Shanghai Metro stations accept foreign bank cards for ticket purchases

SHANGHAI, April 20 (Xinhua) -- All subway stations in Shanghai have had POS machines reinstalled to accept domestic and foreign bank cards since Monday, with manual services available to assist passengers with ticket purchases.

The move came after the Chinese authorities vowed in late March to implement more measures to enhance the convenience of tourism for inbound visitors, as foreigners who primarily rely on bank cards and cash may find obstacles and challenges with cashless or non-card mobile payments, which is currently the predominant method of payment in China.

The POS machines at Shanghai metro stations are operational for domestic and international card transactions, which have prominent signs showing accepted cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, American Express, Diners Club, JCB and UnionPay.

Shanghai Metro also offers foreigners the option of registering and using the Shanghai Metro App, on which they can link foreign bank cards for payment. Those who have already linked their foreign bank cards to payment platforms such as Alipay, WeChat Pay or UnionPay, can use these channels within the Shanghai Metro App for their travel needs. The application enables foreign visitors to use their cell phones to scan through subway gates in Shanghai.

Shanghai's metro network, which covers 831 km on 20 lines, offers efficient passenger transport in the metropolis and its surrounding areas, as well as the transport hubs of airports and train stations.