Hong Kong's beloved Octopus tap-and-go card is set to revolutionize travel in mainland China, with over 336 cities now accepting it as a form of payment. The new Octopus-China card is now offering greater accessibility on buses, subways, trains, and ferries in approximately half of mainland China's cities.
This expansion is a huge upgrade in convenience, particularly as post-pandemic tourism sees a resurgence, drawing Hong Kong residents to neighbouring cities like Shenzhen for affordable shopping and experiences.
Unlike most public services in mainland China, users of the Octopus-China card are not obligated to register their real names and identity information.
While the Octopus card boasts a staggering 98% possession rate among Hong Kong's 7.5-million population, its usage in mainland China has been limited, save for special versions designed for cross-border usage in the Guangdong area.
In Hong Kong, customers can purchase the Octopus-China card for HK$88 from around 300 convenience shops and 10 subway stations, with the option to deposit up to HK$3,000 on the card. Transactions in mainland China will be settled in Hong Kong dollars, utilizing the daily exchange rate.
