Shenzhen issues digital yuan to boost festival consumption

A staff member of the Bank of Communications Beijing Branch instructs a visitor to open a digital RMB wallet on a mobile phone, on June 16, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

SHENZHEN – The commerce bureau of the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen will hand out consumption coupons worth over 25 million yuan (about 3.95 million US dollars) in China's digital fiat currency, or the e-CNY, during the upcoming Spring Festival.

Six banks will join the distribution of the e-CNY, which can be used in scenarios such as catering, traveling, entertainment and shopping, for citizens during the Spring Festival, the bureau said.

READ MORE: Shenzhen unveils list admitting qualified overseas professionals

According to the Shenzhen office of the People's Bank of China, by the end of 2021, over 300,000 merchants in Shenzhen have accepted digital yuan, covering retailing, catering, transportation, education and medical care, government services and other fields.