourism recovery.
For tour operators and agents, the Shanghai Summer 2026 initiative offers a clear opportunity to package these enhanced services into their itineraries. The integration of transport, dining, and cultural experiences through programmes like the Shanghai Pass and Gourmet Passport 2.0 makes it easier to design multi-day city breaks that appeal to both leisure and business travellers.
As the summer season approaches, travel professionals should monitor how these services are received and whether they translate into increased visitor numbers. The success of such initiatives could set a benchmark for other Chinese cities looking to boost their international appeal.
