The Cashless Society Has Arrived— Only It’s in China
Mobile payments surge to $9 trillion a year, changing how people shop, borrow—even panhandle
BEIJING—Soliciting handouts near a grocery store, Zhao Shenji, a slender man with shorn hair, made giving easy for Beijing residents accustomed to relying on their smartphones.
“Recommend using WeChat Pay,” said a placard the beggar displayed.
It was a literal sign of the times. Payment via mobile-phone services such as WeChat is sweeping...