1. Core Advantages of Transportation Cards

1. Convenience
2. Seamless Public Transport Integration: Supports subway, bus, some ferry services (like in Shanghai), maglev (like in Shanghai), and taxis (confirmation needed).
3. No Queuing for Tickets: Especially useful during peak hours (such as morning and evening commutes), avoiding difficulties caused by language barriers when buying tickets.

4. Nationwide Interconnectivity: For example, Beijing Yikatong can be used in over 300 cities nationwide (check beforehand if your destination supports it). The Shanghai Public Transportation Card also covers multiple cities in the Yangtze River Delta region.

5. Cost Savings

6. Discount Policies: Most cities offer a 9-9.5% discount on bus/subway fares when using cards (for instance, a single subway trip in Beijing costs 3 yuan, but only 2.7 yuan with a card).

7. Transfer Discounts: Some cities (like Shanghai) offer additional reductions when transferring between buses and subways.

8. Multi-functional Uses

9. Some transportation cards can be used at convenience stores (like FamilyMart, 7-11), vending machines, and even for purchasing scenic spot tickets (for example, the Shanghai Public Transportation Card can pay for entrance fees at certain attractions).

2. Recommended Usage Scenarios

1. When to Buy
2. Longer Stays: If you plan to stay in one city for more than 3 days or intend to use public transport frequently.
3. Multi-city Travel: Choose cards marked with the "Interconnected Transportation" logo for convenient cross-city use.

4. Preference for Physical Cards: If you are unfamiliar with Chinese mobile payment methods (Alipay/WeChat Pay QR codes).

5. When Not Necessary

6. Short Visits: If staying for only 1-2 days and primarily relying on taxis or walking.
7. Already Using Mobile Payment: If you have already set up Alipay/WeChat's "QR Code for Riding" (requires real-name authentication and bank account linking).

3. Comparison of Major City Transportation Cards

4. Purchase and Usage Guidelines

1. Purchase Channels
2. Airports/Subway Stations: Automatic ticketing machines or manual counters (available at Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Station, etc.).

3. Convenience Stores: Such as FamilyMart, Lawson (confirmation needed for non-residents).

4. Recharge Methods

5. Cash (only RMB), Alipay/WeChat QR code scanning (some machines support binding foreign credit cards).

6. Card Refund Notes

7. Keep Receipts: Some cities require showing the purchase receipt.
8. Balance Restrictions: Most cities require a balance ≤100 yuan when refunding.
9. Damage Handling: If the card is damaged or demagnetized, the deposit may not be refunded.

5. Alternative Solutions: Mobile Payments

If you prefer not to purchase a physical card, consider the following options:
1. Alipay: Search for "Riding Code" to activate the corresponding city’s bus/metro code (real-name authentication required).
2. WeChat: Access through "City Services" or mini-programs (like Shanghai's Metro Metropolis).
3. UnionPay QuickPass: Some cities support directly swiping UnionPay cards issued overseas.

6. Comprehensive Recommendations

1. Recommended Combination Strategy:
2. In first-tier cities (such as Beijing, Shanghai), purchase a local transportation card and pair it with mobile payment ride codes as a backup.
3. For multi-city travel, prioritize cards marked with the "Interconnected Transportation" logo (such as Beijing Yikatong).
4. Tips for Short-term Visitors:
5. Use ride-hailing apps (Didi, Gaode Map) linked to international credit cards, or directly pay via Alipay/WeChat.

Notes
- Some city transportation cards require real-name registration (such as Shenzhen Tong), so please confirm in advance.
- Airports/high-speed railway stations usually have English signs, but subway stations might only announce in Chinese. It is recommended to download offline maps in advance (such as Baidu Maps, Gaode Maps).