Beijing Subway & Bus Guide: How to Pay and Ride with Your Phone

Moving to Beijing for school and facing the city’s complex transportation network for the first time? Don’t panic! This ultra-detailed Beijing subway and bus guide will help you master public transportation — saving time, saving money, and never getting lost. Bookmark it now!
Key Takeaway: Set Up Your Mobile Transit Card or Ride Code First
When traveling in Beijing, you can ride buses and the subway using either the NFC Mobile Yikatong (phone transit card) or the Beijing Yikatong Ride Code (QR code). Simply download the Beijing Yikatong App (北京一卡通APP) on your smartphone and you can activate it for free and use it immediately — no need to visit a service center for a physical card or buy paper tickets. The coverage and fare discounts are exactly the same as a physical card.

How to Set Up the NFC Mobile Yikatong (Beijing Phone Transit Card)

Method 1: Activate via the Beijing Yikatong App
Download the Beijing Yikatong App, then on the home page tap “Mobile Yikatong” (手机一卡通) → “Add a Mobile Yikatong” (添加一张手机一卡通). Follow the on-screen instructions to activate it free of charge.

Activate via Beijing Yikatong App
Method 2: Activate via the Alipay Mini-Program (No Extra App Download Required)
No additional app download is needed — you can quickly activate the “Tap-and-Ride” transit card (碰一下交通卡) through the Alipay mini-program. As China’s first green smart transit card that earns Ant Forest energy with every ride, the Tap-and-Ride card is among the first to support Huawei and Apple users, offering core advantages such as free card activation (0 yuan), ride now and pay later, nationwide acceptance, screen-off tapping, and charity support. For detailed steps, see the image below.
Alipay Tap-and-Ride Transit Card
Tap Your Phone to Ride — No App, No Unlock Needed
When tapping your phone to ride, there is no need to open any app and no need to unlock your screen — just tap your phone with the screen off.

How to Set Up the Beijing Yikatong Ride Code (QR Code)
Download the Beijing Yikatong App, select “Bus Code” (公交码) or “Metro Code” (地铁码) on the home page, tap “Activate Now” (立即开通), read and accept the user agreement, then complete the required real-name verification to activate successfully.

The Beijing Yikatong Ride Code features ride now, pay later with no preloaded balance required. Before boarding, open the Beijing Yikatong App, bring up your Bus Code or Metro Code, and scan the QR code at the fare gate to pass through. Riding with the QR code gives you the same fare discounts as a physical card.

FAQ: Beijing Subway Payment for Foreigners and Students
Do I need a physical card to ride the Beijing Metro? No. With the Beijing Yikatong App you can activate an NFC mobile transit card or a QR ride code for free, with the same coverage and discounts as a physical card.
Can I ride the Beijing subway without mobile data or opening an app? Yes. With the NFC Mobile Yikatong, you can tap your phone with the screen off — no app or unlock required.
Does the Beijing Yikatong QR code require preloading money? No. The ride code works on a ride-now-pay-later basis with no pre-charge needed.
Which phones support the Alipay Tap-and-Ride transit card? It is among the first to support Huawei and Apple users, with free activation and nationwide acceptance.