How to Use the Metro in China’s Major Cities

ByRui Yu Transport Guide
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China’s major cities have some of the largest and cleanest metro systems in the world. Buying a ticket takes 30 seconds on Alipay. Here is how to navigate all of them.

china metro guide

Chinese metro systems are excellent. The Civil Aviation Administration of China recommends metro as the primary airport transfer for all major cities. Trains are clean, frequent, and run on schedule. Signs are in Chinese and English in every major city. A single-journey fare rarely exceeds ¥10. The only friction point for foreigners is payment: physical ticket machines accept cash but the queue can be long. Alipay transit codes skip the queue entirely. This guide covers both. Transport overview: China Transportation Guide.

Key Takeaways

  • Pay with Alipay transit QR code. Fastest. Works in most Chinese cities. Guide.
  • Or buy a single-journey token at any platform machine. Cash or Alipay.
  • Navigate with Amap in transit mode. Shows line, direction, transfers. Amap guide.
  • English signs at all stations in major cities.
  • Bag X-ray at station entrances is standard. Allow 2 extra minutes.
  • DiDi for journeys that do not connect well on metro. DiDi guide.

City-by-City Metro Overview

CityLinesDaily RidershipApp/Scan Accepted?
Beijing28 lines, 800+ stations13 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay, Yikatong card
Shanghai20 lines, 500+ stations12 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay, Jiaotong card
Guangzhou16 lines, 300+ stations8 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay, Yangcheng card
Shenzhen16 lines, 300+ stations7 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay, Shenzhentong card
Chengdu13 lines, 200+ stations4 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay
Chongqing12 lines (incl. monorail)3 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay
Xi’an8 lines, 160+ stations2 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay
Hangzhou7 lines, 200+ stations2 million+Alipay, WeChat Pay

How to Pay

Method 1: Alipay transit QR code (recommended)

Open Alipay. Tap the transport icon (交通出行) on the home screen. Your city’s transit QR code appears. Hold it to the reader on the turnstile. Gate opens. Fare is deducted automatically when you exit. No queuing. Works in over 100 Chinese cities. Full setup: Alipay Transport Code Guide.

Method 2: Single-journey token

At any platform machine, select your destination station on the map displayed. The fare appears. Insert cash or scan Alipay. A small plastic token dispenses. Insert it at the entry gate. At exit, insert again and it is retained. This method involves queuing. Use Alipay instead where possible.

Method 3: City transit card

Beijing’s Yikatong (一卡通) and Shanghai’s public transport card are physical cards bought at station service windows. They offer a 10% discount on fares. Worth buying if you plan to use the metro heavily for a week or more in one city. Deposit is ¥20 to ¥30, refundable on return.

Navigating: How to Find the Right Platform

  1. Open Amap. Tap the transit icon or enter your destination.
  2. Amap shows the recommended line, the direction (named by the end station of the line), and where to transfer.
  3. At the station entrance, follow signs to your line number.
  4. The platform sign shows the direction: look for your end station name (e.g. ‘Towards Dongzhimen’) to confirm you are on the right platform.
  5. Count the stops displayed on the in-carriage screen. Your station is announced in both Chinese and English.

Security at Metro Entrances

Every Chinese metro station has X-ray bag scanning at the entrance. You place your bag on a belt. It is scanned. You walk through a metal detector or body scanner. The process takes 30 to 60 seconds. You do not remove shoes, belts, or electronics. Peak-hour queues can add 2 to 5 minutes. Allow for this in your timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scan an Alipay or WeChat Pay QR code at the turnstile. Or buy a single-journey token at the platform machine. The Alipay transit QR code is the fastest method: open Alipay, tap the transit code, scan at the gate. No queuing, no physical card needed. Full Alipay transit guide: Alipay Transport Code.

No. Each city has its own transit system. However, the Alipay transit QR code works in most major Chinese cities and detects the city automatically. Beijing’s Yikatong card and Shanghai’s public transport card are city-specific physical cards. Alipay’s transit function works nationally and is the easiest option for travelers.

All major cities and many second-tier cities. Beijing (28 lines), Shanghai (20 lines), Guangzhou (16 lines), Shenzhen (16 lines), Chengdu (13 lines), Chongqing (12 lines), Xi’an (8 lines), Hangzhou (7 lines), and over 30 others. Every city in this guide has a metro system.

Use Amap (高德地图) set to transit mode. Enter your destination. It shows which line, which direction (end station name), and where to transfer. The direction on Chinese metro signs is given by the end station name of the line, not compass direction. Amap shows this clearly. Amap guide.

Yes. Chinese metro systems are extremely safe, clean, and well-maintained. Security screening at metro entrances (bag X-ray) is standard in most cities. It takes 30 to 60 seconds. The systems run on schedule. Rush hours (7:30 to 9:00 AM and 5:30 to 7:00 PM) are extremely crowded but not dangerous.

For paying with Alipay on the metro: Alipay Transport Code. For DiDi taxis to supplement metro gaps: DiDi guide.

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