Beijing Transportation Smart Card

Smart Card
Smart Card
Beijing Transportation Smart Card is valid for nearly all means of transportation in the city, including city buses, subway, the Airport Express Train, S2 trains, taxis, and public bicycles. There are two types of Beijing Transportation Smart Card, Beijing Yikatong Card and Beijing Hutong Card (former Jingjinji Interconnection Card) marked with "China T-Union". 
 

Yikatong Card

Yikatong Card can not only be used to take buses, taxis, subways and express lines in Beijing, but also widely used for payments at over 40 P+R parking lots, gas stations, supermarkets, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, municipal bill payment, welfare lottery, vending machines and many other fields. 
 

Hutong Card

Hutong Card can be used to take public transportation in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and other over 300 cities in the country. You can travel in popular cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Guilin, Chongqing, Kunming, Sanya, Chengdu and so on with just one card. 

 

List of Supported Cities

 
Provinces, Autonomous Region, municipalities Supported Cities
Beijing Beijing buses & subways
Tianjin Tianjin buses & subways
Hebei Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, Handan, Xingtai, Baoding, Zhangjiakou, Chengde, Cangzhou, Langfang, Hengshui
Shanxi Taiyuan, Datong, Yangquan, Changzhi, Jincheng, Shuozhou, Jinzhong, Yuncheng, Xinzhou, Linfen, Lvliang
Inner Mongolia Hohhot, Baotou, Wuhai, Erdos, Xilin Gol Meng
Liaoning Shenyang, Dalian, Anshan, Fushun, Benxi, Dandong, Jinzhou, Yingkou, Fengxin, Liaoyang, Panjin, Tieling, Chaoyang, Huludao
Jilin Changchun, Jilin, Siping, Liaoyuan, Tonghua, Baihsan, Songyuan, Baicheng, Yanbian Chaoxianzu (Korean) Autonomous Prefecture
Heilongjiang Harbin, Qiqihar, Jixi, Hegang, Shuangyashan, Daqing, Yichun, Jiamusi, Qitaihe, Mudanjiang, Heihe, Suihua
Shanghai Shanghai buses, metros & ferries
Jiangsu Nanjing, Wuxi, Xuzhou, Changzhou, Suzhou, Nantong, Lianyungang, Huai’an, Yancheng, Yanghzou, Zhenjiang, Taizhou, Suqian
Zhejiang Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Ningbo, Jiaxing, Huzhou, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Quzhou, Taizhou
Anhui Hefei, Wuhu, Bengbu, Huainan, Ma’anshan, Huaibei, Tongling, Anqing, Huangshan, Chuzhou, Fuyang, Suzhou, Liu’an, Haozhou, Chizhou. Xuancheng
Fujian Fuzhou, Xiamen, Putian, Sanming, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Nanping, Longyan, Ningde, Pingtan
Jiangxi Nanchang, Jingdezhen, Pingxiang,Jiujiang, Xinyu, Yingtan, Ganzhou, Jian, Yichun, Fuzhou, Shangrao
Shandong Jinan, Qingdao, Zaozhuang, Dongying, Yantai, Weifang, Jining, Taian, Weihai, Rizhao, Linyi, Dezhou, Liaocheng, Binzhou, Heze
Henan Zhengzhou, Xuchang, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Pingdingshan, Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Puyang, Luohe, Sanmenxia, Nanyang, Shangqiu, Xinyang, Zhoukou, Zhumadian, Jiyuan
Hubei Wuhan, Huangshi, Shiyan, Yichang, Xiangyang, Ezhou, Jinmen, Xiaogan, Jinzhou, Huanggang, Xianning, Suizhou, Enshi
Hunan Changsha, Zhuzhou, Xiangtan, Hengyang, Shaoyang, Yueyang, Changde, Zhangjiajie, Yiyang, Bangzhou, Yongzou, Huaihua, Loudi, Xiangxi
Guangdong Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Shaoguan, Zhuhai, Shantou, Jiangmen, Zhanjiang, Maoming, Zhaoqing, Huizhou, Meizhou, Shanwei, Heyuan, Yangjiang, Qingyuan, Zhongshan, Chaozhou, Jieyang, Yunfu
Guangxi Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Guigang, Yulin, Baise, Hehzou, Hechi, Laibin, Chongzuo
Hainan Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou
Chongqing Chongqing buses and rail transit
Sichuan Chengdu, Zigong, Panzhihua, Luzhou, Deyang, Minayang, Guangyuan, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Nanchong, Meishan, Yibin, Guang’an, Dazhou, Ya’an, Bazhong, Ziyang, Aba, Ganzi, Liangshan
Yunnan Kunming, Qujing, Yuxi, Baoshan, Shaotong, Lijiang, Puer, Lincang, Xhuxiong, Hehong, Wenshan, Dehong, Nvjiang, Deqing
Shaanxi Xi'an, Tongchuan, Baoji, Xianyang, Weinan, Yan’an, Hanzhong, Yulin, Ankang, Shangluo, Yangling, Xixian New Area
Gansu Lanzhou, Jinchang, Baiyin, Weiwu, Zhangye, Pingliang, Jiuquan, Qingyang, Longnan
Qinghai Xining, Haidong, Huangnan, Yushu, Haixi
Ningxia Yinchuan, Shizuishan, Wuzhong, Guyuan
Xinjiang Urumqi, Hami, Altay Prefecture
 

