Hangzhou bus stations to get ‘smarter’ in October

September 16 20:56 2020

Bus stations in Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang province, will be upgraded and made more intelligent by the end of October in the following ways.

First, the city bus pass will be powered with an e-wallet through which people can check the balance in their accounts and directly refill it online without visiting the bus company.

The bus has been nicknamed zhongyi (中意, meaning “to be pleased with or fond of”) in Chinese, a phrase made up of the first character in 中国 (China) and the first character in意大利 (Italy), giving it multiple layers of meaning.

Over the past seven months, Bus 1314 has served a large number of passengers, many of whom are couples. It recently changed its look in order to support Italy in the country’s fight against COVID-19.

As one of the world’s hardest-hit countries, many Chinese people are showing great concern for the people of Italy.

The colors red, white, and green, representing the Italian flag, have been painted on the bus along with images of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (a famous scenic spot in Hangzhou), Italy’s Roman Colosseum, and the phrase “Forza, Italia!” in both Italian and Chinse. The slogan is printed both outside and inside the bus, as well as on handrails and on the backs of seats.

Second, people will be able to customize their travel routes by typing in their starting place and destination. They can also check intercity travel information related to coaches, metro lines, and flights, or directly hail a taxi via the system to wherever they want. Real-time information on bus arrivals, nearby bus stations, and available shared bicycles can also be easily accessed.

The bus stations are also equipped with high definition wide-angle cameras in hidden locations that have a far monitoring range and can store footage for a long time.

In terms of air travel, China Hangzhou is expected to see 32,900 flights carrying 4.49 million travelers at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, up 5 percent and 6 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Lastly, lights on the bus stations will turn on if the emergency button is pressed, informing bus drivers and allowing them to prepare for emergencies.

Media Contact
Company Name: The Information Office of Hangzhou Municipal Government
Contact Person: Cai Jingwen
Email: Send Email
Phone: 0510-68559077
Country: China
Website: http://www.ehangzhou.gov.cn/

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