Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

As of tomorrow, Shanghai travellers no longer need to worry about paying hefty deposits for their overseas trips.
At present, tourists to countries other than Southeast Asian countries are required to pay security deposits of between 50,000 and 100,000 yuan (US$6,000-12,000).
However, Shanghai residents usually spend most of their cash in various investments such as real estate, stocks and funds, so it is hard for them to put aside tens of thousands of yuan as deposits for their overseas trips, said an industry analyst.
Shanghai's largest pawnshop, the Shanghai Oriental Pawn Co Ltd, has joined hands with many travel agencies such as Jinjiang Tours Ltd, Shanghai China Travel Service, Shanghai China International Travel Service Co Ltd and Shanghai China Youth Travel Service Tour Corporation, to offer a service which allows travelers to pawn their assets as deposits for their overseas tours.
Over the past two years, more than 300 locals have paid their deposits by pawning their properties, indicating that locals need such services, said Wang Fuming, general manager with the Shanghai Oriental Pawn Co Ltd, adding that with more countries included in Chinese travel destinations, the market has a great potential.
Housing properties, motor vehicles with local license plates, jewelries, luxury watches and antiques can be pawned at a value of between 20,000 and 200,000 yuan. Commission is charged at a rate of 0.1 percent of per day, Wang pointed out, adding that from tomorrow to the end of this year, the commission will be 30 percent off.