Ticket Discount for Card Holders

 Buses: 50% off in downtown area, 20% off outside downtown area
 Subways: 
20% off for the rides when the total expenditure is CNY100-150;
50% off for the rides when the total expenditure is CNY150-400;
No discount for rides when the total expenditure is over CNY400.
 Note: The cumulative record of the expenditures is cleared at the end of each natural month and will be re-cumulated in the next natural month.
 

Where to get one and top up

The way to get and top up the two kinds of cards is mostly the same. It will be pretty convenient to use an e-card when you have a phone number of China’s mainland and a WeChat, Alipay or Apple Pay account, if you don’t, it is advised to apply for a physical one at the service centers by following the guide below.
 

Get a physical card 

Foreign users can take their passports and go to the customer service center in Dongzhimen (address listed in the below chart) to apply for a deposit card. A refundable deposit of CNY20 is needed and no less than CNY20 for the first top-up. 

To top up the physical card, users can go to the service centers and self-service machines at subway stations. The card balance should be less than CNY1,000. 
 

Get an e-card online 

Download “北京一卡通”(Beijing Yikatong) APP and apply for a card without any deposit or service fee. Users can top up online with Apple Pay, Alipay and WeChat Pay.
 

How to Use the Card

 Bus: Swipe the card or your phones when boarding the bus. If the door for disembarking has a card reader, it is necessary to swipe again when exiting the bus.
 Subway: Swipe when entering and exiting the subway station. 
 S2 Train to Badaling Great Wall: swipe when entering and exiting the railway station
 Taxi: swipe on the card reader near the taximeter. 
 
Check-in Counter
Subway Check-in Counter
Exit
Exit of Subway
 

How to Return the Card

 Return an e-card
Users can refund their cards online through the app. The card balance will be refunded to the accounts within 5 weekdays.

 Return a physical card
Card holders can go to the service centers to return the card. 
 Note: The card balance should not be more than CNY200 when returning the card.

The following are some picked service centers where passengers can apply for, top up and return a card there.
 

