Shanghai is gearing up to launch Easy Go, a new digital platform designed to enhance the travel experience for international visitors, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government announced on Thursday.
Easy Go, an English-language service hub tailored to Shanghai, operates on the online payment tool Alipay.
Featuring four key sections – food, transport, attractions, and shopping – the platform allows international travelers to access various services during their stay, all in one place, the office announced at a promotional event in Zhangyuan, Jing'an district.
The platform will amalgamate 30 commonly used apps and tools into a single, user-friendly interface, providing real-time public service information customized to meet the specific needs of international visitors.
The launch is part of a collaborative effort to streamline the digital experience for international visitors exploring Shanghai.
The inception of the initiative dates back to February, during a consultative session organized by the office that sought input from members of the expat community on how best to enhance services for international visitors and residents.
Acknowledging the increasing popularity of "China Travel" among global tourists and Shanghai's pivotal role as a major entry point for inbound travelers, the office initiated measures to address digital challenges faced by such visitors, culminating in the creation of Easy Go.
In the lead-up to the platform's launch, the office worked closely with municipal departments and developers to enhance the English interfaces, functionalities, and overall user experience of commonly used apps integrated into Easy Go.
Ashish Maskay, a Nepalese doctor at Shanghai United Family Hospital, participated in both the February meeting and subsequent preparations for the Easy Go launch and praised the Shanghai government's swift response and dedication to addressing the needs of international visitors.
"Shanghai has always been very committed to serving expats – that's just how this city is. It's a cosmopolitan city. I always say Shanghai not only belongs to China but to the whole world," Maskay said.
He helped refine commonly used apps on the new platform, such as piloting a navigation app to test its functionality and trying the English version of Dianping – a platform that is similar to Yelp – to assess the user experience.
Maskay said he believes the platform will significantly ease everyday tasks for visitors.
"This super app should hopefully solve all those issues and give those people and the end users a really pleasant experience," he added.
Jessica Gleeson, CEO of Shanghai-based BrighterBeauty and a visitor to China for the past 25 years, commended Easy Go for its potential to allow international visitors to enjoy a more personalized travel experience, saying: "They can seek out different resources to make their time in Shanghai more memorable."
Astrid Poghosyan, project manager of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, expressed her enthusiasm about the upcoming launch of this "long-awaited" application platform.
Recalling her arrival in Shanghai in 2009, when she had to explore the city on her own with few resources available for international visitors, she said Easy Go would be "a game changer".
"I'll be more than willing to share it with as many people visiting Shanghai as possible," the 16-year Shanghai resident said from Armenia. "I hope we can spread enough awareness of this application, so that, before landing, people will be able to scan and download it."
Authorities expect Easy Go to play a pivotal role in supporting the 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season, a city-wide initiative set to unfold from July to October, offering a seamless and enriching experience for visitors exploring the dynamic metropolis.
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