Beijing’s new travel pass for international tourists enhances public transportation, allowing easy purchase with international bank cards at key locations.
In a significant move to enhance the experience for international tourists, Beijing is launching a new travel pass designed to simplify public transportation. This initiative will allow foreign visitors to purchase the pass using international bank cards at all 335 Beijing Subway stations and both airports. Currently, the subway system is testing this service, signaling a new era of convenience for tourists navigating the city’s extensive public transport network.
Dr. Wu Liyun, a professor at the China Academy of Culture and Tourism of Beijing International Studies University, highlights the potential benefits of integrating the pass with Alipay, a popular Chinese digital payment platform. “If the pass can be integrated with Alipay, it will save time and make it easier for foreigners to use public transportation,” she said. This integration could significantly enhance the efficiency and user-friendliness of Beijing’s transport system for non-Chinese visitors.
To accommodate the rising number of tourists, Chinese authorities are implementing several measures to enhance the tourist experience. In addition to the all-in-one public transportation pass, key transportation hubs, including major railway and subway stations near tourist attractions and airports, will feature bilingual announcements in Mandarin and English. This development is part of a broader effort to make Beijing more accessible and welcoming to international travelers.
Learning from Global Examples
Beijing’s approach is similar to Singapore‘s SimplyGo system, which allows commuters to link their credit cards to their phones and pay for fares directly at train and bus gates. By implementing a comparable system, Beijing aims to offer a seamless travel experience that minimizes the need for cash transactions and enhances convenience for tourists.
Nationwide Trend
Beijing is at the forefront of a nationwide trend to improve the tourist experience in China. Other major cities, such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, are also introducing similar travel cards and expanding credit card acceptance for taxis. This push to modernize and simplify travel comes as China experiences a surge in tourism. As of July 29, 2023, Beijing’s entry and exit ports have already surpassed the total number of travelers for all of 2023, with a staggering 10 million people passing through.
By making transportation more accessible, Beijing is setting a new standard for tourist convenience. This initiative ensures a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience for international visitors, enabling them to maximize their time exploring the city.
As Beijing continues to roll out this new travel pass and other major cities follow suit, tourists will benefit from unprecedented ease of navigation. This seamless system will allow visitors to save on travel time and explore more of China’s exciting attractions each day, marking a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to boost tourism.
George is the News Feed Manager, Content Creator, and Social Media Manager at the TravelDailyNews network of online newspapers. At the same time, he is completing his studies in the Department of Business Administration at the Athens University of Economics and Business.
