Beijing has introduced several new payment and transport services to make visiting the city easier for international tourists. These updates address common challenges foreigners face with payments and public transit. Key changes include accepting foreign credit cards on the subway and launching a new multipurpose pass, all designed to create a more welcoming and accessible experience for travelers from around the world.
A Breakthrough for Subway Travel with Foreign Cards
Since September 13, Beijing has become the first city in mainland China to allow direct payment with foreign-issued MasterCard and Visa cards across its entire subway network. This includes all urban rail lines and the suburban S2 line, offering a major convenience for international visitors.
This groundbreaking move simplifies subway travel significantly, as tourists no longer need to download special apps or buy physical tickets. The system has already proven popular, with an average of over 1,000 foreign card users each day since its launch. In total, more than 31,400 rides have been paid for using this method, showing a strong demand for such a straightforward payment option.
For both business and leisure travelers, this new feature removes a long-standing hurdle, allowing them to navigate Beijing’s extensive rail system with the same ease as locals.
The All in One Beijing Pass for Tourists
To further streamline payments, the city launched the Beijing Pass on July 31. This multifunctional card is designed to be a single payment solution for transportation, shopping, and entry to tourist attractions. It helps integrate various payment needs into one convenient card or mobile pass for international visitors.
The pass is available as a physical card or a mobile NFC version through the Silk-Pass app. So far, nearly 13,000 passes have been issued, with a high number of transactions recorded in public transportation. This shows that tourists appreciate having a unified way to pay for different services.
| Beijing Pass Details | Number Issued | Transaction Count |
| Physical Cards | 6,031 | 117,000+ |
| NFC Mobile Cards | 6,948 | Highest in Transit |
By supporting cashless payments in a simple format, the Beijing Pass directly addresses the difficulties many foreign visitors encounter when trying to make purchases in the city.
Enhancing Communication with Multilingual Support
Alongside payment solutions, Beijing is improving its multilingual services in public transit. A pilot program has introduced translation devices in 24 key subway stations to help foreign visitors communicate and find their way. Station staff are also receiving language training to better assist with questions in English and other languages.
These efforts extend to public buses, which now feature bilingual signs and announcements in both Chinese and English. These changes create a more inclusive environment for non-Mandarin speakers and support the city’s growing tourism sector. In the first half of the year, Beijing saw a 245.6% year-on-year increase in inbound tourism, welcoming over 1.65 million international visitors.
What is Next for Beijing’s Tourist Friendly Tech
Beijing plans to continue its digital upgrades to further assist foreign tourists. Several new features are scheduled for release soon to make travel even more convenient.
An international version of Beijing’s transit app is in development. This will expand travel options and help with better planning.
- The app will allow registration with foreign mobile numbers.
- It will enable users to pay with international cards directly through the app.
- Users will be able to generate QR codes for easy entry and exit from stations.
Additionally, popular ride-hailing apps have already launched English versions, allowing visitors to book rides and pay seamlessly with Visa and MasterCard. These ongoing developments are a clear sign of Beijing’s commitment to making its infrastructure more accessible and welcoming to a global audience.
