Badaling, Mastercard partner to facilitate payments

The Badaling Culture and Tourism Group and Mastercard signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Sept 9, aiming to make it easier for international visitors to pay for services at the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

The agreement was signed during the 2026 World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development in Beijing. The two sides will cooperate on inbound payment services, tourism consumption and international tourism services, with the Badaling Great Wall scenic area set to become one of the country's first World Heritage sites to establish an inbound-payment demonstration program, the group said.

The partnership comes as Badaling upgrades its visitor services under what the tourism group describes as its 3.0 development phase, focusing on smart management, service quality and visitor experience.

The scenic area has upgraded its environment, infrastructure, service system, and visitor experience. The newly renovated Great Wall Museum has also reopened, combining historical artifacts with digital displays to introduce the Great Wall's history and cultural significance.

Under the agreement, Mastercard will work with Badaling Culture and Tourism Group to expand payment options for overseas visitors and facilitate the acceptance of international bank cards across the scenic area. The cooperation is intended to address common difficulties faced by inbound travelers, including limited payment options and the need to navigate different payment channels.

Rong Xinfeng, Party secretary and chairman of the Badaling group, says that improving payment services is an important part of making the scenic area more accessible to international visitors.

Badaling's 3.0 phase is not only upgrading its physical facilities but also improving service details, visitor experience and international service capabilities, according to Rong. Payment convenience is an important part of that effort, he says.

According to the agreement, the demonstration program is expected to cover Badaling's core sightseeing area and commercial and leisure facilities. The partners say that the project will enable overseas visitors to use international bank cards across a wider range of consumption scenarios.

The cooperation also comes as China continues to improve payment convenience for international visitors. In recent years, authorities and businesses have expanded acceptance of overseas bank cards and other payment options at transport hubs, tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets.

Badaling, one of the best-known sections of the Great Wall and a major Beijing tourist destination, has received large numbers of domestic and international visitors. The partnership with Mastercard is intended to further integrate its visitor services with international tourism standards.

The two sides say they will explore further cooperation in payment services, tourism consumption and international promotion, including developing new visitor experiences and digital services.