Beijing is China’s “smartest” city for cashless payments with consumers using e-wallets everywhere from vegetable markets to hotels, according to a 34-city survey by tech firm Tencent, French market research firm Ipsos and Renmin University’s Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies. The survey asked more than 6,500 people about their payments for a range of goods and services, including takeaway food, restaurant dining, telecommunications and transport. Beijing topped the list for penetration of cashless payments, followed by Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, and Shanghai. Two other Guangdong cities – Dongguan and Foshan – also made it into the top 10. About half of those surveyed used cash for about 20% of their monthly spending, and four in 10 carried less than CNY100 in cash when they left the house. About seven in 10 respondents said they could go for more than a week with just CNY100 in cash, and 84% were comfortable going out with just their mobile phone for payments. Convenience stores and even vegetable vendors accept WeChat or Alipay. Mobile apps can also be used to buy a subway card or a ride on a shared bicycle.