At 4 PM on June 11th, at the East Gate 2 of Chaoyang Park, a blue and yellow double-decker bus—the Chaoyang Cultural and Tourism Line—slowly pulled away. As the first customized cultural and tourism line in Beijing, it connects the "three parks and four business districts" in Chaoyang District.
Li Xiaokun, captain of the operation team from the 7th fleet of Beijing Public Transport Corporation Second Passenger Branch, explained that the three parks include Chaoyang Park, Olympic Forest Park and Wenyu River Park; the four major business districts are Solano, Taiyanggong, Ya'ao and Beiyuan. Notably, this line highlights the night view and features attractions along Liangma River and Wenyu River.
Representing a new exploration in combining public transport with cultural and tourism elements, this line offers residents and tourists a fresh experience by bus.
Guo Ling, manager of the planning and design department of Chaoyang Culture and Tourism Group, mentioned that the route has 30 stops in both directions, effectively connecting the tourist attractions in the city. During the day, tourists can explore parks or shop in the bustling business districts. At night, the bus offers a chance to ascend the Olympic Tower to overlook Beijing's magnificent scenery, or to enjoy a boat ride on Liangma River and experience a unique river walk.
Passengers appreciated the broad views from the double-decker bus. They shared the great feeling to travel around Beijing by bus. "It's a convenient way to travel and relax along the way: sitting on the bus, enjoying the cityscape and experiencing the city's hustle and bustle. It's different from usual commuter routes. There's no rush or distraction, just a chance to slow down and enjoy the view. Riding the bus is very relaxing and allows me to feel the grandeur of Beijing. The upper deck provides excellent views, especially when the trees are lush. Driving the car can be tiring and we might get stuck in traffic, but taking the bus is convenient and relaxing, easier for me to admire Beijing's urban transformation. At night, the cityscape is particularly striking, which makes me fall in love with Beijing's bus-tour".
