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Question: Asked by Max from united kingdom | Mar. 12, 2025 03:53

About:Beijing Transportation Smart Card

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Can I use the “北京一卡通”(Beijing Yikatong) app with a UK phone number? Is it good to sign up through WeChat which is set with a UK number

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Answers (4): Answered by Matthew | Mar. 12, 2025 23:32

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I'm afraid you will meet problems. You can buy a physical Yikatong on-site at metro stations. Or you can try to search for Beijing transportation QR code to use the public transportation.

3 0 Reply; Answered by Jin | Mar. 13, 2025 17:51

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Beijing Yikatong website is blocked access from overseas. It is hard to expect Beijing Yikatong App works properly with overseas phone number.

Yitongxing 亿通行 service can be alternative. I didn't recommend you still need to register. Few months ago, the news said Beijing government has plans to open Yitongxing service for foreign visitors. I don't think it is worth giving your information to them for little savings you can get.

Chinese government is serious about real name authentication for making transactions. I think it's better to keep registration numbers in minimum.

I recommend physical transportation card for Beijing travel.

1 0 Reply; Answered by Jin | Mar. 13, 2025 18:05

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Because of language problems, people with experience of living in China for long time dominate the China information on the internet. Most of visitors go to China for short periods.

Roaming services are the best solutions for mobile data. SIM cards could be alternative if your phone support dual SIM. You need to keep your home country phone number still working inside China. Taxi drivers will call you when they need to find you. eSim could be alternative also, but your phone needs to support it.

2 0 Reply; Answered by Jin | Mar. 14, 2025 01:04

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If you travel China for a longer term and you arrive and leave China at Beijing, you can also try using Changyoutong 畅游通 service launched recently. Beijing airports lend you a versatile portable hotspot device. It has Unionpay QR code service for payments, English version of Baidu Map, translator. Bank of China issues a prepaid card to make it happen, somewhat similar to Alipay Tourpass service by Bank of Shanghai.

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