Now you can tap to see when your bus will arrive

From now on, at some of Shanghai's bus stops, you no longer need to juggle multiple applications or keep refreshing your phone just to check arrival times. Jiushi Bus and Alipay have added sensor pads at certain stops.

With Alipay's "Tap!" service, a contactless payment and customer engagement solution, what you need to do is just simply hold the back of your cellphone against the pad, and the Jiushi Bus Travel Assistant page will pop up with real-time arrivals and the best route options.

How to use it

• Find the sign. Look for the "Tap!" logo at the stop.
• Turn on NFC. Make sure your phone's NFC function is enabled.
• Tap. Hold the back of your phone (near the camera area) to the pad, and the page will open automatically.

No extra apps to download, no typing in routes.

What you get

• Arrival times – e.g., ask "How many minutes until the No. 71 bus arrives?" The system uses Jiushi Bus's real-time data for more accurate predictions.
• Route planning – Combines buses, subway transfers, and traffic to provide the fastest option.
• Nearby services – Ask "Is there a convenience store nearby?" and it will suggest shops and facilities around the stop.

The service is now available at 800 stops in Huangpu, Jing'an, and Xuhui districts, and will expand to over 4,300 stops across Puxi later this year.