Mobile payment firms eye city transport

China's mobile payment operators are entering the public transportation sphere with ambitious promotions for their new e-products that promise to change commuters' age-old ways of paying for their city rides, experts said.

On May 8, Chinese internet giant Tencent introduced its electronic payment product on Shenzhen subway. The product is expected to cover all subway train stations in the city this year.

Ant Financial, an affiliate of Hangzhou-based tech titan Alibaba, announced last month that its Alipay has entered local bus networks in 50 domestic cities. This service would reach 100 cities this year, including third - and fourth-tier cities.