Getting Around Chinese Cities: Metro, DiDi, Buses and Bikes

Chinese cities built their metro systems in the 2000s and 2010s, so infrastructure is newer than London or New York. Beijing's metro carries 10 million passengers daily across 27 lines. Shanghai's system is even larger with 508 stations.

The challenge for foreigners is payment: cash is nearly extinct, street taxis often refuse foreign cards, and most transport apps require Chinese bank accounts. But once you set up Alipay's TourPass (takes 15 minutes) or buy a physical metro card, you unlock the cheapest and fastest urban transport anywhere.

This guide covers metros, ride-hailing, shared bikes and buses with exact prices, app setup steps and what to do when QR codes fail at turnstiles. Everything here reflects the 2026 payment and app landscape.

Physical Metro Cards

Every major Chinese city sells reloadable metro cards at ticket office windows inside stations. Beijing's Yikatong costs ¥20 deposit plus your chosen credit (minimum ¥10). Shanghai's Metro Card is also ¥20 deposit.

Cards work on metros, city buses and some taxis in the same city. When you leave, return the card at any ticket office for your deposit back. Keep the purchase receipt if you want the deposit refund.

Mobile Payment on Metros

Alipay and WeChat Pay now work at turnstiles in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and 40+ other cities. Open Alipay, tap 'Travel', select your city's metro, and generate a QR code. Scan it at the blue reader on the turnstile (not the card reader).

Foreign users need Alipay's TourPass: in the app, tap 'Me', then 'TourPass', and upload a photo of your passport ID page. Use the in-app camera in good lighting; blurry scans get rejected. Link a Visa or Mastercard, load ¥500-2000 CNY, and wait 10 minutes for activation.

Ticket Machines and Single-Journey Tickets

If Alipay fails and you don't have a card, ticket machines accept ¥5, ¥10 and ¥20 notes (not ¥100). Machines have an English button. Select your destination station on the touchscreen; fares range ¥3-10 depending on distance. You get a blue plastic token; insert it into the exit turnstile slot.

Machines often run out of change during rush hour (7:30-9am, 5-7pm). Bring exact change or buy a physical card.

Troubleshooting QR Code Failures

If your Alipay QR code doesn't scan after three tries, press the help button on the turnstile. An attendant will open the manual gate. This happens when your phone screen is cracked, brightness is too low, or the TourPass verification is still pending.

Generate a fresh QR code before each entry; codes expire after 60 seconds.

Setting Up DiDi

DiDi is China's Uber, with 90% of the ride-hailing market. Download 'DiDi Global' (not the Chinese-only version) from your app store before arriving; it has an English interface. Register with your passport number and a phone number (your home number works for verification SMS).

Link Alipay or WeChat Pay for payment. DiDi does not accept cash or direct foreign card input. You must have Alipay's TourPass or WeChat Pay's Wallet loaded with CNY.

Booking a Ride

Tap your destination in English (DiDi auto-translates). You see four car types: Express (¥2/km), Comfort (¥2.5/km), Premier (¥3.5/km) and Luxe (¥5/km). Express is the default and works fine. A 10km ride in Beijing costs ¥25-35 depending on traffic.

The app shows the driver's plate number, car model and real-time location. Drivers call when they arrive (they speak no English; just say 'hello' and walk to the curb). If you booked from inside a building, step outside; drivers cancel if you take more than 3 minutes.

When Drivers Cancel or Don't Arrive

Drivers cancel foreigners during shift changes (2-3pm, 10-11pm) because they're heading home and your destination doesn't match their route. Rebook immediately; the second driver usually accepts.

If a driver parks and doesn't move for 5 minutes, call through the app (tap the phone icon). If no answer, cancel and rebook. You're not charged if the driver hasn't moved closer to your pin.

DiDi vs Street Taxis

Street taxis cost ¥13 flag-fall plus ¥2.3-3/km depending on the city. DiDi Express is 20-30% cheaper and drivers can't refuse destinations (a common taxi problem). Use taxis only when DiDi surge pricing hits 2x (during thunderstorms or morning rush hour); regular taxis don't surge.

Which Bike App to Download

Meituan Bike (yellow bikes) and Hellobike (blue bikes) are the two national networks left standing after the 2018-2020 bike-sharing collapse. Both accept foreign passports and Alipay payment. Download one; you don't need both.

Mobike (orange) still exists in some cities but stopped accepting new foreign users in 2024.

Paying the Deposit

Open Meituan or Hellobike, tap 'Unlock', and scan any bike's QR code (on the handlebar or frame). The app asks for passport verification: photograph your passport ID page. Then pay the deposit via Alipay: ¥199 for Meituan, ¥299 for Hellobike.

The deposit sits in your account. When you leave China, open the app, tap 'Wallet', and request a refund. It returns to your Alipay balance within 7 days, then you transfer it back to your foreign card (Alipay charges 3% for CNY to USD/EUR conversion).

Riding and Parking

Bikes cost ¥1.50 per 15 minutes. Unlock by scanning the QR code; the rear wheel lock clicks open. Ride in bike lanes (white dashed lines); main roads often have separated bike paths.

