(Yicai Global) Jan. 4 -- Shanghai is piloting a system that allows public bus riders to pay fares by scanning QR codes, and citywide adoption is likely coming this year.

Two Bus No. 71 branch lines began the trial last week. It will also cover a pair of routes in Jiading district from Jan. 6 and some public transport vehicles in Songjiang district by Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 16, the local government said yesterday on its Weibo.

Passengers can download and app and make a deposit to use the QR code payment function.

As China's mass transit systems upgrade their remittance schemes, some cities have integrated Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s Alipay, while others have opted for Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s Tenpay. Shanghai's setup does not appear to be directly linked with either.