October 13 marked one month since Beijing launched its new subway service that allows passengers holding international bank cards to make contactless payments at fare gates and use self-service machines to purchase single-journey/excess fare tickets. As of 24:00 on October 12, the service, as the first of its kind in operation in the Chinese mainland, has recorded 46,000 subway transactions.

BEIJING PASS was introduced on July 31. To date, 12,979 BEIJING PASS cards have been issued, including 6,031 physical cards and 6,948 NFC cards activated online through the SilkPass application. The cards have recorded 117,000 transactions, primarily in public transportation. Other popular usage sites include tourist attractions such as the Temple of Heaven, the Ming Tombs, the Summer Palace, and the Badaling Great Wall.

Foreign-language services in the transportation sector of Beijing have been continuously enhanced. Translation machines supporting multiple languages with voice/text output are being piloted at 24 stations across 11 rail transit line. Announcements in both Chinese and English can now be heard on all buses on all bus routes. Online taxis/ride-hailing platforms such as ShouYue and DiDi have also launched the English version of their applications that support major international credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa.

In the coming months, Beijing's rail transit system plans to unveil the international version of the Yitongxing application, which will allow foreign passengers to register their overseas phone numbers and access rail transit services by scanning QR codes. Buses and taxis will continue to optimize their services for foreign passengers.

How to buy a BEIJING PASS card?

BEIJING PASS card itself is non-refundable and cannot be reported as lost. The deposit within, however, is refundable, but cannot be recovered if the card is lost. The card can be purchased at the designated self-service machines and staffed service counters at Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing's rail transit system, and Yikatong's self-operated offices (in Dongzhimen and Xidan). Foreign visitors must present their valid identity documents, such as passports, for card purchase.

A standard BEIJING PASS card is priced at CNY 20. Users can top up at Beijing rail transit stations through staffed service windows or self-service machines, or use the NFC top-up feature on the SilkPass application.

Aside from the places mentioned above, Beijing Subway also offers sale and refund services for BEIJING PASS at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 subway stations of the Capital Airport Express, as well as Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing Railway Station, Fengtai Railway Station, Qinghe Railway Station, and Xizhimen subway stations. Top-up services are available on all subway lines.

(Sources: Official WeChat account of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, official WeChat account of the Volunteer Service Team of Beijing Railway Station, Beijing Daily App)