Blackhawk Network and Alipay have partnered to expand Alipay's mobile payment acceptance and engagement offerings to participating U.S. retailers, according to a press release.

Blackhawk intends to roll out the service in select participating retailers beginning January 2018.

Through this partnership, Blackhawk's retailers have the ability to connect with Alipay users traveling in the U.S. by accepting in-store payment via Alipay and are searchable to users on Alipay's Discover platform.

"Until now, Chinese tourists lacked convenient access to information on what payment methods were accepted at U.S. retailers they wished to visit," Talbott Roche, CEO and president of Blackhawk, said in the release. "Alipay is ubiquitous in China, and represents an effective way for retailers to engage with Chinese travelers. We are excited to offer our retail partners a way to better connect with Chinese consumers by alleviating the major pain points of shopping, researching and paying while visiting and ultimately, providing Alipay users with an excellent shopping experience while they travel here in the U.S."

Alipay estimates some 4 million Chinese tourists visit North America every year.