In Ningbo, there are increasing number of application scenarios for the digital currency.[Photo by Jin Lu]
 

　　By Dong Na

　　A new round of Ningbo e-CNY red packets had been issued and used in recent days. The campaign has been very well signed up by the public, with the number of registrations exceeding 150,000 within 24 hours!

　　Rounds of Coupons Launched

　　Since listed as a national pilot city for digital yuan, Ningbo has actively launched multiple sets of consumption coupons to residents, effectively boosting offline consumption. As a result, the red packets distribution campaign continuously improves the awareness and acceptance of digital yuan.

　　A total of 100,000 red packets, each valued at RMB 100, were set up for this round of campaign, totaling RMB 10 million.

　　In Ningbo, there are increasing number of application scenarios for the digital currency, so this time the consumption scenario of e-CNY red packets were expanded to the whole city for the first time, with tens of thousands of participating merchants, including some well-known chain brands.

　　Digital yuan has been or will soon be fully applied in scenarios such as metro, bus, electric car rental, and urban parking. Cixi and Beilun have made innovative breakthroughs in the field of government affairs, such as the issuance of civil servants' salaries and tax payments with digital yuan; Cixi and Yuyao have actively promoted the application of digital yuan in the field of rural revitalization in cooperation with service agencies. Many scenic spots in Zhenhai, Xiangshan, and Fenghua now accept e-CNY payment. Some colleges have taken the lead in introducing e-CNY channels in on-campus payment scenarios.

　　Convenient Payment with Red Packets

　　People have found the advantages of the e-CNY red packets when shopping at supermarkets.

　　For example, if a consumer purchases a RMB20 item at a supermarket, the remaining RMB80 can be used at any other merchant that supports digital yuan payment. As such, the red packets can be used at a number of well-known supermarket chains in the city.

　　Many university students studying in Ningbo have also received their coveted RMB100 e-CNY red envelopes.

　　During the National Day holiday, many students walked into supermarkets, restaurants, and coffee bars within Ningbo University and paid by the e-CNY red packet, some buying household items, some joining friends for a meal, and some buying books in bookstores, enjoying the discounted shopping.

　　Some residents also went to the petrol station to experience digital yuan red packet payments. Detailed training was given to staff at the patrol station to ensure that people were able to use their red envelopes smoothly.

　　Implementing Diversified Application Scenarios

　　The pulling effect of the e-CNY red packets on the digital yuan piloting has been significant.

　　According to relevant experts, under the promotional effect of the several rounds of digital yuan red packet issuance activities, the number of users covered by digital yuan and the number of wallets opened is expected to see a new round of growth. In the future, by further breaking through regional restrictions, spending time restrictions, and increasing the scale of red envelope issuance, it will be more convenient for the public and merchants to use the red packets.

　　Digital yuan has helped the economy in more ways than just boosting consumption. In promoting green development, expanding financial services and improving the business environment, the government, enterprises and banks have worked together to set up a wealth of application scenarios. Almost every month, a new area of use is ushered in for digital yuan, and the payment experience becomes more convenient in one update after another.

　　The newly coming digital yuan use scenarios will focus on the areas of transportation, culture and tourism, health care, education, among others. More scenarios with more diverse industry layout will be developed in the future.