Shanghai has started to allow people to check-in at hotels without showing their physical ID cards, police said yesterday.

Instead, people can show their Shanghai Health QR Code, known as suishenma, or their digital ID cards.

At present, Chinese with ahukou, or registered residency, in Shanghai as well asZhejiang and Anhui provinces are entitled to the new service.

But soon it will benefit people from all over the country. It will potentially also benefit people fromHongKong,Macauand Taiwan and also foreigners in China, because they have been able to apply forsuishenmasince March last year.

And over 600 hotels in Shanghai have installed machines to allow people to self-check in with physical ID cards to reduce physical contact between guests and staff.

It takes under 30 seconds to check in at the machine, which also allows people to choose rooms. After inserting their ID cards, facial recognition is required to confirm the identity of guests. The room key is also issued.

The machines currently accept only Chinese ID cards.