ChinaPass中国生存包

🚇 Scan to ride, any city

Metro pass

Scan to ride, any city

Reviewed 2026-09-07

Step by step

  1. Open Alipay

    Alipay → Transport (出行) tab → search the city and activate its code once — a built-in mini-program, nothing to install. Uses your bound card.

    Open Alipay

  2. Activate the pass

    Tap “Metro Pass” → “Activate now”. Uses your bound overseas card.

    Activate

  3. Scan to enter

    At the gate, scan the QR. Fare auto-deducted.

    Done

Good to know

The same pass works in 300+ Chinese cities — no separate tickets, no cash.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Chinese phone number?

No — the transport code activates with an international number. Set it up once per city in the Transport (出行) tab.

Do I get local discounts?

Yes — the all-in-one transport code gives you the same fare discounts as local residents.

Other cities?

The pass works in 300+ cities; activate each city code once in the same tab. Buses work in most cities too.

Single tickets instead?

Every station has machines with an English button — cash and card accepted. The QR is just faster.

If something goes wrong

transit-app-sms

The metro app never sends the verification SMS

Likely cause: Metro apps (e.g. Metro大都会) are unreliable with international numbers — the top complaint across every China travel app.

What to do: Skip standalone metro apps. Open Alipay → 出行 (Ride) tab and activate the city's transit QR with your passport + a selfie — no Chinese number needed. Pay with your bound card.

qr-not-loading

The QR code won't refresh at the gate

Likely cause: The code is dynamic and needs live internet — screenshots don't work, and station halls are notorious signal dead zones.

What to do: Generate/refresh the QR before going underground. If it still fails at the gate, use the staffed lane or buy a single-journey ticket from the machine.

foreign-card-gate

Tapping your foreign card / Apple Pay on the gate doesn't open

Likely cause: Only Beijing, Shanghai (and a growing list) accept contactless foreign cards; most other cities need a UnionPay or local transit card. Apple Wallet transit cards also need a UnionPay debit card to top up.

What to do: In tier-1 cities retry or use a gate marked for bank cards. Anywhere else, use the Alipay/WeChat transit QR — it always works.

shanghai-pass-refund

Shanghai Pass card refund is less than you expected

Likely cause: The ¥20 card fee is non-refundable — only the balance comes back. Some service points charge a 5% fee on larger refunds, cash only.

What to do: Spend the balance down before you leave. Or skip the card entirely: Shanghai gates take foreign cards directly (2025+).

Official apps and links

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