Shanghai Metro expands contactless payment to entire network

In a significant move to enhance travel convenience for inbound visitors and improve payment accessibility, Shanghai Metro has announced the expansion of its "Tap to Ride" pilot program — which supports contactless bank cards and e-CNY hard wallets — to cover the entire urban rail network, including all municipal lines, effective June 28.

Following an initial trial on the Maglev line, the expanded program will allow passengers to enter and exit any Shanghai Metro station using UnionPay chip cards, as well as Visa (including international Visa cards and Visa-CUP dual-brand, dual-currency cards), Mastercard, American Express, and JCB contactless cards (excluding Type-B chips and cards without ODA functionality), along with e-CNY hard wallets that meet the specifications of the People's Bank of China Digital Currency Research Institute.
Passengers can simply tap to ride with a supported contactless card or e-CNY hard wallet at any gate for quick and seamless access across the Shanghai Metro system. 
To ensure a smooth experience, passengers must enable the small-amount password-free payment feature and ensure that their card or wallet has sufficient balance or credit. If users encounter issues, they are encouraged to visit station service centers or contact their card issuer or the relevant customer service hotlines — all of which are available 24/7.
Shanghai Metro operates one of the world's largest transit networks, with a total length of 896 kilometers, 21 lines, and 517 stations, serving over 77 percent of the city's daily public transit passengers. 
The full rollout of this payment pilot is expected to significantly improve the travel experience for international visitors, streamline access to major city destinations, and further strengthen Shanghai's position as a leading global metropolis.
This achievement is the result of close collaboration among the Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, the People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office, the Digital Currency Research Institute, China UnionPay, Bank of Communications, international card schemes, and the Shanghai Metro ticketing team.
Over 3,000 laboratory tests and extensive field trials were conducted within just three months to resolve issues related to technical compatibility, payment security, and user experience — underscoring a strong commitment to innovation in public transport payment solutions.

(Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Metro)
Source: Intl Services Shanghai