A Complete Guide to Shenzhen Metro Ticketing for Foreign Tourists

As an international metropolis in southern China, Shenzhen boasts an extensive metro network covering airports, high-speed rail stations, popular scenic spots and business districts, making it the best travel option for foreign tourists exploring the city. Shenzhen Metro not only operates efficiently with dense stations but also offers diversified ticketing channels and payment methods, fully adapting to the usage habits of overseas visitors. The following details the entire process of purchasing Shenzhen Metro tickets, ticket type options and practical tips to help you travel around Shenzhen effortlessly.

Shenzhen Metro implements a one-person-one-ticket system with a variety of ticket types to choose from based on travel needs. The most basic single-ride tickets include regular single-ride tickets (green) and business class single-ride tickets (yellow). Regular single-ride tickets can be purchased at ticket vending machines and customer service centers in each station, while business class single-ride tickets are only available at ticket vending machines in Futian and Airport stations of Line 11 and customer service centers of all stations, suitable for tourists pursuing a comfortable experience. If you plan to stay in Shenzhen for 1-3 days and take the metro frequently, the one-day pass and three-day pass are cost-effective choices — the one-day pass costs 25 RMB and the three-day pass 75 RMB. Starting from the first entry, you can take ordinary carriages unlimited times within 24 hours and 72 hours respectively. These passes can be bought at customer service centers of designated stations, including transportation hubs and popular stations such as Qianhaiwan, Luohu, Shenzhen North Railway Station and Airport Station.

For tourists accustomed to mobile payments, Shenzhen Metro has achieved full digital ticketing coverage, allowing convenient travel without exchanging RMB cash. Overseas tourists can bind their foreign bank cards to WeChat, search for the “Shenzhen Metro Mini Program”, agree to the service agreement and enable automatic payment to generate a metro QR code. Simply scan the code at the turnstile to enter, and the actual fare will be deducted automatically upon exit, with the same process as domestic payments. In addition, AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK users can directly switch to Shenzhen in the “Transportation” section of their respective wallets to obtain a metro QR code. The system will automatically convert Hong Kong dollars to RMB at the real-time exchange rate for deduction, without the need to bind a mainland bank card or mobile phone number. The official Shenzhen Metro APP and MTR (Shenzhen) live+ Mini Program also support the purchase of virtual single-ride tickets and virtual daily passes, some of which can be redeemed with points, further enhancing travel convenience.

For tourists who prefer physical payments or do not have a smartphone, Shenzhen Metro also provides comprehensive solutions. Customer service centers of all stations across the network accept cash payments. Meanwhile, smart POS machines are installed at 8 transportation hub stations including Luohu Station, Airport Station and Shenzhen North Railway Station, supporting 6 major international bank cards such as VISA, Mastercard and American Express, as well as digital RMB hard wallets for ticket purchases. In addition, the Octopus “National Pass” card commonly used by Hong Kong tourists can be directly swiped to enter the station, with the currency exchange rate converted automatically during payment. Note that a 3% handling fee will be charged for each transaction. Users of financial IC cards can directly swipe their cards to ride after enabling the small-amount contactless payment function, ensuring that the balance in the card is not less than 15 RMB (the maximum single-ride fare for ordinary carriages).

There are some practical tips to keep in mind during ticket purchase and travel. Shenzhen Metro fares are calculated by distance in sections, with a starting price of 2 RMB (within 4 kilometers), increasing with distance thereafter, and the maximum fare does not exceed 10 RMB. The fare for business class carriages on Line 11 is twice that of ordinary carriages. Children with a height of 1.2-1.5 meters or aged 6-14 need to buy children’s tickets, which can be purchased at customer service centers or self-service equipment. Elderly people aged 60 and above can apply for the Yinian Card to enjoy unlimited free rides on ordinary carriages. If you encounter difficulties in ticket purchase, lost tickets or turnstile malfunctions, you can contact the staff at the station customer service center for assistance at any time. Some stations are also equipped with multilingual service personnel. Mastering these ticketing skills allows you to easily travel through every corner of the city via Shenzhen Metro and experience the vitality and charm of Shenzhen.