To end your ride, park in a painted white bike-parking zone (on sidewalks near metro exits and malls) and tap 'End Ride' in the app. Take a photo of the parked bike as proof. Parking outside white zones triggers a ¥20 fine deducted from your deposit.

When Bikes Are Broken

About 1 in 5 shared bikes has a problem: flat tire, stuck lock, missing seat. If the lock doesn't open after scanning, tap 'Report Issue' in the app and scan a different bike. You're not charged for failed unlocks.

Bikes work best in flat cities (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou). Skip them in hilly cities (Chongqing) where metro and DiDi make more sense.

Bus Fares and Payment

City buses charge a flat ¥1-2 per ride in most cities, paid by scanning your metro card or Alipay QR code at the reader near the driver. Beijing and Shanghai charge ¥2, smaller cities charge ¥1.

Some long routes charge by distance: scan on entry and again on exit. If you forget to scan out, you're charged the maximum fare (¥5-8).

Finding Routes with Baidu Maps

Google Maps doesn't show bus routes in China. Download Baidu Maps and switch the interface to English (Settings > Language). Enter your destination; Baidu suggests metro and bus options.

Bus listings show the route number, direction and real-time location of the next bus. Tap a route to see all stops. Buses display route numbers in large digits on the front; match the number to Baidu's suggestion.

Getting Off at the Right Stop

Baidu Maps shows your GPS position and highlights your target stop. Press the red stop button (on poles near the doors) one stop before yours. Buses don't announce stops in English; watch Baidu.

BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) lines like Beijing's Line 1 and Guangzhou's BRT system run in dedicated lanes with enclosed stations. They're faster and easier to follow than regular buses.

When to Skip Buses

Buses get stuck in traffic during rush hour (7:30-9am, 5-7pm); metros are faster. Use buses for short trips (3-5 stops) in less central areas where metro coverage is sparse, like Beijing's university district or Shanghai's Hongqiao area.

Why You Need Mobile Payment

Cash works only at ticket machines and some small shops. Metros, DiDi, shared bikes, most taxis, convenience stores and restaurants require Alipay or WeChat Pay. You can survive without it, but you'll waste time hunting ATMs and ticket offices.

Alipay TourPass Setup (15 minutes)

Download Alipay, tap 'Me', then 'TourPass'. Upload a photo of your passport ID page using the in-app camera (not your photo library; scans from libraries often get rejected for being unclear). Enter your passport number exactly as printed.

Link a Visa, Mastercard or Amex. Load ¥500-2000 CNY (minimum is ¥100). Alipay converts at the daily rate plus 3% processing. Wait 10-30 minutes for verification; you get a push notification when active.

TourPass balance expires 90 days after your last top-up. Before leaving China, spend the remaining balance or transfer it to a friend's Chinese Alipay.

WeChat Pay Wallet Alternative

WeChat Pay also offers a foreign-card link (Settings > Payment > Add Card). It works the same as Alipay but fewer transport systems accept WeChat QR codes at turnstiles. Use Alipay as your primary and WeChat as backup.

When QR Codes Don't Scan

If your code fails at a metro turnstile or bus reader: increase screen brightness to maximum, clean your screen, and hold the phone flat (not tilted) 5cm from the scanner. Cracked screens scatter the laser and fail 50% of the time.

Generate a new code if the old one doesn't work after two tries; codes refresh every 60 seconds.

Beijing

Beijing's metro runs 5am to 11pm (until 12:30am on Lines 1 and 2). Single rides cost ¥3-9. Airport Express to Terminal 3 costs ¥25 and takes 20 minutes to Sanyuanqiao metro hub.

Buy a Yikatong card to avoid ticket-machine queues; stations near Tiananmen and the Forbidden City have 20-minute lines on weekends. DiDi rides from central hotels to the Great Wall (Mutianyu) cost ¥180-220 one-way (budget 2 hours drive time).

Shanghai

Shanghai metro runs 5:30am to 11pm (some lines until midnight). Pudong Airport to People's Square (Line 2) takes 50 minutes and costs ¥7. Hongqiao Airport is on Lines 2 and 10.

Shared bikes are banned from the Bund waterfront (Zhongshan Road) to reduce sidewalk congestion; use metro or DiDi. Shanghai's buses are harder to navigate than Beijing's; stick to metro unless you're going to Hongqiao or Pudong suburbs.

Guangzhou and Shenzhen

Guangzhou metro connects to Shenzhen via Line 28 extension (opened 2025); you can ride from Guangzhou East to Futian in 35 minutes for ¥12. Both cities have BRT systems; Guangzhou's BRT runs on Zhongshan Avenue and saves 20 minutes versus regular buses.

Shenzhen taxis accept Alipay and WeChat Pay directly; tap 'Scan' and scan the QR code on the dashboard instead of booking DiDi.

Chengdu

Chengdu metro has 13 lines; a ¥20 Tianfutong card covers metro and buses. The Giant Panda Base is on Line 3 (Panda Avenue Station); exit and take bus 87 for the final 2km.

Chengdu's bike lanes are wider and less crowded than Beijing's; shared bikes work well here. DiDi rides to Dujiangyan (ancient irrigation site) cost ¥120-150 and take 90 minutes.