Shanghai Frans Vandenbosch 方腾波   21/10/2025 The paradox of ATMs in China’s cashless society What purpose do ATMs serve in a society that has entirely abandoned cash? During my four weeks in China, I have not used physical currency once. Everything, from street food vendors to hotels or luxury retailers use digital payments seamlessly. Today, driven by curiosity and a touch of nostalgia, I withdrew a 100 CNY banknote from an old ATM located behind a corner near an ICBC bank branch. I intend to keep this banknote as a souvenir, a tangible relict of an era that has already passed in this part of the world. What is even more remarkable is that I have not needed my international credit cards either. My Visa and Mastercard have remained unused throughout my entire stay. Even my UnionPay card (China’s domestic credit card network) has sat idle in my wallet. Instead, mobile … Continue reading Asia trip 2025 – part 6