Series Update #1: Places in Mainland China That Accept U.S. Cards — Shanghai Metro App Supports Foreign Mastercard Credit Cards

KUKU will be putting together a roundup of places in mainland China that can directly accept foreign credit cards, focusing mainly on mainstream, budget-friendly merchants. These will be published in the form of 101 quick updates and the author’s own WeChat articles. DP submissions are welcome!

According to a DP from Feicha, the official Shanghai Metro app, “Metro 大都会,” supports payments with foreign Mastercard credit cards. I tested it myself, and the card can indeed be added successfully. If you are heading back to Shanghai, you can give it a try. For small charges, some credit cards may also trigger a Small Balance Credit.

• You can set it as the default payment method
• Only Mastercard credit cards are supported. If you really want to use Amex/Visa/Discover, you can use PalPay Key (it has FTF and a poor exchange rate, so I do not recommend it)
• If you are based in China, promotions from Chinese banks or Alipay may be better options for subway rides.

“Using U.S. Credit Cards in China” article / update roundup:

• US Credit Cards 101 — Using U.S. Credit Cards in China article/update series

“Using U.S. Credit Cards in China” featured long-form articles:

• US Credit Cards 101 — Featured articles on using U.S. credit cards in China