(ECNS) -- Beijing's urban rail transit system recently began accepting newly added support for contactless fare payments using overseas-issued JCB cards and both domestically and internationally issued American Express cards, authorities said Sunday.
The new payment options cover all 29 subway lines, including two airport lines, as well as the suburban railway S2 Line, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.
Passengers can now conveniently tap their bank cards on the fare gate sensors for instant access, eliminating the need to purchase tickets or download apps in advance.
This upgrade follows the introduction of Mastercard and Visa payment in September 2024, further enhancing convenience for domestic and international travelers.
With this development, Beijing Subway is now the first urban rail transit system in the world that accepts payment of UnionPay, Mastercard, Visa, JCB, and American Express.
At Caoqiao Station—serving Line 10, Line 19, and Daxing Airport Express of the Beijing Subway, the payment icons on each fare gate have been updated to include JCB and American Express logos.
In addition to using their own cards, international passengers can now use self-service ticket machines to buy single-journey tickets for multiple companions.
Facilitating easier payment is among the measures adopted to facilitate foreign nationals traveling to China, as the country has been expanding its visa-free policy to welcome more foreign visitors.
Since launching contactless fare payments for international passengers, Beijing's urban rail transit system has processed transactions using bank cards issued in over 130 countries and regions.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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