Wuxi: Five-star card holders enjoy insiders' experience
"Hello, please present your ID." At a hotel in Wuxi, a foreigner completed the check-in process in around just 10 seconds with the five-star card. "Unlike in the past, when completing the same process required checking the passport and manual verification, now the 'five-star card' can be used just as an ID card, which improving the efficiency of our work significantly", the hotel staff mentioned.
The "five-star card," issued and put into use on Dec 1st, 2023, is the new version of the Permanent Residence Identity Card for Foreigners in the People's Republic of China. By the end of March this year, Wuxi had completed the compatibility upgrade in all hotels citywide enabling "five-star card" usage. On May 22, information from Wuxi Exit-Entry Administration showed that Wuxi Public Security Bureau, together with 30 departments and institutes, including the Municipal Talent Office, Health Commission, Transportation Bureau, Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, Data Bureau, People's Bank of China Wuxi Branch, and Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport Group Co., Ltd., have mostly completed the transformation of service processes centered on 54 daily life activities for foreigners in Wuxi.
The possibility for expats to live a carefree life in the city with just one card is the result of a comprehensive transformation of hardware and software. "Our research found that the experience enhancing needs of expats was concentrated in five areas: accommodation, transportation, consumption, finance, and insurance." said Li Xingjian, an officer from the Exit-Entry Administration, Wuxi Public Security Bureau.
After the transformation, foreigners can just swipe their "five-star cards" to enter high-speed rail stations and long-distance bus stations without printing out paper tickets first. The process for expatriates to apply for bank cards and online or mobile payment methods has been greatly shortened after system upgrades by banks collaborating with the Public Security Bureau.
"The most challenging transformation was with the hospitals." said Li. There are dozens of hospitals in Wuxi using a vast amount of equipment and systems supported by different manufacturers, causing many difficulties in integrating the back end systems. After pilot testing and simulating the entire process of registration, treatment, and payment, the Public Security Bureau, together with the Municipal Health Commission, finally smoothed out the process for foreigners. It is reported that all city-level tertiary hospitals have completed the transformation, which is considered being extended to community health care centers in the next step.
In April, Matthias from Switzerland used his "five-star card" online to buy tickets, and then used it offline to enter the Yuantouzhu Scenic Area. "Previously, there was no option for the 'five-star card' when buying tickets online." he said. Currently, major tourist attractions and cultural tourism sites such as Nianhua Bay Scenic Area, Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area, and Wuxi Museum have fully integrated online and offline usage systems for "five-star card" holders.
More and more scenarios suitable for the use of the "five-star card" are on the renovation list, including using Lingxi app and applying for public transport cards.
In March, Wuxi Municipal People's Government issued the Ten Measures to Facilitate the Entry and Stay of Foreign Nationals, marking the first city in Jiangsu Province to introduce such measures in an integrated and systematic manner. These measures guarantee increasing convenience for foreign nationals. To name a few, foreigners in Wuxi can enjoy quick currency exchange services presenting cash and a valid ID without an appointment at the airport. They can have instant tax refunds on purchases at multiple shopping malls without leaving the mall. Real estate registration online and offline can be done using only the "five-star card" with no need to present additional passport or other documents. There are multilingual instruction and guidance services on public transportation or at tourist attractions. Card holders can also go to dedicated windows in hospitals for registration and payment. The "feel-at-home" convenient life is expected to attract more foreign talent and investors to Wuxi.
Sources: Wuxi Daily, Wuxi Broadcasting and TV station
Carefree in Jiangsu: This series tours around the 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu, to explore their supportive policies and measures to enhance the convenience of foreigners' lives there.