China Transit Guide

Getting Around China as a Foreigner: Metro by Bank Card and DiDi

Published 2026-10-06 · Updated 2026-10-06

Getting Around China as a Foreigner: Metro and DiDi

In September 2024, Beijing's subway launched what the city calls China's first tap-and-go service for overseas bank cards (Beijing government). Now Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou all take a contactless foreign bank card at the metro gate, and the main ride-hailing app works with an overseas phone number. This guide covers what works where, and the small settings that decide whether your card beeps green.

Checked on 6 October 2026. Payment options change quickly, so check the operator's notice before you travel.

Metro: tap your bank card

City What works Since Watch out for
Beijing UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express contactless cards on all 29 lines, 523 stations and line S2 Visa and Mastercard Sep 2024; JCB and Amex 15 Jun 2025 Nothing to download; tap at any gate (Beijing government)
Shanghai UnionPay chip cards, plus Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB contactless across the whole network 28 Jun 2025 Type-B chip cards and cards without ODA don't work; enable small-amount password-free payment (Shanghai government)
Shanghai Maglev Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB 14 Jun 2025 Dual-brand cards go through UnionPay first; enable password-free small payments (Shanghai government)
Guangzhou Overseas Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB, plus UnionPay, at all stations 12 Oct 2025 Card must be contactless (GDToday)

Before you leave home

  • Check your card is contactless and works abroad.
  • Turn on small password-free payments if your bank lets you control it. Shanghai's metro and Maglev both require it.
  • Bring a backup card on a different network. If one is declined, try the other.
  • Note the Shanghai helpline: 021-6437-0000 for metro payment questions. Shanghai also suggests cash, the Metro Daduhui app or a local transit card if card payment fails (Shanghai government).

If your card is declined at the gate

Shanghai Metro's advice covers most cases: go to the station service centre, or contact your card issuer or the relevant customer service hotline, which it says are available around the clock (Shanghai government). Before that, check the simple things. Is the card contactless? Is password-free payment on? On a dual-brand card, is the UnionPay side working? If you're in a hurry, pay another way, such as cash or a transit card, and sort the card out later.

Other cities: ride codes

In cities where bank-card gates aren't available, the usual way is a ride code (乘车码), a QR code inside Alipay or WeChat that you scan at the gate. A widely saved Xiaohongshu checklist for foreign visitors recommends setting up the ride code for each city you'll visit before you arrive, so you're not doing it at a busy gate (全A少女瑞秋). Set up payments first: see how foreigners pay in China.

Ride-hailing with DiDi

According to Guangzhou's Foreign Affairs Office, DiDi offers visitors (GDToday):

  • a full English interface
  • registration with an overseas phone number
  • international card payment
  • chat with the driver that's auto-translated both ways
  • 24/7 English customer service
  • access through mini programs inside Alipay and WeChat, without installing a separate app

The same Xiaohongshu checklist suggests using DiDi through its WeChat mini program (全A少女瑞秋). A commenter on that post adds that a roaming foreign number was enough to book rides, though not to order food delivery. That's one person's experience, but it matches DiDi's own support for overseas numbers.

Tips for your first DiDi ride

  • Check the pickup point the app suggests, especially at stations and airports, and move the pin if it's wrong.
  • Use the in-app chat. It translates automatically, so you can tell the driver where you are.
  • Check the plate number before you get in.
  • Save your hotel's name and address in Chinese. It's useful for drivers and for typing into the app.

Paying cash

Cash is still legal tender, and from 1 February 2026 new rules strengthen your right to use it. Businesses that take payment by hand or provide face-to-face service must accept cash, and they mustn't treat cash payers worse than others. Self-service and unattended setups must clearly display how to pay and make arrangements for cash when, for example, mobile payment fails (PBOC Announcement No. 29 of 2025). Carry some small notes. See our cash and ATM guide for withdrawals.

A new option: TenPayGo

In September 2026, a tech reviewer on Xiaohongshu reported that WeChat had launched TenPayGo, an entry point for overseas visitors that brings together card payments, transport and tax refunds (阿志玩科技). We couldn't find an official announcement in English to confirm the details, so treat it as something to look for in WeChat rather than something to rely on.

Trains between cities

For longer journeys, high-speed trains are often the simplest choice. You'll need to register on 12306 with your passport. See how to book China's high-speed trains, and if a Chinese friend is booking for you, buying train tickets for a foreign friend.

Checklist

  • Contactless card that works abroad, plus a backup on another network
  • Small password-free payments enabled
  • Alipay or WeChat Pay set up with a foreign card
  • Ride codes added for cities without bank-card gates
  • DiDi account or mini program ready, registered with your phone number
  • Hotel address saved in Chinese
  • Some small RMB notes

If you're on a 240-hour visa-free stopover, check your route stays inside the permitted areas with our transit checker.

Traveller reports we referenced

We used these Xiaohongshu posts for practical experience and wrote our own summary. Nothing was translated or copied.

Sources

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