Alipay Transit Card & Apple Pay for China Travel: Qingdao Guide 2026

China Alipay Transportation Card

How to Add to Apple Pay

​

© Ssoejini

Hello everyone! I'm Ssoejini, your travel expert for Japan & China :)

Hey everyone, when you've used public transport in China, did you find yourself opening the Alipay app and scanning a QR code every single time?

As an **iPhone user**, I really **wish for the convenience of Apple Pay**, where I can just tap my phone and automatically use public transport!

So, after searching like crazy, here's a tip from a seasoned China traveler of many years:

**How to add an Alipay transportation card to Apple Pay!**

**I couldn't find any guides on how to add this to Apple Pay, so I've written it as detailed as possible! Haha.**

**No special card needed? No problem at all!**

Now, no more opening apps just to catch a bus or subway. I'll show you how to use China's public transport with just your iPhone and Apple Pay!

**First things first!**

If you haven't already registered for Alipay and linked your card, please go ahead and do that using the link below!

China Travel Essential: Alipay App Registration & Card Linking Guide (Travel Wallet)blog.naver.com

That way, Alipay will appear in your iPhone Wallet, allowing you to link your transportation card to Apple Pay and even top it up via Alipay, no specific card needed!

1. How to Issue an Alipay Transportation Card

This is the first screen of Alipay.

Before we get to Apple Pay, I'll first show you **how to register for a transportation card within Alipay.**

I'm planning a trip to Qingdao, so I'll be using Qingdao as my example. But if you're heading to other cities like Shanghai or Beijing, simply change the region accordingly!

Ready to register your transportation card?

2. How to Change Your Region and City

➡️ First, **click on the city in the top left corner.**

This will bring up a list of cities. I've selected Qingdao, but feel free to change your location to match your travel destination in China!

3. Types of Transportation Cards: Bus, Subway, and NFC

Once your location is updated, you'll see various menus at the top.

➡️ Among them, **click the bus icon** which represents public transport.

➡️ You'll see three options: **Bus on the left**, **Subway in the middle**, and **NFC on the right**. You can issue a transportation card for each of these!

➡️ **Click on your desired mode of transport**, then hit the blue button.

For this guide, I **issued the NFC card, the one on the far right.**

Since NFC works seamlessly with all public transport options,

be sure to click on NFC!

Alright, so two options will appear here,

and you'll want to click on the NFC card at the very top.

Then, it will show you that the **minimum top-up amount is**

**20 Yuan**!

The picture on the right simply shows the installation process

in detailed images,

and I've just popped it in here, just in case you were curious!

➡️ Then, your phone will automatically

check if it can use this public transport card,

➡️ and it will ask if you **agree to issue the public transport card**,

so just **click the blue button**.

**My registered VISA card is**

**a Travel Wallet card, you see?**

If you've followed the Alipay card registration post I shared at the top of this article,

then **your registered card will magically appear, just like mine.**

It asks if you want to top up with your registered Travel Wallet card,

or with the money you have stored in Alipay itself,

so go ahead and click on whichever method suits you best!

➡️ I opted for the no-fee option,

which was the Travel Wallet card,

and once you **enter your Alipay payment password**,

your **public transport card issuance is complete**!

4. How to link and register with Apple Pay on iPhone

Then it asks, do you want to **add it to Apple Pay** right away?

It asks!

Since I have both my phone and Apple Watch, two options pop up for me.

You should click on the iPhone you'll be using for Apple Pay.

**Then, it'll kindly explain**

**that once you register the transport card with Apple Pay**,

**you can just tap your iPhone when riding public transport, and it'll work automatically~**

So, since it's giving you this friendly heads-up, just press **OK, Done!**

and the synchronization will kick off.

**And voilà, it's done.**

See? The Qingdao transport card is perfectly in place in Apple Pay, isn't it?

I had my Travel Wallet activation turned off,

so it wasn't set to auto-top-up.

But my friend had it activated and had Yuan available,

so it automatically topped up for her right away!

➡️ As a bonus tip, besides automatic top-ups for your transport card,

you can also go into Alipay and top it up

with your desired amount in Yuan!

And you might be wondering,

"If I get one issued in Qingdao, won't I be able to use it

in other cities?"

Good news! China's transport cards are all unified,

so you can use your Qingdao-issued card to travel to Shanghai, Beijing,

Guangzhou, and so on – it'll work everywhere!

(Of course, I've personally visited about 15 cities in China,

but I haven't been to *every* single city, so...

if you happen to encounter a city where it doesn't work, you'll need to get a local card issued there!)

So, everyone, make sure to successfully register your card in Alipay

and enjoy the convenience of using public transport with Apple Pay's NFC tag!

Have an amazing Chinese adventure, and if this post helped you,

feel free to leave a lovely comment! :)

Shanghai Budget-Friendly Accommodation: Jinjiang Loost Hotel - People's Square, Nanjing Road East Location Recommendation & Reviewblog.naver.com

Shanghai Pudong Airport Pick-up & Drop-off Booking Review & Recommended Way to Get to City Hotelsblog.naver.com