China Metro Guide: Subways in Beijing, Shanghai & More

China’s metros are the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to see its biggest cities — once you know the two-minute routine.

Walk into any major Chinese city and you’ll find a modern, air-conditioned, bilingual metro that puts most of the world’s subways to shame. It’s clean, frequent, inexpensive, and reaches nearly every major sight. Here’s your China metro guide, covering tickets, QR gates, English signage and the details that surprise first-timers.

The short answer

1. Find the nearest station — they’re everywhere in Beijing and Shanghai.
2. Buy a ticket from a vending machine (cash or QR), or skip tickets by scanning an Alipay/WeChat transit QR at the gate.
3. Ride — signs and announcements are bilingual in most big cities.
4. Scan or tap out at your destination; the fare is deducted based on distance.

Which cities have metros

Every major Chinese city now has a metro, and the biggest are enormous. Beijing and Shanghai have the most extensive networks and the most English support. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi’an, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Chongqing all run modern, easy-to-use systems too. If you’re between cities by high-speed rail, the metro usually connects the station to the center cheaply and quickly.

Buying a ticket

Ticket vending machines are at every station entrance and are simple to use:

• Select your destination station (or your line and station name — the map is bilingual in most cities).
• Pay with cash (machines accept small notes and coins) or QR payment via Alipay or WeChat Pay.
• Collect your single-journey token or card and scan it at the entrance gate.
• Keep it for the ride — you’ll need it to exit at your destination. Some stations take the token back at the exit gate; others use one-way cards.

Fares are distance-based and cheap — most urban rides cost only a few yuan, and even long cross-city trips stay modest by international standards.

Scanning through with your phone

The fastest way to ride is to skip tickets entirely:

• In Alipay, open the transport section (出行) and select the city’s metro QR.
• In WeChat, use the local metro mini program (or the transport card) to generate a QR code.
• Scan the QR at the entrance gate, ride, then scan again at the exit gate — the fare is charged automatically.
• One phone can usually cover the whole city, and the QR works across most major metro systems.

This requires Alipay or WeChat Pay set up with a payment method, but it’s the way locals ride.

English signage and announcements

In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and most other large cities:

• Station names appear in Chinese with pinyin (English letters) below.
• Next-stop announcements are bilingual.
• Exit signs (A, B, C, D) guide you to the right street corner — check which exit your destination needs before you leave the platform.
• Navigation apps like Amap and Baidu Maps show exact station entrances, exit numbers and transfer platforms — see our offline navigation guide for using them without data.

Security checks and etiquette

Every station entrance has a security check: bags pass through an X-ray machine, and staff may ask you to open bags. It’s quick and routine. A few things to know:

• Water bottles are sometimes asked to be tested or opened.
• Peak hours (weekdays roughly 7:30–9:30 am and 5:30–7:30 pm) are very crowded — avoid them with luggage.
• Let passengers exit before boarding, and stand on the right side of escalators where that’s the custom.
• Priority seats exist near each door; they’re for the elderly, children and those who need them.
• Food and drink are generally not allowed on trains.

Fares and hours

• First trains usually run from around 5:30–6 am; last trains leave central stations around 10:30–11:30 pm, depending on the line and city.
• Fares are calculated by distance, with a small transfer allowance — you can change lines without paying extra as long as you stay inside the gates.
• Some cities offer day passes if you’re riding a lot, though single fares are so cheap that most visitors just pay per ride.

Getting to and from the airport

Most big-city airports are connected by metro or dedicated rail:

• Shanghai Pudong — Metro Line 2 and the Maglev; see our Shanghai guide.
• Beijing Capital and Daxing — dedicated airport lines and metro links.
• Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi’an and others all have airport rail connections.

Airport lines sometimes cost more than a normal metro fare, and luggage goes through the station security check — allow extra time.

Before you go

• Set up Alipay (and ideally WeChat Pay) and practice finding the transit QR.
• Download Amap or Baidu Maps offline packs for the cities you’ll visit.
• Save the Chinese names of your key stations so you can recognize them on signs.
• Check last-train times if you’ll be out late.

Last updated: August 2026. Fares, hours and QR payment features vary by city — confirm before you go.