You can ride the metro in China with a single-journey ticket from a machine, or with a QR code in Alipay or WeChat. Foreign visitors do not need a Chinese bank account for either. What you do need is a little set-up at home, because the gate is a poor place to find out your app will not link.
It is a fair worry. Everyone ahead of you taps a phone and walks through, and you are holding a card from a Malaysian bank.
Which way should you pay?
The right choice depends on how long you stay in each city. The first row is the easiest start for first-timers.
| Option | What you need | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-journey ticket | A ticket machine, with cash or a QR payment | Short stays, first rides | Queues at the machine in rush hour |
| QR code in an app | Alipay or Weixin Pay with your card linked | Stays of a few days, daily riders | Needs a working data connection |
| Local transport card | A service desk and a deposit | A week in one city | Refund rules differ by city |
If you stay two nights, buy single tickets. If you ride daily, ask at the first station about a card or use the app.
What should you set up before you fly?
Set up the payment app at home, on Wi-Fi, a week before departure. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover and Diners Club cards can be bound to Alipay and Weixin Pay without a Chinese bank account[1].
Verification needs the name on your passport and a live selfie, and the same name should be used in both apps[2]. Our Alipay setup guide walks through each screen.
Then check one thing more: the card you linked should work for overseas online payments, so ask your bank before you leave. Do this now, not at the airport.
Should you still carry cash?
Yes, a small amount. The central bank says renminbi cash is legal tender and that merchants should display a cash-accepted sign[3]. A ticket machine is not a shop, though, so do not assume it takes notes.
Keep small notes for the machine, a bottle of water and emergencies. If your phone battery dies, cash and your passport are the plan B. The payment methods checklist lists what else to verify with your bank.
How do you find the right line?
Use a map app that you can read. Amap (Gaode) added English language support in 2025[4], and Apple Maps remains functional in mainland China even though Google Maps is disrupted[5]. Save your hotel’s Chinese name and address as a screenshot.
Station signs usually show pinyin and English next to the characters. Follow the line colour and the name of the last station on your line, which tells you the direction.
What does a real arrival day look like?
Some airports connect straight to the metro. Kunming Airport station on Metro Line 6 sits under Terminal 1 at B2[6]. Chengdu Metro Line 18 links Tianfu Airport to Chengdu South in about 40 minutes[7].
Before you board, buy a ticket or open your QR code while you are still near the machines. Lifts and escalators exist at most big stations, but you may walk a long way between lines. Read how to get from a station to your hotel and how to handle heavy luggage before a travel day with large bags.
What is the next step?
Choose one main way to pay and one backup, then test both at home. Put the figures into the budget planner in ringgit, using today’s quotes. Browse the getting around topic page for the rest of your transport plan.