Electronic tickets debut on Beijing Subway

A passenger shows an electronic subway ticket on June 9, 2008 in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Beijing said goodbye to paper subway tickets on June 9, 2008. They were replaced with electronic ones.

Thanks to the new Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system, passengers can buy the new tickets from vending machines at the entrance to each platform.

People with Yikatong prepaid cards that can be used on buses and the subway network, can continue to use them.

Before June 9, 2008, most passengers bought paper tickets which were checked manually.

Each electronic ticket is valid for only one day.