Southeast Asia has seen strong growth in Weixin pay usage as Chinese tourists travel abroad over Golden Week, Weixin said Thursday.

The firm said in a statement that during the first five days in October, Weixin Pay cross-border transactions increased by 21 percent year-on-year, while the transactions of Weixin Mini Program overseas in the transportation sector have surged 2.5 times.

The Greater Bay Area was especially active during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR remained the top destinations for mainland tourists traveling abroad, ranking first in cross-border Weixin Pay transaction volume.

Ride-hailing orders booked by mainland tourists in Hong Kong SAR via platforms such as DiDi, Amap, and Uber increased more than fivefold year-on-year.

Meanwhile, visa-free policies for Chinese citizens in countries such as South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand boosted outbound travel.

Weixin Pay transactions in South Korea grew by 46 percent, while transactions in Singapore increased by 32 percent.

In Malaysia, transaction volume and value processed via the national payment network PayNet surged more than threefold year-on-year.

In Japan, Weixin Pay transactions rose by over 25 percent, supported by integration with local e-wallets such as PayPay, auPAY, and merpay/d-barai, enabling Chinese tourists to enjoy richer and more seamless travel experiences.

With the continued global expansion of Weixin Mini Programs, the service now covers 92 countries and regions.

During the holiday, transaction volume through overseas Mini Programs in the tourism and catering sectors grew by over 50 percent and 30 percent year-on-year, respectively.

The average daily transaction value from Chinese tourists using overseas small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)’s Mini Programs increased by more than 70 percent year-on-year.

In transportation, Weixin Mini Programs such as Uber and Grab provided convenience for outbound Chinese travelers, while Korea’s Korail and Italy’s Frecciarossa and Italo facilitated long-distance travel abroad.

New Weixin Mini Programs launched before the holiday for Hong Kong Airport Express, Kuala Lumpur Airport Express, and Heathrow Airport Express ticket purchases have made free travel increasingly convenient.

On the inbound tourism side, WeChat said it is becoming a key tool for international tourists to experience China.

In the first five days of Golden Week, the average daily number of inbound tourist users visiting Mini Programs increased by more than 60 percent year-on-year.

Earlier summer holiday data shows that overseas users binding international bank cards to Weixin Pay saw a significant increase in transaction volumes in the Chinese mainland compared with last year, with transaction counts in Chongqing and Chengdu doubling year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents took advantage of the holiday to travel north.

Data from WeChat Pay HK shows that transaction volume by Hong Kong residents spending in the Chinese mainland using the Hong Kong dollar e-wallet surged over 120 percent year-on-year.

Demand for both online and offline shopping remained strong, with e-commerce services, pet services, and courier services ranking as the top three sectors by year-on-year growth in
transaction value.

Entertainment shows and sporting events emerged as the fastest-growing leisure activities for Hong Kong residents visiting the mainland during the National Day holiday.

Malaysia’s Revenue appointed as the official acquirer for Weixin Pay