How to Pay for the Subway in China: The 2025 Foreigner's Guide
For a complete overview of all payment options in China, please read our Ultimate Guide to Paying in China.
You're standing at the entrance of a bustling Chinese subway station. A river of people flows past you, each person effortlessly swiping their phone to pass through the gates. This is the lifeblood of urban China, and you need to get on board. But how do you actually pay? Can you use your phone like they do? Do you need a physical card? For a full overview of all payment methods in China, check our main guide.
Navigating the subway payment system is one of the first hurdles for any traveler. This guide provides a clear, no-nonsense strategy to ensure you're riding the metro like a local from day one. If you want to know whether you still need cash in China, see our dedicated cash guide.
Your Go-To Subway Strategy: The "Two-Wallet" Approach
Don't waste time deciding at the station. Here's the expert-recommended strategy:
- Digital Wallet (Primary): As soon as you arrive in a new city, try to activate the Alipay or WeChat Pay Transport Code. When it works with your foreign card, it's the most convenient option available.
- Physical Wallet (Backup): If the transport code fails (and it might), immediately go to the service center and get a Physical Subway Card. This is your 100% reliable, foolproof backup that will never let you down.
By having both a digital plan and a physical backup, you are prepared for any situation.
Comparing Your Options at a Glance
| Payment Method | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Transport Code | Tech-savvy travelers staying in one city. | Extremely convenient, no cash or deposit needed, integrated with apps you already use. | Support for foreign cards is unreliable and varies by city. Requires internet and phone battery. |
| Physical Subway Card | Anyone staying more than a day; the reliability-focused traveler. | Extremely reliable, works without internet/battery, often has small transfer discounts. | Requires a cash deposit, need to queue to buy/top-up, can be a hassle to get the deposit back. |
| Single-Journey Ticket | Travelers taking the subway only once or twice. | Simple for a single trip, no deposit needed. | Must queue to buy one for every single trip. Time-consuming during peak hours. |
How Do I Use My Phone as a Subway Pass? (Alipay & WeChat Pay)
This is the dream scenario: you breeze through the gates using only your phone. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay have a "Transport Code" feature that generates a special QR code for subway and bus systems. For a full setup, see our Alipay and WeChat Pay guides.
Steps to Activate:
- Open Alipay or WeChat Pay.
- Find the transport function. In Alipay, go to [Transport]. In WeChat Pay, go to [Me] > [Services] > [Ride].
- Select the city you are in from the dropdown list.
- Agree to the terms and activate the service. The app will generate a QR code.
- To use it, simply hold this QR code over the designated scanner on the subway turnstile. You scan it once to enter and once again to exit. The fare is calculated and deducted automatically.
Will It Actually Work for Me? The Honest Answer.
This is the most important question. Support for international credit cards on these transport codes varies greatly by city and is not guaranteed.
- Cities with better support (usually): Shanghai, Hangzhou.
- Cities where it can be hit-or-miss: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.
Our advice: Try to activate the code before you even go to the station. If you get an error message or it asks for a Chinese ID, it won't work for you in that city. It's time for Plan B: the physical card.
Should I Get a Physical Subway Card? (The Reliable Backup)
This is the classic, 100% reliable method that works for everyone, every time. It's a reusable plastic card that you top up with money. If you want to know more about using cash for deposits and top-ups, see our cash guide.
How to Get One:
- Find the Service Center (客服中心 - kèfú zhōngxīn) inside the subway station. Avoid the ticket machines for now.
- Tell the staff you want to buy a card. You can say "wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng kǎ" (我要买一张卡).
- You will need to pay a refundable deposit (押金 - yājīn), typically 20 RMB, plus the initial amount you want to load onto the card (e.g., 50 or 100 RMB).
- Using cash for this transaction is the easiest way. Some service centers may not accept foreign bank cards.
Pro Tip: A physical card is your best friend. It doesn't need battery, it doesn't need an internet connection, and it will never fail to let you through the gate as long as it has a balance. Topping it up is also easy at service centers or automated machines.
Option 3: The Single-Journey Ticket
This is a token or a thin plastic card valid for one trip only. You should only use this method if you plan on riding the subway once during your entire visit. For any other scenario, it's inefficient.
You buy it from an automated ticket machine in the station. You'll need to select your destination station on the map, and the machine will calculate the fare. While these machines often have an English language option, they can be confusing, and queues can be long during rush hour. You tap the ticket to enter and insert it into a slot to exit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use the same subway card in both Beijing and Shanghai?
Generally, no. Most city subway cards are not interoperable. You will need a separate card for Beijing, another for Shanghai, and another for Guangzhou. This is a key reason why trying the mobile transport code in each new city is worth a shot first.
What do I do if the subway gate doesn't open when I scan my phone?
First, check your phone's screen brightness and make sure you're holding the QR code steady over the scanner. If it still fails, there might be a network issue or a problem with your account. Don't hold up the line; step aside and either try again or find a staff member. If it persists, it's time to get a physical card.
Does the mobile transport code work if my phone is offline?
Surprisingly, in some cities, yes! Certain transport codes (like in Shanghai) can generate a limited number of offline uses, so it might still work even if you lose your connection underground. However, you should not rely on this feature. Assume you need an internet connection for it to work reliably.
How do I get my deposit (yājīn) back for the physical card?
To get your 20 RMB deposit and any remaining balance back, you must go to the Service Center (客服中心) at a station. You hand them the card and say you want to return it ("tuì kǎ" - 退卡). Note that this can sometimes only be done at specific, larger stations or during certain hours, so it's often more convenient to just keep the card as a souvenir unless it has a large balance on it.