Once a user inputs their name and ID number, they can then go through facial recognition through WeChat's mini program "CTID CARD." Once confirmed, users will have a virtual ID, with their personal information stored in WeChat's Wallet.

"With a 'WeChat ID,' citizens can prove who they are by scanning a QR code with their mobile phone and passing face and fingerprint recognition, which means you won't need to use your physical ID card," said Yan Dong, officer with the Nansha substation of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau.

"The virtual ID reduces the risk of your personal information being compromised, as the identification process bypasses third parties," said Yan. Virtual ID information on a lost mobile will be automatically deleted once a user logs on to a different device.

The new "WeChat ID" is proving to be an instant hit, with over 30,000 people creating the new service on just the second day after the launch on December 25, 2017. Guangdong Province is piloting the new system, which is expected to be rolled out nation-wide in the coming year.

WeChat (literally: "micro-message") is a Chinese multi-purpose social media mobile application software developed by Tencent. It was first released in 2011, and by 2017 it was one of the largest standalone messaging apps by monthly active users with over 980 million monthly active users (902 million daily active users). It has been called China's "App for Everything" because of its many functions and platforms, and lauded as one of the world's most powerful apps.