Trouble activating metro card for Nanjing on Alipay
As the title states, I have trouble activating the metro card on Alipay particularly for Nanjing. There is always an error stating "Please fill in your mobile no. correctly" no matter how I input my Singapore number. I had no trouble activating the metro card for Beijing on Alipay though. Is it due to the Nanjing one needing a local China phone number? Or what is the correct format of the phone number I should input?
Alipay’s metro card feature in different Chinese cities sometimes has different requirements for activating a card. The error you’re seeing for Nanjing, “Please fill in your mobile no. correctly,” is common for users trying to use a foreign phone number.
Reason:
Unlike Beijing’s metro system, Nanjing’s metro card linked via Alipay currently requires a local China mobile number for verification. This is because the system uses SMS verification codes that can only be delivered to Chinese numbers.
Correct Format:
- For a Chinese mobile number, the format is typically: 11 digits starting with 1 (for example, 13812345678).
- Foreign numbers (like Singapore +65) are not accepted because the system cannot send SMS verification abroad.
Options for Foreign Travelers:
- Use a local Chinese SIM card temporarily to activate the Nanjing metro card via Alipay.
- Purchase a physical Nanjing metro card at stations, which does not require a Chinese phone number, and top up using cash or a Chinese bank card.
- Some travelers use the Nanjing metro’s QR code payment feature via Alipay or WeChat Pay directly without a card, but this also usually requires a local payment method linked to a Chinese bank account.
In summary, the error is due to Nanjing metro requiring a local Chinese number, unlike Beijing. If you plan to stay in Nanjing for a short time, the easiest solution is to buy a physical metro card at the station.
More China Travel Questions
- VPN or not?
- China SIM Card, Metro Card and Payment
- 16 days in Yunnan from end of Jan to Feb 10 - advise
- Shenzen airline seat costs ex London
- Xinjiang trip practicalities
- Visa
- First time travel to China
- Air China flight connections Beijing
- China Visa free transit policy
- Recommendations for 5 week "slow" trip in China with kids
- Budget hotel in Wangfujing road Beijing
- Bus and luggages
The attractions mentioned in this question
Popular Destinations
Popular Travel Questions
- Snowboarding lesson queston
- Salida
- Bronze Tree, The West, The Rockies - Ease of acces/Location
- Sledding near south lake tahoe?
- Weather in Anzo Borrega in November
- 40th BDay Dinner
- Shaxi - getting in & out
- Seasonal Bridge over Redwood Creek on Dipsea Trail
- private transfer
- Short transfer in Shanghai Pudong DOM > INT.. enough time?
- Drive to Shelter Cover
- Lake Shasta - Where to Go for a Good View of Lake/Mountain