Starting next year, a special app will allow passengers to use the Shanghai Metro simply with a QR code, Shanghai Morning Post reported Wednesday.
Shanghai Shentong Metro Group, Alibaba Group and Alibaba's financial arm Ant Financial are cooperating to facilitate Shanghai Metro with this cutting-edge technology, which also includes ticket purchasing and intelligent monitoring of passenger volume.
A pilot project was launched on the Shanghai Maglev train one month ago. Starting next year, the app will be applied to all 17 lines of the city's metro system. Passengers can use the app even if their phones are not connected to the subway's free WiFi.
Shanghai boasts the longest operational distance in the world. With the new technology, the city will also become the most technologically advanced metro system in the world.
In the near future, the technology of facial recognition will also be applied in Shanghai Metro. The tech is still in its trial stages.
