Starting June 30, Shenzhen Metro launched a trial Tap-to-Ride service for international bank cards across its entire network. It is now the third city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, after Hong Kong and Guangzhou, to support such access at metro fare gates.
The trial covers all 17 operating lines and 432 stations. The service supports international bank cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB issued in more than 200 countries and regions.
Passengers can enter and exit stations by tapping their cards directly at fare gates displaying the relevant acceptance logos. With existing support for UnionPay contactless payments, Shenzhen Metro now accepts cards from the five major bank card networks across its entire system.
From June 30, passengers with cards on these networks, including those linked to mobile wallets, can simply place their card or phone near the sensor area of any payment-enabled fare gate and pass through within seconds. Fares will be automatically deducted through the backend system in coordination with the card issuer. The service saves overseas travelers the trouble of exchanging cash, queuing for tickets, or downloading dedicated apps, making metro travel much more convenient.
The Tap-to-Ride service also covers business-class carriages on Line 11. Passengers using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or JCB cards can take a business-class carriage after tapping a second time at the validator in the business-class waiting area on the platform, offering more travel options and greater comfort.
With the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting set to be held in Shenzhen later this year, Shenzhen Metro will continue to optimize its payment services based on the trial. It plans to enable international bank card Tap-to-Ride access at all fare gates across the network by the end of this year.
Text | Zhang Xuanzhen (intern), Liu Lingzhi
