A woman uses her mobile phone in front of an advertisement of China UnionPay in Shaoyang city, central Chinas Hunan province, 23 March 2013. [Photo: Imagine China]

China's largest payment and clearing network UnionPay has launched a new mobile payment service with over 20 commercial banks.

The service uses the near-field communication technology.

It allows users to make payments by tapping their smartphones with pre-stored bank card information on a device at cash registers.

Cardholders are now able to use the service in 25 store chains including Carrefour and McDonald's.

The new service has been seen as part of UnionPay's efforts to win back market share from third-party payment leader Alibaba's Alipay.