CHINA TOPIX

03/28/2024 04:42:45 am

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All Aboard Beijing's Vintage Buses

Beijing

(Photo : Internet Photo) Twelve vintage buses started operations on Sunday in Beijing taking passengers to iconic places downtown.

Beijing passengers were taken back in time aboard twelve vintage buses on Sunday.

The vintage vehicle service took people to iconic places in downtown Beijing.

The buses made its way near the gate tower of Beijing’s Yongdingmen. The bus route extended going to the north along the axis line of the city. This enabled passengers to pass by the 15 kilometer route and seeing more than 20 iconic places.

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Among these places, passengers were able to see the Tian’anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City.

Passengers would be able to take the vintage bus tour route between 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. A single bus ride costs 10 yuan while a day trip costs 15 yuan.

Bus drivers of the vintage vehicles wore Sun Yat-sen style uniforms. This would give their passengers a sense of nostalgia while the conductors were in blue overshirts designed with embroidered flowers.

The inspiration for these vintage buses came from the 1924 trams in Beijing. In 1966, the trams halted their operation after 42 years of running business in Beijing. However, prior to the 2008 Olympics, the city was able to restore the iconic shopping district, and rebuilt a part of the tram services.

The buses were colored green or red with 28 red leather-covered seats. The carriage floors of the vehicles were made of wood.

The buses also have air purification systems, WiFi and are all powered with electricity despite their antique looks.

Mr. Liu, representing Yintong Investing Group, the project manager for the vintage buses, said the carriages of the vehicles are spacious to cater to occasional performances including promotion of traditional products as well as cross-talk.

China’s elder citizens are happy with the vintage bus service. It recalls days from the past when drivers used bells as horns aboard the dangdang, the Chinese term for trams.

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