Shanghai metro users will be able to use QR codes to pay for fares as the metro operator rolls out an app connecting to payment platforms AliPay and China UnionPay. The new system is expected to go live in early 2017, with a trial run planned by mid-2017. The Shanghai Metro has accepted payments via NFC since 2014, but not many riders use the function. The app will offer offline payments, allowing users to travel first and pay later. The public transport sector in China has recently become a big target for mobile payment providers, with WeChat deploying a similar service in the affluent city of Guangzhou.
Shanghai metro users will be able to use QR codes to pay for fares as the metro operator rolls out an app connecting to payment platforms AliPay and China UnionPay. The new system is expected to go live in early 2017, with a trial run planned by mid-2017. The app will offer offline payments, allowing users to travel first and pay later. The public transport sector in China has recently become a big target for mobile payment providers, with WeChat deploying a similar service in the affluent city of Guangzhou.