Take China UnionPay Payments in the UK

Chinese visitors are some of the highest-spending tourists in the UK. Zeller now makes it easier for your business to welcome them by accepting their preferred payment method: China UnionPay.

With close to 150,000 Chinese students enrolled in British universities last year, and hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists visiting the UK each year, Chinese customers are a valuable group for UK businesses. With China UnionPay now accepted on Zeller Terminal, Chinese customers can pay at your counter with a card they know and trust. Plus, there’s no additional cost to you – China UnionPay payments are charged at the same simple rate of 1.99% per transaction. In this article, we explain what China UnionPay is, why Chinese tourists and students matter to UK businesses, and how accepting UnionPay can increase your sales and keep customers happy.

What is China UnionPay?

China UnionPay, often just called UnionPay, is China’s main bank card network. It was founded in 2002 and is now one of the largest payment networks in the world. Almost every major bank in China issues UnionPay cards, so most Chinese consumers carry one.

A UnionPay card works like any other bank card. Customers can tap, insert or swipe it, and the payment goes through the UnionPay network. UnionPay is accepted in more than 180 countries and regions.

Many Chinese nationals prefer to pay with UnionPay when they travel, so accepting it at your business takes the hassle out of paying and shows these customers they’re welcome.

Chinese visitors spend more per trip than most.

VisitBritain figures show that Chinese residents made 463,000 visits to the UK in 2024 and spent £723.8 million. That works out at £1,563 per visit, one of the highest averages of any inbound market.

These visitors also travel well beyond the capital. 64% of their nights are spent outside London, so the opportunity reaches cities such as Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, and beyond.

For local businesses, that makes Chinese visitors a lucrative customer group, whether you run a shop, café, pub, restaurant or tour company. Group travel is common, and visitors tend to choose places that feel familiar, convenient, and easy to pay in.

Lunar New Year is a big trading moment.

Visitor numbers from China rise around Lunar New Year, when China’s extended Spring Festival holiday begins. London hosts the largest Lunar New Year celebrations outside Asia, with hundreds of thousands of people lining the route from Trafalgar Square to Chinatown. Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham hold large celebrations of their own.

Visitors from China join the UK’s Chinese communities for the festivities, which makes it a key trading period for retail, hospitality, and tourism. If you accept China UnionPay, you can plan for Lunar New Year as part of your yearly calendar. China’s October Golden Week is another peak travel period worth planning for.

Chinese students spend all year round.

China is the largest source of international students at UK universities, with close to 150,000 students enrolled in 2024/2025. They contributed £4.9 billion to the UK economy in 2024 through tuition fees and living costs.

Their spending goes on groceries, eating out, clothes, weekends away and much more. That makes them a customer base all year round, and in every university town, not just tourist hotspots.

Both tourists and students often pay with money from home on UnionPay cards. If your business accepts their card easily, you’re far more likely to win their custom.

Accepting China UnionPay means more sales and happier customers.

A payment provider that accepts China UnionPay, such as Zeller, can directly increase your revenue. Chinese tourists and students look for businesses that accept the way they want to pay. A UnionPay logo at your till or in your window tells them they can pay easily here.

Accepting UnionPay also improves the customer experience. It tells Chinese customers they’re welcome, and happy customers come back and recommend you. That matters especially for Chinese customers, who often share recommendations within their communities and on social platforms such as RedNote and WeChat.

More ways to pay means more potential sales. Each new payment option removes another barrier between a customer wanting to buy and actually paying. With UnionPay alongside Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay, you’re covered.

How to start accepting China UnionPay with Zeller.

If you already use Zeller Terminal, Invoices, Payment Links you don’t need to do anything. UnionPay is switched on automatically.

Not using Zeller yet? Now is a great time to consider us. Sign up for a free Zeller Account in minutes, order a shiny new Zeller Terminal and start accepting China UnionPay straight away.