To further enhance the services associated with Yikatong (public transit cards), Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card Co., Ltd. has partnered with Alipay to launch NFC-enabled smart transit cards called "Linglongtong PLUS" (玲珑通PLUS), which do not require topping up in advance. Initially offered to iPhone users, the service will soon expand to other compatible devices. 

Unlike traditional NFC transit cards, one prominent feature of "Linglongtong PLUS" lies in the elimination of the need to prepay when activating the card. Residents in Beijing can obtain these cards for free through the "Beijing Yikatong" (北京一卡通) mini-program on Alipay. After activating Alipay's password-free, automatic payment option, a user can pay after rides, thereby enjoying greater convenience. There's no need to open the App and find the right QR code, as one can simply hold his/her phone's NFC sensor near a fare gate's sensor to enter a station and then board a carriage. Each card works even without a network connection or when the phone is turned off due to a dead battery.

Each card's surface features the "China T-union" logo. With a "Linglongtong PLUS", one can also enjoy public transit discounts in Beijing. These cards can also be used for using the public transit systems in over 300 cities across China, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Chengdu. Currently, the cards can only be activated on iPhones (iPhone 8 or any newer model, while the iOS version must be 16.4 or higher).

From now until August 31, users can search for "Ride to Earn Cash" (乘车领现金) on the Alipay App. By registering a new "Linglongtong PLUS" card via the campaign's page, one can participate in a reward activity. Each user can earn a transit reward of CNY 1 per day up to 10 times during the promotional period by using the card.

(Source: Beijing Daily App)