Metro riders in Shenzhen will be able to use their mobile phones to pay their fares by scanning the WeChat QR codes at the exit turnstiles of Metro stations from tomorrow.
Riders will need to download the Shenzhen Metro app, Shenzhen Metro e-commuting, or Tencent miniapp WeChat Transport Code to tie their personal information so they can generate their own ride code.
Riders can have their codes scanned when they are at the entrance turnstiles and pay their fare when they exit. The fare will be deducted directly from the rider’s account.
According to the Shenzhen Metro Co., the Metro operator will designate at least four turnstiles (two for exiting and two for entering) at each station to support the QR scanning service during its initial stage of operation.
“It is very convenient. I don’t need to bring a Shenzhentong card, or cash to take the Metro, I just have to remember to bring my mobile phone,” said a resident, surnamed Guo, who tried the service at an experience activity at Chegongmiao Station on Friday.
The Metro company reminded residents that phones should be held 15 cm away from the scanners. It takes longer if they are held too close. Riders who pay by phone won’t enjoy the fare discounts that Shenzhentong users do.
The scanning service is a new choice for riders, adding to the existing options of purchasing a single-trip token, using a Shenzhentong card, the daily ticket and the time ticket. The service is expected to reduce long lines for buying tickets and add convenience for tourists who don’t have Shenzhentong cards.
Shenzhen Metro’s daily passenger turnover has reached 5 million, 13 percent, or 400,000, of which is made up of token ticket purchases, statistics from the Shenzhen Metro Co. showed.
The QR service now supports WeChat users, and the Shenzhen Metro Co. said it would include other mobile payment platforms, such as Alipay, into its service.
QR code scanning payment has been used on public transportation systems in eight cities in China, including Guangzhou, Qingdao, Jinan and Hefei, which will soon be joined by three more cities including Shenzhen. The system, however, is not yet available in Beijing or Shanghai.
Through the application of the code, Tencent hopes to connect mobile payment to public transportation to create smart transportation, lead it to an efficient and low-carbon mobile payment era, and provide users with safe, convenient and comfortable public transport services.