TRAVEL GUIDE · CHINA

Using the metro in China: a guide for foreign visitors

Save the Chinese station name, allow time for large stations and keep your destination offline.

Traveller on a metro platform — Image source: AI-generated image created for Seeing China. No real brands or personal data are shown.

Metro systems in China’s major cities are fast and practical, but stations can be large and exits numerous. Save the Chinese station name and map pin before you leave.

Check station and direction before entering

Confirm the Chinese station name, line, direction and transfer before you pass the gates.

Allow time inside major stations

Security screening, long corridors and finding the right exit can take longer than expected.

Keep an offline backup

Save the hotel address and destination where you can reach them if your phone loses data or power.

A clear Chinese station name and a little time buffer solve most first-trip metro problems.

Navigate the metro by line, direction and exit

Chinese metro systems are generally easy to use once each trip is reduced to four facts: station, line, direction and exit. Save those facts in Chinese before entering an interchange.

Plan the route precisely

Check the official Chinese station name and distinguish stations with similar English translations. Record the line number or color, the terminal station that indicates direction and every interchange. Service hours vary by city, line and station, so check the last departure for the exact date rather than relying on a general closing time.

Choose a ticket or payment method

Availability of foreign cards, QR payments, single-journey tickets and transport cards differs by system. Test the intended method before the last train. Keep the ticket or token until after the exit gate and do not assume a payment method working in one city will work in another.

Use the correct exit

Large stations can have many exits separated by major roads or shopping complexes. Save the exit letter or number and a street-level landmark. Follow security and baggage instructions, keep bags clear of closing doors, and ask staff at the service desk when an accessible route or lift is needed.

Recover from a wrong turn

If you enter the wrong direction, do not cross a barrier or follow a staff-only passage. Check the next station, leave the train if necessary and ask the service desk how to reverse direction without creating a second fare problem. When an exit leads to the wrong side of a large road, return to the signed concourse if permitted rather than attempting an unsafe street crossing. Keep the hotel address visible and use a staffed gate when the ticket, QR code or passport-linked payment does not open the barrier.

Travel with luggage or children

Avoid the busiest doorway and allow other passengers to leave before entering. Use a lift or wider staffed gate when available instead of forcing a large suitcase through a narrow barrier. Agree on the next station and a meeting point before boarding with children or companions; mobile service can be weak underground. If the group separates, one person should stay at the agreed station rather than everyone moving in different directions. Keep the route screenshot on more than one phone when the group has multiple devices.

Useful phrases

去这个地方从哪个出口走？Which exit should I use for this place?

末班车是几点？What time is the last train?

请问无障碍电梯在哪里？Where is the accessible lift?

Before departure

Chinese station names saved

Direction terminal recorded

Last service checked

Destination exit and landmark saved

Official references