Pick the exit.
Before you enter.
A city-proof metro sequence for foreign visitors: choose a payment lane, clear the station, take the correct direction and surface at the exit closest to the place you actually need.
Illustrative planning map — not a live network diagram or service status.
Buy a station ticket, use a local pass or activate a supported metro QR code. Keep the same ticket, card or phone for entry and exit, and follow the line number, direction and exit number—not only the destination name.
A metro trip is four linked decisions: the exact station, the correct line, the train direction and the exit. Payment gets you through the first gate; route preparation gets you to the right street.
Beijing officially supports eligible overseas Mastercard and Visa cards at metro gates. Do not turn that into a nationwide rule: elsewhere, a foreign card may work at a service center or ticket machine but not directly at the barrier.
Save the route as four facts
Exact Chinese and English name
A railway station, airport terminal or attraction may connect to more than one metro stop. Save the complete station name.
Number and colour
Use the line number as the primary identifier. Colours can look different on screens, signs and printed maps.
Next station or terminus
A platform may describe direction by the line’s terminal station. Save the next station after you board as a cross-check.
Letter or number near the destination
Choose the exit before the ride. A wrong exit can place you across a large road, block or transport hub.
Use the simplest method that has a staffed fallback
Single-journey ticket
The national visitor guide says foreign travelers can buy these at a station office or self-service machine. It lists card, RMB cash and mobile payment routes, subject to the current counter or machine.
BEST FOROccasional trips and app failureAlipay or operator QR
Where supported: open Alipay, choose Transport and the current city, complete requested identity checks and activate the metro code. Scan the transit code—not a normal merchant-payment code—at entry and exit.
BEST FORSeveral rides with reliable data and batteryLocal metro or transport pass
The national guide says frequent travelers can obtain metro passes at station offices with a passport. Product names, deposits, refunds and coverage are city-specific.
BEST FORLonger stays after checking local termsDirect foreign-card tap
Use only when the local operator and gate signage explicitly support your network and card. Use the same physical card or the same phone wallet at entry and exit.
BEST FORSupported cities with a clearly marked gateDo not enter with a physical card and try to exit with the same card inside a phone wallet. The gate may treat them as different payment credentials.
Follow one checkpoint at a time
- 01入口
Confirm the station entrance
Compare the full station name and line symbols with your saved route before going underground.
- 02安检
Complete the local security check
Security procedures vary by network. Beijing, for example, requires passengers and carried items to accept the station check. Follow current signs and staff instructions.
- 03进站
Enter with the chosen medium
Use the correct QR, ticket, pass or supported card. Keep it accessible and wait for the gate confirmation before walking through.
- 04方向
Match line and direction
At the platform, confirm the line number, direction or terminus, and the next station. Let passengers leave before boarding.
- 05换乘
Transfer without leaving the paid area
Follow the target line number and transfer signs. Do not pass an exit gate unless current signage says the transfer requires it.
- 06出站
Exit with the same medium
Use the same ticket, card or device used to enter, then follow the saved exit letter or number to street level.
Same journey logic, different payment doors
These examples show why city rules must stay separate. Recheck the local operator or service center when you travel.
Direct overseas-card gate entry
Beijing’s official portal says all subway stations support eligible international bank cards for ticket purchase and direct entry; its dedicated guidance names overseas Mastercard and Visa for contactless gate access.
Check Beijing’s current answer ↗Service-center cards plus local digital routes
Shanghai’s official portal says station service centers accept foreign cards for ticket purchase and describes Metro Daduhui and city-app routes. A current city guide also describes international-card tap-and-ride.
Check Shanghai’s current guide ↗Foreign-card purchase at service centers
Shenzhen’s official international portal reports foreign-card POS terminals across all metro station service centers. That is a purchase route; do not assume every bank card can tap every gate.
Check Shenzhen’s current notice ↗When the gate or route breaks, stay inside the system
Do not block the gate
Step aside, restore data and battery, and confirm the correct city transit code. If it cannot recover, go to the staffed service point and buy a supported ticket.
Keep the failed medium with you
Try the staff route instead of repeatedly tapping or scanning. Show which ticket, card, QR or device you intended to use.
Do not tailgate
Go to the service point with the same physical ticket, card or device used at entry. Explain the entry station if staff asks.
Get off at the next safe station
Recheck the line and direction signs. Use an in-system transfer route when available; do not cross tracks or restricted areas.
Read the live last-service sign
Do not rely on a permanent timetable copied from a blog. Check the operator notice and station display, then switch to an official taxi or ride-hailing route if necessary.
Open the Didi and taxi fallback →Contact station staff immediately
Move to a staffed or public area. For police, fire or medical emergency routing in China, use the emergency decision page.
Open emergency help →Five useful metro phrases
Where is Line ____?
Does this direction go to ____?
How do I transfer to Line ____?
Where is Exit ____?
I cannot exit the station. Please help me check.
Show only the route or gate problem. Hide unrelated card numbers, passport pages and verification codes.
China metro FAQ
How can a foreign visitor pay for the metro in China?
The national visitor guide lists single-journey tickets from station offices or machines, metro passes from station offices, and QR entry through Alipay or some operator apps. It says tickets or passes may be paid for with cards, RMB cash or mobile payment, but the exact method and card acceptance depend on the city, station and current machine or counter.
Can I tap a foreign Visa or Mastercard directly at metro gates?
Only treat direct foreign-card tapping as available when the local operator or station signage explicitly says so. Beijing officially supports direct gate entry with eligible overseas Mastercard and Visa cards, while other cities may route foreign cards through a ticket machine, service center or local app.
Can I use Alipay for the metro?
The government visitor guide says some mobile-payment and metro-operator apps support QR gate entry. Its Alipay example is Transport, choose the city, complete the requested identity verification, then scan the metro QR code at entry and exit. Availability and labels can vary by city and account.
Do I need my passport to buy a metro ticket?
A normal single-journey ticket does not have one universal passport rule in the sources used here. The government guide says frequent travelers can buy metro passes at a station office with a passport. Carry your passport as required for travel in China, and follow the current machine or staff instruction.
What if the gate will not let me exit?
Do not tailgate or force the barrier. Keep the ticket, card, phone or device used at entry and go to the staffed service point. Show the entry method and destination while keeping unrelated payment and identity information private.
Official pages checked for this guide
Reviewed 23 August 2026. Station signage, the live gate or machine, operator notices and staff instructions control the actual payment, security, service and transfer route. We deliberately do not publish universal fares, last-train times, foreign-card brands or QR-app guarantees.
- State Council / Ministry of Commerce — 2025 Guide to Working and Living in ChinaNational foreign-visitor routes for single tickets, metro passes, card/cash/mobile payment and Alipay metro QR entry.
- Beijing International Web Portal — overseas bank cards on the subwayCurrent Beijing operator answer for ticket purchase and direct gate entry.
- Beijing Subway — precautions on security checkOperator-sourced requirement to accept station security checks and prohibited-item controls.
- Shanghai International Services — how to take the metroCurrent city-specific ticket, card, app and direct-tap routes.
- EyeShenzhen — foreign-card payment at metro service centersShenzhen Metro Group-sourced network service-center POS coverage.