In many Chinese cities, metro access often supports QR entry flows through apps, alongside physical cards.
What People Use in China
Metro QR Entry
Many cities support metro entry via QR codes inside local apps or wallet apps, reducing the need for physical cards.
Alipay
A major QR wallet used widely for everyday payments, services, and in-app mini services.
WeChat Pay
A major QR payment method tightly integrated into WeChat and widely used for everyday spending.
UnionPay App
A widely used China wallet app for QR payments and card-linked payment flows, with features that overlap with Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Traveler Tips
- ✓Look for metro QR options in your wallet apps or city metro app.
- ✓Keep your phone charged—QR entry depends on it.
- ✓Have a fallback option (physical card, cash, or alternate app) when needed.
Things to Watch Out For
- ⚠QR features can be city-specific.
- ⚠Some cities may require extra setup steps before QR works.