We’ve known for quite some time now that Apple Pay is coming to China, and that all signs pointed to an impending launch. But now, we’ve got a time and a date: February 18, at 5:00 am China time.
That information comes via the public WeChat account of China Guangfa Bank credit cards. Since those cards, like all UnionPay cards, will be able to connect with Apple Pay, the bank’s WeChat account is dispensing information about Apple Pay, and the available menu options include a query about when Apple Pay will be available. If you select that option, the account will tell you it’s coming to China on February 18, at 5:00 am. It also says you’ll need iOS 9.2 or later or Watch OS 2.1 or later to be able to use it.
Apple still hasn’t officially announced when Apple Pay is launching in China, so it’s possible that China Guangfa Bank is simply wrong, but that seems unlikely. Apple did promise the service was coming early in 2016, after all. We’ll see what happens on Thursday, but all signs point to Apple finally rolling out its e-payment competitor in the Middle Kingdom.
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