Visiting Shanghai — a sprawling megacity of over 24 million residents — can be both exhilarating and overwhelming for international travelers. As one of the world’s busiest urban hubs, Shanghai welcomes tens of millions of global visitors each year, drawn by its futuristic skyline, vibrant culture, and rich culinary scene. But navigating such a vast and fast-paced city isn’t always easy, especially for newcomers who may not speak the language or understand local digital services.

From figuring out how to pay for a metro ride to ordering food or accessing tourist attractions, the experience can often feel fragmented and confusing for foreigners. While Shanghai is undeniably modern and technologically advanced, many digital services are still heavily tailored to domestic users — leaving international visitors at a disadvantage.

Recognizing this gap, Shanghai is preparing to launch Easy Go — a new English-language digital platform aimed at simplifying and enriching the travel experience for international guests. Powered by Alipay, Easy Go consolidates essential services, helpful guides, exclusive offers, and insider travel tips all in one place, making it easier than ever for visitors to feel at home in China’s commercial capital.

Services

Whether it’s placing a food delivery order, browsing dining recommendations, checking transit schedules, hailing a taxi, unlocking a shared bike, booking tickets, storing luggage, or locating tax-refund counters, each tool is neatly grouped by function for intuitive access.

And with the pioneering “Tap for Tax Refund” feature tied into Shanghai’s citywide refund map, visitors enjoy an even smoother tax refund experience.

Benefits

In collaboration with local businesses, this section offers exclusive discount packages under the theme of “Shanghai Coupon Pack”. Travelers can claim deals and coupons covering cultural experiences, tourist attractions, commercial venues, sports events and exhibitions.

Guides

Supported by the International Services Shanghai website, this section provides lifestyle updates, special recommendations and highlights of the latest happenings in the city.

Travel tips

This section features short videos produced by official media outlets and popular international influencers, spotlighting the best of Shanghai and China. Visitors can explore top-rated food spots, must-see attractions and shopping destinations through engaging, curated content.

While English is the default language, Easy Go also supports real-time translation in several other languages, making it accessible to a broader range of international users.

Easy Go is expected to play a key role in supporting the upcoming 2025 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season, which will kick off in early July and run until mid-October.

Final thoughts

Shanghai’s introduction of the Easy Go platform marks a strategic leap in digital destination management — not just a technological upgrade, but a clear signal of the city’s ambition to become more inclusive, user-friendly, and globally competitive. In an era where seamless digital access is as important as physical infrastructure, cities that simplify the visitor journey — from discovery to payment to cultural immersion — will define the future of urban tourism.

By centralizing essential services and integrating multilingual support, Easy Go tackles one of the biggest pain points for international travelers in China: digital interoperability. More importantly, it aligns with global trends where tourism is no longer just about attractions but about removing friction from every touchpoint of the experience. Shanghai isn’t just welcoming tourists—it’s optimizing their entire stay.

This move sets a precedent for other global metropolises: in a world driven by smart tourism and real-time personalization, platforms like Easy Go aren’t a luxury — they are fast becoming an expectation.