Service Centers

Location Service Hours

Yikatong Dongzhimen Service Center

Dongzhimen Transportation Hub, Dongcheng District 8:30-19:30

Yikatong Xidan Service Center

No.45, Inside Fuxingmen, Xicheng District 8:30-19:30

Daxing Airport Subway Station of Daxing Airport Express Line

Daxing Airport Subway Station The same as the subway line

Xinfadi Subway Station of Line 19

Xinfadi Subway Station The same as the subway line

Jishuitan Subway Station of Line 19

 Jishuitan Subway Station The same as the subway line

Washousi Subway Station of Line 16

Washousi Subway Station The same as the subway line
Jingtai Subway Station of Line 14 Jingtai Subway Station The same as the subway line
Wangjing Subway Station of Line 14  Wangjing Subway Station The same as the subway line
Haidian Hangzhuang Subway Station of Line 4 Haidian Hangzhuang Subway Station The same as the subway line
East Andingmen East Andingmen Bus Stop
(Bus No. 328)
7:00-19:00
Wuluju Wuluju Bus Station 7:00-19:00
South Liuliqiao South Liuliqiao Bus Station 7:00-19:00
- Last updated on Apr. 16, 2024 by Gabby Li -
Questions & Answers on Beijing Transportation Smart Card
Asked by Ladymy from THAILAND | Apr. 15, 2024 14:43Reply
buy Beijing Hutong Card
which the metro station can i buy Beijing Hutong Card ?
Answers (2)
Answered by Jin | Apr. 16, 2024 19:29
00Reply


Because of remnant COVID control policy of Beijing that was never officially lifted, many subway stations require Chinese ID number to buy one-way ticket or transportation card. You need to try different locations to find a place which is willing to sell transportation card to foreigners. Place that doesn't require passport is more preferable. When you buy it successfully, you should top it up enough money. There are many tourists successfully bought transportation card after opening up of China.
Answered by Keith | Apr. 16, 2024 19:56
00Reply


Foreigners need to go to the service center at Dongzhimen to get one.
Asked by Aileen Lim from MALAYSIA | Apr. 02, 2024 19:40Reply
My yikatong card refund process to WeChat has failed
My yikatong card refund process to WeChat has failed because I did not complete real name authentication. How do I proceed after I have completed the authentication?
Answers (1)
Answered by Lori | Apr. 02, 2024 23:49
00Reply


You need to go to the service center at Dongzhimen to return the card there.
Asked by Ardy from INDONESIA | Mar. 30, 2024 00:18Reply
Buy Card for Subway Beijing
Cannot buy for foreigner, must chinaland id card. Please update information foreigner cant buy card for subway in beijing
Answers (3)
Answered by Joshua | Mar. 31, 2024 20:24
00Reply


The card can be bought but you need to upgrade it to use and top up which needs a valid ID card to finish, and most service centers only accept China ID Card. For foreigners who want to get one with passports, they need to go to the service center in Dongzhimen to get one and upgrade it.
Answered by Jin | Apr. 01, 2024 00:50
00Reply


You have probably mistaken one way ticket with Beijing Yikatong transportation card. Ticket vending machine in Beijing Subway often require id number to buy one way ticket, which is a bad habit left over from COVID era.
Answered by Jin | Apr. 01, 2024 02:32
00Reply


In reality in Beijing, there seem to be a lot of stations still requiring ID verification to buy a one way ticket or to buy or charge transportation card. But also, there are enough places that they abolished this ID verification thing. It us better to go to busy place for better chance. Or you can make day trip to Tianjin in earlier stage of your trip to Beijing to buy a working transportation card.
Asked by Max | Mar. 28, 2024 19:47Reply
Yikatong
Can i use yikatong for public busses?
Is it the same for beijing and other city?
Answers (1)
Answered by Lori | Mar. 31, 2024 19:54
00Reply


Yes, you can. Only Beijing Hutong Card (互通卡) marked with China T-Union can be used in other over 300 cities.
Asked by Tobias from GERMANY | Mar. 26, 2024 18:23Reply
Return Yikatong card
Can I return my yikatong card at PEK capital airport terminal 3? Where?
Thanks
Answers (3)
Answered by Marcy | Mar. 26, 2024 22:43
00Reply


No, you cannot return it at T3. Service centers listed on this page is available for returning.
Answered by Jin | Mar. 28, 2024 05:07
00Reply


According to Beijing Subway homepage , Terminal 3 Station has a service counter providing refund service.
Answered by Sunsanee B. | Apr. 06, 2024 00:37
00Reply


Yes, you can.
I’ve already ask the subway officer at PEK since 25 Dec 2023. You can return the card at the ticket office in front of airport express entrance.
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