Chinese city pilots using facial recognition for ID card check

CHENGDU -- Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, has launched a pilot program that uses a phone application as an alternative to ID cards for hotel check-in, according to local authorities.

The application, which allows users to identify themselves by scanning their faces on their phones, was launched in May. So far, nearly 2,000 people have used the service in 14 local hotels and one bus station, according to the local public security bureau.

After downloading an app and registering their personal information, the user can run a facial recognition scan, and if successful, the hotel will receive their ID information for check-in.

"The application can help avoid ID theft and, unlike ID cards, which are easy to lose, it is more secure," said Wu Xun, with the local public security bureau.

"Users need to run the camera check each time they use the service, so even if they lose their phone, their ID remains safe," Wu said.