My Turn to Roast the Suzhou Metro!
-
Wow, it's 2023 and I was a bit surprised to find out that the Suzhou subway system still doesn't support directly scanning in with WeChat or Alipay!
- Attention, all visitors!
- Unlike in many other big cities in China, you can't just swipe your phone's payment QR code to enter the subway in Suzhou (meaning you cannot use the "get on first and pay later" or "scan now and be automatically charged when you exit" method).
- You must first download an app called “SuE Travel” (an app designed specifically for public transportation services in Suzhou).
- Even so, you have to purchase your tickets inside this app before entering the station.
- When purchasing tickets, you must select which station you will board at and which one you intend to exit from.
- I wondered what would happen if I decided last-minute to stay on longer and ride more stations—will I need to buy additional tickets? It feels quite troublesome!
- I know some people might argue that having NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled on your smartphone allows direct swiping into the station.
- However, the problem is not everyone has a phone that supports NFC, nor does everyone set up that feature.
- All in all, compared to other big cities in China, the mechanism for subway entry in Suzhou feels outdated. For visitors like us who are constantly moving around, this isn't very convenient.
#SuzhouTourism
- Attention, all visitors!
-
Don't use the mini-program. You can download the Su e-Xing app instead. It has a ride code; just link your payment method. Then, you can simply scan the code to enter and exit, and the fare will be deducted automatically.
-
Shanghai used to be like this too, forcing you to download a specific app just to take the subway.
-
As a Suzhou local, I agree. I've been to Shandong, Nanjing, and Hangzhou where you can just swipe with Alipay – so convenient. But here, we're forced to use the Su e-Xing app. And when I'm rushing to work in the morning, I have to wait for its homepage ads to clear. It's really frustrating.
-
That's why I switched to the Jiangsu Transportation Card. You don't even need to turn on your phone screen to tap and pay. Plus, you get a 5% discount.
-
Not everyone might support this idea, but at least you do. Besides, even if your phone doesn't have NFC, you surely have a bank card, right? Can't you just tap your bank card?
-
How can you tap your bank card to get into the subway? Don't you still have to buy a ticket via the Su e-Xing app first?
-
The national all-in-one transportation card is very convenient.
-
But hardly anyone carries physical cards these days.
-
Most of the commenters here seem to be Suzhou locals who don't mind the hassle. How many people actually use that national all-in-one card anyway? You have to pre-load money onto it. What if you rarely use public transport or can't be bothered to top it up? Can't we even complain? It's genuinely a pain for visitors! In this day and age, still having to buy a ticket beforehand? The sight of a crowd queuing to buy tickets at the gates proves my point!
-
Exactly! Seeing a crowd of tourists buying tickets at the turnstiles feels like we're back in the primitive ages.
-
So outdated!!
-
If you chose the most inconvenient method, how can you blame the subway system?
-
Why can't the subway system be more convenient for everyone? Isn't it time for Suzhou Metro to improve?
-
I want to complain too!
-
Why is everyone talking about NFC? Does everyone even have NFC-enabled phones?
-
The Jiangsu Transportation Card has a digital version, which is really convenient for both the subway and buses.
-
In other parts of the country, you can use Alipay directly. There's no need to download a specific app for just one city.