Short answer
Nanjing's metro is clean, signed in English and cheap, and it reaches nearly everything a visitor comes for. Set up the transport QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive and you can ride all day without buying a ticket or handling cash.
Four lines do most of the work: Line 1 for Nanjing South, Xinjiekou and Nanjing Railway Station; Line 2 for Xinjiekou, the Zhongshan hills and Hexi; Line 3 for Fuzimiao and both rail stations; Line S1 for the airport.
Trains start around 06:00 and stop around 23:00. The metro is not 24 hours, and the airport line packs up earlier than the rest.
The network, in one table
Line numbers matter more than station names when you plan a day.
| Line | What it connects | You will use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Nanjing South, Xinjiekou, Nanjing Railway Station | The spine of the city; almost every trip touches it |
| Line 2 | Hexi, Xinjiekou, Zhongshan scenic area | Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the wooded hills |
| Line 3 | Nanjing South, Fuzimiao, Nanjing Railway Station | Confucius Temple and the Qinhuai riverside |
| Line S1 | Nanjing South to Lukou International Airport | Airport runs, ¥7 end to end |
Four ways to pay, ranked
- QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay. The fastest option once it is set up, and the one locals use. Scan at the gate going in and again coming out.
- Jinlingtong transportation card. A rechargeable card sold at stations, valid across the metro network and on some buses. Worth it for a week-long stay, if you prefer not to hold a phone at every gate.
- Single-ride ticket from a machine. Touchscreen, choose your destination station, pay with notes or coins, keep the token. Reliable, but you queue for it every time.
- Cash at the machine. Fine, and the machines return change. Keep small notes, because a ¥100 note into a fare machine is not always welcome.
Setting up the metro QR code
Wording moves between app versions, so treat these steps as a map rather than a script.
- Install Alipay or WeChat Pay and verify your identityPassport photo plus a liveness check. This is the step that quietly blocks people later.
- Link a cardVisa and Mastercard are supported. Keep the card name matching your identity record.
- Open the Transport sectionIn Alipay it sits on the home screen next to Pay or Collect; in WeChat Pay it is a mini-program under Services.
- Set the city to Nanjing and activate the metro electronic cardThe QR code is city-specific: one generated for Shanghai will not open a Nanjing gate. Alipay labels the Nanjing card, and it stays one tap away afterwards.
- Scan in, then scan outBoth scans matter. A trip with no exit scan leaves an unfinished journey on the account.
Fares and how they are calculated
Nanjing prices metro rides by distance: the full Airport Express line is ¥7, short central trips land in the low single yuan, and a sightseeing day on the metro costs less than one taxi ride. Check the official channel for the current fare table.
Hours, peaks and luggage
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 06:00–07:30 | Quiet, less frequent on some lines |
| 07:30–09:00 | Peak. Line 1 and Line 3 through Xinjiekou are shoulder to shoulder |
| 17:30–19:00 | Peak again, slightly heavier than the morning |
| After about 23:00 | Services finish line by line; the airport line stops earlier |
The exact last train depends on the line and the direction, so check the official channel if you plan a late dinner across town.
When the metro is the wrong tool
The metro wins for anything along its lines. It loses in three situations.
- Groups of three or four with luggage. A split taxi fare often comes out close to four metro tickets plus the walk at each end.
Buses, bikes and ride-hailing
City buses fill the gaps the metro leaves, especially inside the old city. Pay with the QR code or drop exact change in by the driver — no change is given. Stops are announced in Mandarin first; watch the screen.
Shared bikes handle the last kilometre. Meituan, Hellobike and Qingju are released from inside Alipay or WeChat Pay, Ride in the cycle lane, not on the pavement, and park inside the marked rectangle or the app keeps charging. A two-day itinerary that mixes metro and bike covers far more of the city than either alone.
Ride-hailing is the fourth leg. DiDi lives inside Alipay's Transport tab, so there is no separate app; pin your pickup point and the driver works from the pin.
The mistakes visitors make
- Forgetting to scan out. The exit gate will not open, and staff handle it manually.
- Assuming the last train is late. It is not. Around 23:00 the system thins out fast, and the airport line goes first.
- Relying on memory for station names. Screenshot the Chinese characters of your stop and show them. See the Nanjing travel guide for the rest of the practical setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners use the Nanjing metro?
Yes. Nanjing metro accepts the same QR code and card options as the rest of China. A foreign passport works for the app registration, and no Chinese bank account or phone number is needed to ride.
How do I pay for the Nanjing metro with Alipay?
Open Alipay, go to the Transport section, set the city to Nanjing, and activate the Nanjing metro electronic card. You then show the QR code at the gate on entry and again on exit, and the fare is taken from your linked card.
How much is a metro ride in Nanjing?
Fares are distance based. The full Airport Express line to Lukou airport is ¥7, and most rides inside the centre cost a few yuan. Check the official channel for the current fare table and any day pass that is on sale.
What time does the Nanjing metro open and close?
Trains start at roughly 06:00 and the last services run around 23:00, earlier on the suburban S lines such as the Airport Express. Nanjing metro does not run overnight, and the exact last train depends on the station and the line.
When is the Nanjing metro crowded?
Peak hours are roughly 07:30 to 09:00 and 17:30 to 19:00 on weekdays. Line 1 and Line 3 around Nanjing South and Xinjiekou are the busiest sections, and luggage space at those times is limited.
Is there a metro card for visitors in Nanjing?
Yes, the Jinlingtong transportation card, sold at stations. It works across the metro network and on some buses. For a short trip the QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay is usually simpler than buying and topping up a card.
Do buses in Nanjing take cash?
Yes, exact change only — you drop coins into the box by the driver and no change is given. The QR code from your payment app usually works as well, and notes are not accepted on most city buses.
Are shared bikes worth it in Nanjing?
For short hops between a metro station and a park or riverside area, yes. Meituan, Hellobike and Qingju bikes are released from inside Alipay or WeChat Pay. Ride in cycle lanes rather than on the pavement, and park inside the marked zones.
Related reading
Still working out how the city fits together? Start with the Nanjing section and the China Travel hub.
Compiled from Nanjing municipal transport bureau and Nanjing Metro passenger information, the operator's own ticketing and app guidance, and traveller reports from foreign visitors, cross-checked 30 September 2026. Fares, first and last train times and ticket products change between seasons, lines and app versions — the official channel at the time you travel is the authoritative version. Nothing on this page is financial or legal advice.