Practical guide
China metro: choose a single ticket, station pass or live QR code before the gate
Set up a workable payment path before a crowded first ride.
The State Council’s English guide says foreign travelers can buy single-journey metro tickets at a ticket office or self-service machine, and frequent riders can buy metro passes at station ticket offices with a passport. It also describes cash, Chinese or foreign bank cards and mobile-payment apps as payment routes, plus QR-code entry through supported apps or operators. City coverage, card acceptance and app eligibility are live conditions—check the actual station or app before relying on one option.
A clear next step
- Choose a single ticket, a station-issued pass or a supported QR-code path before you reach the turnstile.
- For a pass, take your passport to the station ticket office and confirm the current product and payment options.
- If using a mobile QR code, complete its current identity and setup prompts before a time-sensitive trip.
Sources & verification
Last verified
- Guide to Working and Living in China (2025) | State Council of the People’s Republic of China single-ticket and passport-based station-pass routes · listed cash, bank-card and mobile-payment methods · supported-app QR-code entry process
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