Commuters in Shanghai can now tell a ticket machine where they want to go, and pay for their ticket using a payment app on their smartphone, thanks to the introduction of voice-activated ticket machines at six of the city's subway stations.

A passenger pays for a subway ticket using his phone at a ticket machine in Shanghai. [File Photo: Shanghai Metro]

According to a report by thepaper.cn, the voice-enabled ticket machines are part of a trial being undertaken at the city's major railway stations and airports. The new machines went into service ahead of the China International Import Expo, which opens in the city on Monday.