China cashing out as mobile payment soars

Beijing

YANG Qianqian holds out her smartphone to scan a barcode on the mobile of a vendor selling fresh fruit and vegetables at a bustling outdoor market in Beijing.

The dance student is part of an explosion in the use of mobile payment platforms in China as consumers increasingly take out phones instead of cash to pay for everything from a cup of coffee to a language class or a petrol bill.

"Even though I have cash on me it's not convenient to get it when I am carrying a lot of bags," said Ms Yang, 25, clutching plastic bags filled with pears, potatoes and watermelon.

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