China Metro Guide for Foreigners (2026)

Prepare your first metro trip

1. Use AMap to find the nearest station, destination station, line direction, transfer stations, estimated journey time, and recommended exit.
2. Save the station names in Chinese and English. A station can serve several lines, exits, shopping centres, and large road junctions.
3. Check the approximate last-train time for the complete route, especially when a transfer or airport line is involved.
4. Keep a payment backup: some cash in RMB, a working Alipay or WeChat Pay account, and a physical bank card.
5. Allow extra time for ticket purchase, security screening, transfers, and walking through a large interchange.

Choose a ticket or payment method

• Single-journey ticket: normally bought for a specific destination from a vending machine or staffed counter. This is the simplest backup for a visitor taking only a few rides.
• Transport QR code: available through Alipay, WeChat, a city metro app, or another local service in some cities. Activation and international-card support vary.
• Contactless overseas bank card: available on supported gates or machines in certain cities. Beijing officially supports five major card organizations across its network, while the exact card and gate support elsewhere differs.
• Local transport card or visitor pass: useful for repeated rides, but purchase, deposit, top-up, refund, and cross-city use rules vary.
• Cash or staffed counter: keep this as a fallback when a QR code, foreign card, phone, or vending machine does not work.

• pay with the Alipay ride code or tap your card: Which cities take Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB at the gate, and how to activate the Alipay ride code.

Buy a single-journey ticket

1. Find a ticket vending machine and switch it to English when that option is available.
2. Select the destination line and station, not the attraction name. Confirm similarly named stations carefully.
3. Choose the number of passengers and review the fare shown on the screen.
4. Pay with one of the methods displayed on that machine. Card brands, cash acceptance, notes, coins, and mobile-payment support can differ.
5. Collect the ticket or token and any change. Keep it until you have fully exited at the destination.
6. If the machine will not accept your payment, show the destination station to staff at the service counter.

Enter the station and pass security

• Follow signs for the correct metro line. Airport, railway, and shopping-centre entrances may connect to several transport areas.
• Place bags on the security scanner when directed and carry liquids or other items through the passenger screening route. Follow local instructions because procedures can vary.
• Use the designated gate for your ticket, QR code, transit card, or overseas bank card. Not every gate necessarily accepts every method.
• Use the same payment medium at entry and exit. Do not enter with a physical card and try to exit with the phone wallet linked to that card.
• Do not follow another passenger through the gate. If the gate does not open, use the service point instead of repeatedly tapping.

Find the correct platform and direction

• After entering, follow the line number, line colour, and terminus or next-station direction shown on overhead signs.
• Check the next one or two station names against your route before boarding. Opposite directions often use different platforms or corridors.
• Stand behind the platform safety line and let passengers leave before boarding.
• Watch or listen for the destination station. English announcements and signage are common in major systems, but coverage can vary.
• Keep bags close during busy periods and avoid blocking doors or priority areas.

Transfer between metro lines

• Follow the transfer signs for the next line without passing through an exit gate unless the route specifically requires an out-of-station transfer.
• Large interchange stations can involve long corridors, stairs, escalators, or a separate platform level, so the map time may not include every delay.
• Confirm the direction again when you reach the new line. The same line number has two opposite terminus directions.
• If you accidentally exit, ask staff before buying another ticket or attempting to re-enter.

Choose the right station exit

• Check the exit letter or number in AMap before the train arrives, then compare it with the station exit map and signs.
• Different exits can be on opposite sides of a wide road, inside a shopping centre, or several hundred metres apart.
• For attractions, hotels, hospitals, and railway stations, use the exit linked to the correct entrance rather than simply choosing the nearest-looking exit.
• If an exit is closed, follow the station notice to the alternative and recalculate the walking route after reaching street level.

• Find the right metro entrance in Amap: Amap route screens name the station entrance to use and offer a get-off reminder.

Airport, railway-station, and luggage tips

• Confirm the exact airport terminal or full railway-station name. Major cities can have several airports, terminals, and distant railway stations.
• Check that the metro or airport line will still be operating when you land or when your train arrives; do not assume service runs all night.
• Allow more transfer time with suitcases, because some routes involve long walks, stairs, crowded trains, or limited lift access.
• Follow signs for lifts and accessible routes when needed, but allow a backup route because facilities and access points can change.
• During peak periods, an official taxi queue or DiDi may be more practical than several crowded metro transfers with heavy luggage.

Common metro problems and fixes

• Card or phone will not open the gate: confirm the gate accepts that brand or QR service, remove other contactless cards, and ask staff rather than tapping repeatedly.
• Ticket will not work at exit: take it to the service counter; the fare may need adjustment if the destination or journey time differs.
• QR code will not load: check mobile data, screen brightness, account status, and whether the correct city transport code is active.
• You boarded in the wrong direction: leave at the next station and follow signs to the opposite platform without exiting the paid area when possible.
• You missed the last train or a connection: use the official taxi queue, DiDi, or another verified transport option rather than accepting an unsolicited ride.

Useful Chinese metro phrases

• 我要去这个地铁站。 — I want to go to this metro station.
• 怎么买单程票？ — How do I buy a single-journey ticket?
• 这张银行卡可以用吗？ — Can I use this bank card?
• 我应该坐哪个方向？ — Which direction should I take?
• 在哪里换乘？ — Where do I transfer?
• 我应该从哪个出口出去？ — Which exit should I use?
• 末班车是几点？ — What time is the last train?