Travellers can now travel on Hong Kong’s railway network with the popular mainland Chinese transport payment card, China T-Union.
MTR Corporation has implemented the China T-Union payment on MTR’s railway network on March 22, 2025, an addition to the current popular mainland electronic payment systems like Alipay, Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), and Union Pay. Passengers can now travel on the MTR with a China T-Union card by tapping on the Octopus reader of the exit gates with the China T-Union logo. The Renminbi (RMB) value will be deducted after currency convertion from the Adult fare price in Hong Kong Dollars.
Passengers may exit the station at the gates with the China T-Union logo sticker. Photo by MEKO
The introduction intends to integrate Hong Kong’s transport system with the Chinese payment method. The MTR Corporation believes that the implementation will make travel more convenient and facilitate tourists to explore Hong Kong effortlessly.
MTR is committed to service enhancements through providing more payment options and a diverse range of services for the convenience of different passengers including those visiting Hong Kong.
Jeny Yeung, Managing Director – Hong Kong Transport Services of MTR Corporation
MTR’s subsidiary, Octopus Card company, also launched the new “Octopus – China T-Union” card on March 26 for local passengers to travel across cities in mainland China.
However, the China T-Union is yet to be completely integrated into the MTR network. The payment is only available on MTR’s urban rail networks, hence, it is not available on MTR’s Airport Express and the North-west Railway system (Light Rail and MTR buses). Besides, on MTR’s cross-boundary East Rail Line, passengers cannot enter the First Class compartment with a China T-Union card. Furthermore, not every gate is equipped with the China T-Union reader. Some stations on MTR’s South Island Line only have one China T-Union payment gate, for instance, and passengers must use designated gates to exit.
Mainland passengers cannot recharge their mainland-issued China T-Union card with Renminbi at any customer centre or self-service machine at the MTR station. The Corporation advises passengers to keep at least RMB￥50 in their China T-Union cards before their journey into Hong Kong.
The new option remains as a secondary payment method for tourists from mainland China. “I use Alipay for my journey in Hong Kong. It is just more convenient than using a real card,” said Yulia Wang, a 29-year-old tourist from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. She mentioned that most people in mainland China use electronic payments like Weixin Pay and Alipay instead of cards. They would only use transportation cards if their phone ran out of battery. “I have my Hangzhou Tong (Hangzhou’s transport card) in my wallet, but I rarely use it even in Hangzhou.”
What is China T-Union?
China T-Union is an integrated national transit card network that covers transportation in 338 cities in China, including popular destinations from Beijing to far regions like Xishuangbanna. The system is similar to Japan’s Nationwide Mutual Usage Service, where regional transport cards like Suica (JR East Japan), Pasmo (Kanton Region), and Kitaka (JR Hokkaido), can be reciprocally used everywhere.
However, China T-Union cards are only for transportation payments, unlike Octopus Card, where users can shop elsewhere from vending machines to shopping malls. Therefore, common QR code payments like Alipay and WeChat Pay remain popular for travellers from mainland China.
How to get a China T-Union card?
Getting a China T-Union card before visiting mainland China is a good idea. Travellers can now get a China T-Union card in Hong Kong. The Octopus Card company released the new “Octopus – China T-Union Card” on March 26, 2025, with a release price of HK$42. Travellers can get one at:
- Octopus Online Shop
- All OK Convenient Stores and 7-Eleven
- MTR Stations – Designated Customer Centre
- East Rail Line: Admiralty (East Rail Line concourse), Hung Hom, Kowloon Tong, Sha Tin, Fanling, Sheung Shui.
- Tsuen Wan Line: Admiralty (Tsuen Wan Line concourse), Tsuen Wan.
What are the accepted mainland payments for Hong Kong transportation?
As of April 5, 2025, only MTR and the Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Shuttle Bus (“Golden Bus”) accept China T-Union payment, with the latter being the first transportation in Hong Kong that integrated into the China T-Union system. Here are the accepted mainland Chinese payments for transportation in Hong Kong:
- MTR
- MTR Railways: China T-Union, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Union Pay
- MTR Light Rail: (None. Octopus and tickets only)
- KMB: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Union Pay
- CityBus: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Union Pay
- HK Tramways: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Union Pay
- Big Bus Tour: Union Pay
- Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Shuttle Bus (Golden Bus): China T-Union, Alipay, WeChat Pay