If you are wondering how to use metro in China, it is a total game-changer for your trip. Coming from Melbourne, we are used to checking the PTV app and praying the train isn’t cancelled. However, the efficiency here is mind-blowing. After living and teaching in China, Ling and I relied on the underground every single day. It’s fast, incredibly cheap, and very reliable. Consequently, once you do the prep work, learning how to use metro in China is the easiest way to see the country.
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What do I need to set up before using the China Metro?
Before arriving in China, you must download both Alipay and WeChat. Link an international card like Wise to these apps. They are absolute “must-haves” for payments and transport. Additionally, we recommend completing the “Real-name Verification” with your passport before you leave home. This ensures your digital metro card activates instantly.
Setting these apps up is the single most important part of your trip prep. Ling and I used our Wise card linked to both apps, and it worked flawlessly every time. While we preferred the Alipay interface for the metro, you should keep WeChat Pay as a backup. Don’t wait until you are standing at a turnstile in Guangzhou to link your bank. Instead, do it on your couch in Australia! Furthermore, read our best China travel SIM card guide to ensure you have data at the gates.
Essential App & Card Specs
| Tool | Purpose | Aussie Pro-Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Primary Payment & Metro | Best English interface for Aussies. |
| Backup Payment & Social | Essential if Alipay fails. | |
| Wise Card | Funding Source | Great exchange rates; works with both apps. |
| Passport | Identity Verification | Needed for “Real-name” setup in-app. |
How to use metro in China with mobile payments?
To pay for the metro, open the “Transport” tab in Alipay or “Transit Code” in WeChat. Select your current city to generate a QR code. Simply scan this code at the entry gate sensor and again when you exit. As a result, the app automatically deducts the fare from your linked card.
We found that Alipay was our “daily driver,” but WeChat works perfectly fine too. Usually, you have to “activate” the transport card for each new city. For example, you must tap a button when switching from Beijing to Shanghai. It only takes a few seconds. However, it is easier to do this while walking toward the station rather than at the gate.
What are the best apps for navigating the China Metro?
The best way to navigate is using Apple Maps or the “MetroMan” app. Apple Maps offers excellent English support. Meanwhile, MetroMan provides clear offline maps and trip timing. Apple Maps is particularly useful because it identifies the specific entry and exit gates like Exit C3.
Ling and I usually ran a “two-app” system. Specifically, I used Apple Maps to find the station because it tells you the most relevant entry and exit gates for your destination. Paying attention to these letters is a huge deal. Since some stations are massive, taking the wrong exit can land you blocks away on the wrong side of the road.
Can I take the metro from the airport or bullet train?
Most major Chinese airports and all high-speed bullet train stations connect directly to the metro network. Upon arrival, simply follow the “Metro” or “Rail Transit” signs. It is the most reliable and cost-effective way to reach your hotel from the arrivals hall.
We did this when visiting Chengdu. For instance, we hopped on the metro at the airport and reached the Flip Flop Hostel with no worries. High-speed bullet train stations are just as easy. Usually, you only need to walk five minutes between the two. We regularly took the fast train from Guangzhou to Shenzhen. Then, we hopped straight on the metro to the Hong Kong border. You can find more details in our guide to using the high-speed train in China.
The ease of transit makes the China visa-free entry program a win for travellers. Consequently, you can land and be on a train in minutes.
What is the security process like at metro stations?
Every Chinese metro station requires a bag X-ray and a metal detector scan. Security is fast but strict. Guards may ask you to take a sip of your water to prove it is safe. Moreover, certain items like large aerosol cans of deodorant or hairspray are prohibited.
We quickly learned that security is just part of the morning rhythm. As a 2-metre-tall Australian, I was quite the sight chugging my water bottle! To keep the line moving, I tossed my backpack onto the X-ray belt. This process only adds about 30 seconds to your commute. Just remember to have your bottle ready to show the guards.
How busy are the trains and what is the etiquette?
Trains in major cities run every 2–5 minutes. You never need to check a timetable. While peak hours are incredibly crowded, the process stays orderly. Passengers generally queue at the sides of the doors and let people exit through the middle first.
Outside of the rush, it is a very comfortable way to travel. During our time teaching in China, we got used to the daily commute. But if you are in Guangzhou with 20 million people, be prepared for a “firm nudge.” Although people are generally respectful, don’t wait for a polite gap during peak hour. You must move with the flow or you will never get on!
Why do locals ask for photos on the metro?
In many parts of China, foreigners are still a novelty. Locals or students may approach you to practice English or ask for a photo. They usually do this very politely. Often, they will ask a Chinese-speaking companion for permission first.
Because we travelled as a pair, people often approached Ling. They wanted to know if they could get a photo with me. We had a hilarious moment where a group of schoolgirls spent so long taking selfies that they almost missed their stop! Ultimately, it is all very lighthearted. Just smile, say “Ni hao,” and embrace the experience.
Underground “Shopping Cities” and Hidden Gems
Many Chinese metro stations sit directly beneath enormous shopping malls. These hubs feature multiple levels of stores, restaurants, and clean public bathrooms. Stations are often the heart of social life. They offer everything from high-end fashion to quick street food snacks.
Areas like Tianhe in Guangzhou are famous for this. You can walk for kilometres underground through “Fashion Tianhe” without ever seeing the sun. But our absolute favourite was Saga Mall in Xi’an at Xiaozhai Station. It sits right on top of the metro and features the “Sky Ladder,” which is the longest indoor escalator in Asia. It takes you directly from the basement to the 6th-floor food zone. It is an adventure in itself! You can check out more highlights in our ultimate guide to visiting Xi’an.
Share Your Experience!
We hope this guide makes your next trip to China a little smoother! Navigating the metro system can feel like a mission at first, but it truly is the best way to see the country like a local.
Have you recently used the metro in China? Did you discover a hidden shopping mall or have a funny story from a crowded train? Drop a comment below or share your experiences with us—we’d love to hear from you!
Fellow Australian traveller here (Queenslander though 😄). Much older than you two, but (and!) really impressed with your comprehensive and easy to read info.
Frequent traveller to China. Lived and worked there in 2002 & 2004 and go back as often as possible to visit my Chinese friends (including last year visa free 💃) , so I’m no stranger to Chinese airports, train stations, HS trains, the fabulous Metro …. & the nudges from behind to get a move on, or people diving in front of me if I’ve accidentally left a 3″ gap!! 🤭
Since apps became a thing, I’ve linked my Bank of China UnionPay (debit) card to AliPay. Hadn’t thought to link my Wise card as well. I’ll be doing that next trip though 😄
Great idea re using Apple Maps for metro entrances!! I hadn’t noticed that, so thanks! That’s a brilliant tip considering the sheer size of some metro & train stations and how hot some of them are inside (let alone outside) and you’ve just realised you now have to walk a LOT further than you’d thought, and you have a sore foot! 🥵 🙏
My tip: along with AliPay transport (and apart from metro info) I also use Metroman to work out the metro routes and stops between the HS train stations I use.
Hi there! So great to meet a fellow Aussie explorer (even a Queenslander! 😄). Thank you so much for the kind words—coming from someone who’s seen China’s transformation since 2002, that really means a lot to us.
We had a good laugh at your description of the ‘3-inch gap’ rule—it’s definitely a sport over there, isn’t it? That’s such a pro tip about Metroman for the HS train connections; we’ll have to check that out for our next trip. So glad the Apple Maps tip helps save your feet from those massive stations!
Safe travels on your next visit with the Wise card linked. See you out there!