Editor's note: Traveling to a new country can raise many questions. How do I pay? How do I get around? To ensure every international guest feels welcome and supported, the CIIE service initiative offers practical solutions for transportation, payment, dining, tax-free shopping, and hotel stays. Unlock a seamless CIIE experience with us!

In this episode, find how to navigate the Shanghai Metro, one of the largest metro networks in the world.

Option 1: Swipe your bank card

Shanghai Metro accepts contactless payments at over 500 stations.

Passengers can pass through ticket gates by simply tapping chip-enabled cards, including those from UnionPay, Visa, and Mastercard.

To use this service, activate the small amounts password-free payment feature on your bank card.

Option 2: Mobile payment

You can use the Suishenxing (SH MaaS) app, which provides an all-in-one QR code on your smartphone for buses, ferries, and the metro. The app supports international bank cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, Diners Club, and JCB. Simply scan the QR code in the app to pass through the gates.

You can also download the Shanghai Metro Daduhui (大都会) app, which supports WeChat Pay and Alipay as well as international bank cards for payment.

Option 3: A single-journey ticket

If you don't have a bank card or a mobile payment app, you can ask the metro staff to help you buy a single-journey ticket.