Explore Hong Kong Easier with Shanghai Transportation Card

Holders of Shanghai Transportation Cards can now use their cards to travel and make payments seamlessly in Hong Kong. With a simple tap of their card, they can now use Hong Kong’s public transportation system without buying additional tickets or converting their money.

Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or you are traveling for business, this new collaboration will make your trip in Hong Kong all the more easier. In this Pacific Prime article, learn more about how to use your card for your next trip to Hong Kong here!

What is the Shanghai Transportation Card?

The Shanghai Transportation Card is a contactless card that allows you to access Shanghai’s public transportation system as well as make payments for certain services around Shanghai.

Public transportation you can access with the Shanghai Transportation Card includes:

• Metro
• Taxi
• Bus
• Maglev
• Long-distance bus
• Ferry

Services you can access with the Shanghai Transportation Card are such as:

• Gas stations
• Parking lots
• Expressways

Explore Hong Kong with the Shanghai Transportation Card

The new collaboration between Shanghai and Hong Kong allows holders of Shanghai Transportation Cards with the ‘Transit Union’ (T-Union) logo to use their cards in Hong Kong just like how they could in Shanghai.

Shanghai Transportation Card holders can use their cards with the T-Union logo to access Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway system or ‘MTR’ (major subway system in Hong Kong), ferries, and buses without buying additional tickets or exchanging currency.

By looking for the ‘T-Union’ logo at the fare gate, you can easily tap in and explore Hong Kong. (Fare gates without the ‘T-Union’ logo will not support your cards.)

Holders of Hong Kong’s Octopus card (Hong Kong’s major transportation card) will also enjoy the same privilege and be able to use their cards to access public transportation and services in Shanghai, as well as 336 cities on the Chinese mainland with one card.

By simply making sure there is the T-Union logo on the Octopus card, your cross-border trips will be all the more easier.

Apart from making sure their cards bear the T-Union logo, visitors might also want to note down the following points before embarking on their trips:

• Top-up service in RMB is not available at Hong Kong’s MTR stations. Visitors from Shanghai should make sure their cards are sufficiently topped up before their visit
• Special fare cards, such as for students, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, are excluded from the collaboration and cannot be used in Hong Kong
• The card must have a balance of at least 50 RMB when entering an MTR station
• Shanghai Transportation Cards cannot be used on the Hong Kong Airport Express, Light Rail, MTR Bus, MTR Feeder Bus, and East Rail Line First Class

Where Can I Get My Shanghai Transportation Card?

You can purchase and top up your Shanghai Transportation Card at various establishments across Shanghai, including metro stations, airports, banks, convenience stores, and post offices.

There will be a 20 RMB refundable deposit for your initial purchase. If you put 100 RMB in your card during the initial purchase, the usable value will stand at 80 RMB with 20 RMB taken as a deposit. You can get your deposit back if you return the card with less than 10 RMB in it.

The maximum amount you can have in your card is 1,000 RMB.

Your card is valid for five years after you last recharge it.

Explore China and Hong Kong Without Worries

Hong Kong is a vibrant city with so much to explore, the same way as Shanghai. Don’t let any unexpected illness or injuries rain on your parade when there is so much more to see and do!

Pacific Prime is a global insurance intermediary that is ready to assist expats and travelers coming to and from China in securing insurance plans that suit their activities and budgets.

Whether you are an expat who is always on the move or a traveler looking to explore the world, our advisors are here to help you secure the right coverage that can safeguard you wherever you are.

Should you have any concerns or questions regarding your policies, our advisors are more than happy to address them and represent you in any discussion with your insurer of choice.

Contact us now for free quotes and plan comparisons!

Disclaimer: Pacific Prime solely represents, operates and manages locally regulated insurance products and services in the territory of PR China. Any references to Pacific Prime Global Company or Group, the international services, insurance products or otherwise stated written or verbally, is for introduction purposes about our overseas network only as each entity is fully independent.