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From this comment:

@Wing Can you comment on T-Union functionality in Hong Kong?- I have physical SZ and Octopus cards, both are rather old and have no T-Union logo. Will either one work in place of the other? Or do they have to be replaced to work more universally?

– Spehro 'speff' Pefhany

Wing
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1 Answers1

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The original Octopus card and the Shenzhen Tong card existed before the T-union network existed. As shown in the table below, they generally can only be used in their respective cities, Hong Kong and Shenzhen (with Octopus getting a perk of being usable in selected merchants in Shenzhen).

With the recognition that lots of people travel between the two cities, the Hu Tong Xing (lit. interoperable) was created, essentially merging Octopus and the Shenzhen Tong into one card. This allowed for one card to be used in two cities; but it couldn't be used in the rest of mainland China.

Meanwhile, the T-union network was being created, allowing localities to issue a card that would work in other localities in the T-union network. While, a T-union card issued in one locality would generally work in another locality in the T-union network, there were exceptions (e.g. the T-union card can only be used on the metro in Hong Kong, excluding the Airport Express, and could not be used in merchants where the Shenzhen Tong would be accepted).

To solve this issue, T-union versions of specific cards were created, merging the features of the local-specific cards with the features of a T-union card.

Below is a table showing all the types of cards and their features.

Octopus
八達通		 Shenzhen Tong
深圳通		 Hu Tong Xing
互通行		 T-union
(issued from other city)
交通联合		 Octopus – T-union
八達通 – 全國通卡		 Shenzhen Tong (T-union)
深圳通（交通联合）		 Hu Tong Xing (T-union)
互通行（交通联合）
Hong Kong
HK$ ✅ ❌ ✅ ⚠️1 ✅ ⚠️1 ✅
Physical top-up locations ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Metro ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Bus ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Light rail ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Tram ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Light bus ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Ferry ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Airport Express ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Peak Tram ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Selected merchants ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅
Shenzhen
CN¥ ⚠️2 ✅ ✅ ✅ ⚠️2 ✅ ✅
Physical top-up locations ⚠️ Limited ✅ ✅ ❌ ⚠️ Limited ✅ ✅
Metro ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Bus ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Tram ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Selected merchants ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅
Elsewhere in mainland China ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅3 ✅3 ✅3 ✅3
  1. Card cannot store HK$ but can exchange CN¥ for HK$. The exchange rate may vary and may not be the market rate.
  2. Card cannot store CN¥ but can exchange HK$ for CN¥. The exchange rate may vary and may not be the market rate. There may be an additional transaction fee.
  3. Check specific city and services for support as there may be exceptions in where the card can be used. For example, some non-Beijing cards cannot be used on certain services or at all in Beijing, even though the card is a T-union card and the service is covered by the T-union network.

Whether you should replace your cards and what you replace them with (or if you're getting your first card and which one to get) depends on how you expect to use the card. Also, if your Octopus card is really old it may need to be replaced anyway because some are being deprecated (check here). Here's how I'd make the decision:

  • Where do you primarily visit?
    • Hong Kong + Shenzhen:

      • Do you mind carrying two cards?

        • No: no need to replace.

      • Do you prefer a single virtual wallet with HK$; or two virtual wallets, one with HK$ and the other with CN¥?

        The single wallet avoids having to handling two currencies at the expense of potentially unfavourable exchange rates and a currency exchange transaction fee; plus if you need to physically top-up, you need to be in Hong Kong or at one of the limited locations in Shenzhen. The double wallet avoids these issues but you will have to handle multiple currencies yourself.

        • Single virtual wallet with HK$: get an Octopus – T-union card. The card being a T-union card will let you travel on most public transport networks in other cities in mainland China too.
        • Two virtual wallets (one HK$, one CN¥): get a Hu Tong Xing (T-union) card. The card being a T-union card will let you travel on most public transport networks in other cities in mainland China too.
    • Rest of mainland China:
      • Do you need a physical location to top-up the card?
        • Yes: get a T-union card issued from the city/area you're visiting. Although, some cards may not be available to foreigners.
        • No: get any T-union card. Although, preferably one issued by the city/area you're visiting so you can enjoy local benefits such as discounts on fares and the ability to top-up at a physical location.
Wing
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