China has firmly established itself as a global frontrunner in technological advancement in recent years. From developing humanoid robots to revolutionising healthcare, the country consistently demonstrates its commitment to cutting-edge innovation. A notable example is the use of palm scanning for payments at grocery stores.

A video that's now gone viral features a man at a 7-Eleven store, where he buys a bottle of sparkling water and uses a palm scan to make the payment. In the clip, he says, “That’s my WeChat ID, and I paid without having my cards or my wallet on me or my phone which is pretty crazy! Mindblowing!”

After the video was shared, an X user commented, “Indians: Cash is the king. Meanwhile, in China!” The clip quickly sparked reactions online, with many users drawing comparisons between India’s UPI system and China’s palm payment technology. One person wrote, “If someone would have send me this video on 1st April, I would consider this video as a prank. China is 50 years ahead of the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, in India, let’s build one more statue.” In response, another user defended India’s progress, saying, “Don’t demean India. Here, people use Paytm even to buy dhaniya for Rs 10. India is also way ahead than many countries in digital payment and online delivery.” “This is definitely one level up than UPI,” reacted a third user.

Launched in May 2023, Weixin’s palm recognition technology was first introduced on Beijing’s airport express train and at Shenzhen University. By September, it had quickly spread to over 1,500 7-Eleven stores in Guangdong province, according to the Debrief. Now, the system is also used at power bank rental stations and in industries like retail, transport, fitness, and education. To access the service, users place their palms over a scanner and go through a short registration process via a mobile app, the report noted.