Have you heard of Hangzhou’s Xiaohongche, literally meaning “little red bike”? It is a public shared bike system that recently partnered with Alipay to make its services even more convenient for overseas users.
The first choice of public transport among locals
What attracts local residents is that Xiaohongche is free to use within one hour. Overseas users can now also appreciate the red bikes even more because they no longer need to pay a deposit before going on a ride.
The new update allows overseas users to scan the QR code for riding with just a one-click login onto Alipay, making traveling around Hangzhou as convenient as it is for the locals. Here’s how to get started:
First, overseas users may open the Alipay App to scan the QR codes located on the bike dock, or search for the mini program “Diing” on Alipay;
Next, click “Use the car”, click “Login Now” on the next page, select “Alipay user fast login”, and follow the instructions on screen;
After entering the activation page, select “Open Immediately” on the ‘0 yuan open for free’ block, and you will successfully activate your account. You may proceed to scan the QR code on the bike dock, and have a fun ride around Hangzhou city!
Another useful feature is the temporary lock. If you want to stop for a while, you can lock the bicycle using a key placed in the bicycle frame. Use the bike lock to secure the wheel, turn the key, and keep it with you. When you're ready to continue riding, simply use the key to unlock the bicycle and resume your ride.
By the way, the Alipay App supports 16 languages so a language barrier is not an excuse to not enjoy Xiaohongche. The world’s largest urban public bike project Xiaohongche was officially put into operation in 2008, the system has now boasts over 5,500 service points in 2024, with over 140,000 vehicles spread throughout the city, making it the world’s largest urban public bike project.
This new update enriches the travel experience of foreign tourists, allowing them to fully immerse into Chinese culture and experience life in China just like the locals. On the other hand, this step is also a part of China’s plan to promote green tourism and low-carbon travel.
What are you waiting for? Rent a bike and go for a bike ride around Hangzhou now! Intern: Wu Jing Editor: Daria Fominykh Senior editor: Zhou Ji, Li Zheng Source: Hangzhoufeel