practical · 5 May 2026
Transit Cards Explained by City: Which Card Works Where in China
China's public transport cards are city-specific, but some work across multiple cities. This guide explains which card to get, where to buy it, and which cities accept contactless foreign payment alternatives.
By Jamie Wu · Editorial writer, China Visit Guide
China does not have a unified national transit card in the way that, for example, the UK's Oyster card covers all London transport. Each city operates its own card, with its own top-up locations, coverage network, and — in some cases — interoperability with neighbouring cities. Since 2021, the simplest option for most short-stay visitors has been the QR code transit payment available within Alipay and WeChat Pay, which eliminates the need for a physical card entirely.
City-by-city physical cards
**Beijing — Yikatong (一卡通)** Covers: metro, urban buses, airport express, some city-suburban rail. Also accepted at some taxis. Purchased and topped up at metro service windows and convenience stores near metro stations. Refund on departure requires presenting at a service window with your card and passport. Does not cover intercity rail.
**Shanghai — Transportation Card (交通卡)** Covers: metro (all lines), urban buses, some ferry routes. Unique in China for its very broad interoperability — accepted in over 250 cities across China including Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and many others. If you plan to visit multiple Yangtze Delta cities by day trip from Shanghai, this card provides seamless transit access without needing separate cards. Purchased at metro service windows and at some convenience stores. Top-up at metro stations.
**Guangzhou — Lingnan Pass (岭南通)** Covers: Guangzhou metro, buses, and extends to Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, and other Pearl River Delta cities. The functional card for visiting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities by metro. Purchased at metro service windows. Not accepted in Hong Kong's MTR system — Hong Kong uses its own Octopus card.
**Shenzhen — Shenzhen Tong (深圳通)** Covers: Shenzhen metro, buses, and some taxi services. Interoperable with Lingnan Pass for cross-city travel within the Pearl River Delta.
**Chengdu — Tianfu Pass (天府通)** Covers: Chengdu metro and buses. WeChat Pay transit codes accepted at metro gates since 2021.
**Xi'an — Chang'an Pass (长安通)** Covers: Xi'an metro and buses.
**Hangzhou — Hangzhou e-Pass (杭州通)** Covers: metro, buses, and the Meituan/Hello Bike share scheme in parts of the city.
The QR code alternative — the visitor's simplest option
Since 2021–2022, Alipay and WeChat Pay's transit QR code feature has become the easiest option for visitors in major cities.
How it works: Open Alipay → tap "出行" (Transport) → select the city → enable transit in your city → a QR code appears. Scan this at the metro gate or bus reader. Fare is deducted automatically. No card purchase, no top-up, no refund process.
Coverage: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Tianjin, Xi'an, and dozens of other cities. The exact coverage expands periodically — check the app when you arrive.
For foreign card holders: Alipay's international card top-up can fund transit payments, but the transit QR code function specifically may require a Chinese bank-linked account in some cities. This is the main limitation — if the transit QR code does not activate with a foreign-card-linked Alipay account, a physical card or single-journey tickets are the backup.
WeChat Pay transit: similarly available in major cities. The process is: WeChat → Me → Services → City Services → select your city → Transit.
Single-journey tickets
All metro systems in China sell single-journey tickets from automated machines at every station. The machines display the fare map in English at most major stations, accept cash (some also accept Alipay QR scan), and produce a token or paper card for the journey. This is the fully backup option that requires no app or card setup.
Practical advice for different trip types
Short stay (1–3 days in one city): use single-journey tickets or QR code transit. No card needed.
One city for a week or more: buy the local transit card. The time saved at machines and the small per-ride discount (cards typically give a ~10% discount on some systems) justify the purchase.
Multi-city trip in the Yangtze Delta (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing): buy a Shanghai Transportation Card and use it across all cities.
Multi-city trip in the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan): buy a Lingnan Pass.
For all other multi-city itineraries: QR code transit in each city individually, topped up from the same Alipay account.
Tags
transport, metro, transit-card, practical, daily-life, cities
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