Cash Bonanza Alert! Tencent Yuanbao’s RMB 1 Billion Red Packet Giveaway Starts Today—Grab Your Share, Up to RMB 10,000

When Xiao Lei woke up this morning and opened his tech chat groups, he was instantly overwhelmed—his screen flooded with Yuanbao red packets, buzzing with excitement like nothing he’d seen before.

So what was going on? It turns out Tencent’s AI assistant, Yuanbao, had officially started giving out cash red packets.

At midnight on February 1, Tencent Yuanbao launched its “Share RMB 1 Billion in Cash” campaign. The moment it went live, it sent shockwaves across the internet. Saying “everyone is grabbing Yuanbao red packets” would hardly be an exaggeration. Swept along by the enthusiasm in the group chats, Xiao Lei casually clicked a shared link—and to his surprise, he actually won.

The campaign is split into three rounds and will run through February 17. In the very first round, users are given five lottery chances right away. Xiao Lei pulled RMB 15.24 on his first try. The only catch? A two-day wait before withdrawal. Other than that, no complaints at all.

Free cash is still sweet—even if it takes a little patience. And with two more rounds of draws ahead, there’s still plenty of opportunity to grab another bonus.

The most tempting prize of all is the RMB 10,000 “mini jackpot.” Tencent didn’t hold back this time—100 red packets worth RMB 10,000 each are up for grabs. As of the time Xiao Lei was writing, 16 users had already hit the jackpot. Watching people post their winning screenshots was enough to spark some serious envy. As always, the lucky ones seem to be everyone else.

It’s clear that Tencent is going all in. This campaign is pure, no-strings-attached cash, and that’s exactly why it exploded across the internet. Pony Ma had previously said at an internal meeting that he hoped to recreate the magic of WeChat Red Packets from 11 years ago. Judging by the reaction so far, that goal looks well within reach.

That said, Tencent’s familiar playbook is still very much in effect. Once your initial lottery chances run out, the only way to earn more is by sharing red packet links. Whether it’s WeChat groups, QQ groups, or Moments, every successful share earns one extra draw. No wonder Xiao Lei’s tech groups were completely flooded early this morning—everyone just wanted another chance.

To make things easier, Xiao Lei even set up several mutual-support groups where users can help each other “fairly and honestly.” Interested readers can simply reply with the keyword “Red Packet” on the Lei Technology public account to join.

Beyond standard cash draws, Yuanbao has also introduced brand password red packets, echoing the classic WeChat Red Packet玩法. During the Lunar New Year period, many brands are expected to distribute red packets through Yuanbao.

Take McDonald’s, for example. Using its password code, Xiao Lei managed to grab just over RMB 2. The maximum reward is said to reach RMB 188—though you might also end up with just a few cents. It’s all down to luck.

Additional password codes are also available by replying “Password” in the background, but a quick reminder: these offers expire easily, so it’s best to claim them as soon as possible.

Aside from sharing links, there’s an even more reliable way to earn extra lottery chances—daily tasks. These tasks are simple, beginner-friendly, and only take a few minutes to complete, making it easy to rack up additional draws.

At its core, the success of this campaign comes down to one thing: Tencent is genuinely willing to spend money. Combined with its powerful social ecosystem—WeChat and QQ working together—it was almost guaranteed to go viral.

More importantly, this isn’t just about giving away red packets. The real objective is to promote Yuanbao’s newly launched social feature, “Yuanbao Pai,” which officially entered public beta today.

The rules are straightforward. With a valid invitation code, users update the Yuanbao app to version 2.56.0 or above, enter the “Me” section, input the code, and create their own “Pai.” Think of it as a private social mini-group, complete with features like watching movies together or listening to music simultaneously.

If you’re curious, keep an eye on today’s posts from the official account for more details.

In Xiao Lei’s view, this red packet campaign has delivered real benefits to users while helping the Yuanbao app break out of its original “AI assistant only” image. Through the red packets, people not only discovered Yuanbao, but also experienced its new social features—a win-win scenario.

Whether Yuanbao can retain users after the full RMB 1 billion is distributed remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: today’s momentum has already secured Tencent an early victory. By reviving the most classic red packet mechanic, Tencent has once again captured everyone’s attention—this time, on a brand-new AI battlefield.

So, how much did you win today? Any lucky champions out there?