From morning till night, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is bustling with crowds, and visitors holding Chinese passports can be seen everywhere. This vividly illustrates the continuous increase in travel between the two countries since the implementation of the mutual visa exemption policy between China and Malaysia.

“Taking a flight just to eat Nyonya cuisine,” “smooth entry in just a few minutes”… On social media platforms, more and more Chinese tourists are sharing the ease and convenience they experience while traveling in Malaysia. In late November this year, we also traveled to Malaysia to experience firsthand how the visa exemption policy has made it a “pack-and-go” destination for a growing number of Chinese tourists.

During our visit, we found that the reason Malaysia makes Chinese tourists want to “come back again” lies not only in its unique cultural charm but also in its continuously improving service system—including the expanding use of mobile payment scenarios like WeChat Pay and Alipay. To test their convenience, we personally experienced a “cashless day challenge” in Malaysia! From having breakfast to attending a durian carnival, Chinese mobile payments can be used seamlessly in Kuala Lumpur. Let’s take a look at our cashless mobile payment journey.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is Malaysia’s primary international gateway, officially opened in 1998 to replace the overcapacity Subang Airport. Designed with a modern “airport in the forest” concept, it features extensive Islamic-inspired architecture and has grown to become a major hub for air travel in Southeast Asia.

Nyonya cuisine

Nyonya cuisine, also known as Peranakan cuisine, is a vibrant fusion of Chinese ingredients and cooking techniques with the spices and flavors of the Malay archipelago. It originated in the 15th to 17th centuries from the intermarriage between Chinese immigrant traders and local Malay women in the Straits Settlements of Malacca, Penang, and Singapore. This unique heritage is celebrated in dishes like laksa and ayam buah keluak, which balance sweet, sour, spicy, and savory notes.

durian carnival

The Durian Carnival is a modern food and cultural festival held primarily in Southeast Asia, celebrating the infamous “king of fruits.” While not a historical site, these events highlight regional agricultural heritage, often taking place in durian-producing areas like Malaysia’s Penang or Thailand’s Chanthaburi province to promote local tourism and the fruit’s unique culinary culture.

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city of Malaysia, founded in the 1850s as a tin-mining settlement at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. It grew rapidly under British colonial influence and later became a symbol of modern Malaysian prosperity, notably with the construction of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Today, it is a bustling metropolis known for its striking mix of colonial architecture, vibrant street markets, Islamic heritage, and gleaming skyscrapers.