Travelling by Public Transport
Q&A
Passengers may use a travel smart card known as “Lingnan Tong” (with “Lingnan Tong” logo on the card) to travel on public transport and metro (except the Shenzhen and Dongguan metro) in the Guangdong Province (including the nine cities of the Greater Bay Area). Passengers may tap the reusable “Lingnan Tong” for travel and repeatedly add value to it. Physical cards are sold at sales outlets and agencies of the travel smart card in various cities. Users may also apply for a mobile phone card (i.e. virtual card) via “Lingnan Tong” application to pay new card fees and add value with WeChat, Alipay and Apple Pay. Details can be found on:
As regards the Shenzhen and Dongguan metro, passengers may use “Shenzhen Tong” to take the Shenzhen metro and “Dongguan Tong” to travel on the Dongguan metro respectively. For example, “Shenzhen Tong” can be used in the form of a physical card or a ride code. The “Shenzhen Tong” ride code can be activated via the official APP or WeChat travel card service. The code can be used for metro and public transport in Shenzhen. Passengers need to tap the physical card or scan the code when entering or exiting the paid area. Passengers are reminded to use either a physical card or a ride code for a single journey, otherwise the fare will be deducted from both the card and the code.
Apart from “Lingnan Tong”, “Shenzhen Tong” and “Dongguan Tong”, passengers may search for “ride codes” of different cities on Alipay or WeChat mini application. The system will generate a QR code for each journey. Passengers may scan the QR code when taking metro or public transport, and the fare will be automatically deducted from Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Real-name and paperless arrangements have been adopted for purchase of high speed and ordinary railway tickets. Passengers should present valid identity documents (e.g. Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entry and Exit Permit - commonly known as Home Return Permit, Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents - Residence Permit, and HKSAR Passport), and purchase tickets through the following means. Passengers may also select the desired travel date, train and seat.
Hong Kong residents may purchase high speed and ordinary railway tickets by:
I. directly purchase ticket at ticket offices at railway stations (Note: ticket and Home Return Permit or Residence Permit are required for taking the train); or
II. downloading the “12306 China Railway” APP or visiting the “12306” website to register personal information. If identity can be verified within 24 hours, passengers may directly purchase, cancel or change tickets on the application. If identity verification is not successful within 24 hours, passengers are required to bring along their valid identity documents (Home Return Permit or Residence Permit) to ticket offices at railway stations for verification.
Fare concessions for students:
For students studying in the Mainland to enjoy fare concessions, relevant proof from their school has to be provided. Students not studying in the Mainland are not entitled to student fare concessions.
Fare concessions for children:
Those aged 6 and above but under 14 should buy child concession tickets; and those aged 14 or above should buy full fare tickets. A child under 6 not occupying a seat may enjoy a free ride when accompanied by an adult with ticket; and if an adult travels with more than one child, only one child can travel free while the other children need to buy child concession tickets.
Passengers may also note that:
I. after buying tickets online, Hong Kong residents may directly board the train by presenting identity documents same as the ones used for registration, without the need to show printed tickets;
II. after buying tickets with valid identity documents on the “12306” website or APP, Hong Kong residents may cancel or change their tickets online, without the need to complete the formalities at railway stations;
III. Hong Kong residents who buy tickets with valid identity documents via a third platform may cancel or change their tickets through the platform or “12306” APP (Hong Kong residents are advised to register on the “12306” website before buying tickets via a third platform).
Hong Kong seniors may enjoy fare concessions when travelling by public transport in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. Some examples are provided below:
Guangzhou: Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above and living in Guangzhou (i.e. holding a valid Guangzhou Residence Permit) may apply for a senior citizen card. Holders of senior citizen card aged 60 and above but under 65 may travel at half price on public transport, ferry and metro; and those aged 65 or above may travel free on such public transport.
Shenzhen: Those aged 60 or above, regardless of place of household registration, may enjoy a free ride for ordinary class of city railway by presenting their Residence Permit, Home Return Permit, Passport, courtesy card of senior citizens issued by the Shenzhen Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, courtesy card of senior citizens of Shenzhen Municipality, free riding card of senior citizens with temporary residence in Shenzhen issued by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee for Ageing, or smart Yinian card (智能養老頤年卡). In addition, those aged 60 or above may travel free on public transport by presenting their Residence Permit.
Zhuhai: Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above may apply for a senior citizen card for travelling free on public transport in Zhuhai.
Foshan: Hong Kong residents who ordinarily reside in Foshan may apply for a courtesy card of senior citizens. Those aged 60 and above but under 65 may present the courtesy card for travelling at half price on public transport and metro in Foshan, and those aged 65 or above may enjoy free rides with the courtesy card.
Huizhou: Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above may apply for a courtesy card of senior citizens for travelling free on public transport in the administrative area of Huizhou.
Dongguan: Hong Kong residents who worked in Dongguan until retirement age (aged 60 for male and aged 55 for female) and are covered by social pension insurance in Dongguan, or Hong Kong residents (aged 70 for male and aged 65 for female) issued with Residence Permit in Dongguan may apply for a courtesy card for senior citizens to enjoy fare concessions for travelling on public transport (excluding chartered tours) and city metro in Dongguan.
Zhongshan: Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above may apply for a senior citizen IC card for travelling free on public transport in Zhongshan.
Jiangmen: Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above who have resided in Jiangmen for six months or above may apply for a “Wuyi” travel card of senior citizens to enjoy fare concessions for travelling on public transport in the city. Among others, those aged 60 and under 65 may travel at half price, and those aged 65 or above may enjoy free rides.
The information above is for reference only. For more information, please call the service hotlines of the municipal people’s governments:
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality
Telephone: 8620-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Shenzhen Municipality
Telephone: 86755-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Zhuhai Municipality
Telephone: 86756-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Foshan Municipality
Telephone: 86757-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Huizhou Municipality
Telephone: 86752-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Dongguan Municipality
Telephone: 86759-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Zhongshan Municipality
Telephone: 86760-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Jiangmen Municipality
Telephone: 86750-12345
Service hotline of the People’s Government of Zhaoqing Municipality
Telephone: 86758-12345