(Yicai Global) Feb. 7 -- China has opened access to foreigners to use the country's central bank-backed digital currency during the Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Overseas visitors can use bankcard-like virtual currency wallets or software ones to pay for goods and services at game venues, Yicai Global learned. The cards can be found at Bank of China outlets, vending machines, and hotels. Foreigners should be able to find a digital yuan mobile application in app stores to exchange foreign currency to e-yuan.

Visitors are using the e-yuan card to buy souvenirs.

E-yuan is the only type of mobile payment option that visitors can use inside the venues. Consumers from nearly 100 countries and regions can register to open such a crypto wallet even without a Chinese bank account.

Event staff was helping visitors who were inquiring about the central bank digital currency.

The People’s Bank of China made the CBDC available via a Chinese app early this year. The country is experimenting with the virtual currency in 10 pilot areas, including Shenzhen and Shanghai. Some 261 million wallets have been opened with CNY87.6 billion (USD13.8 billion) in transactions, according to the central bank.

Editor: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi