Zhuhai has launched three new customized bus routes – two to Hengqin and one to Gongbei Checkpoint – which will run to highly visited destinations at peak times and on a fixed schedule.

According to Yu Rongjun, head of Zhuhai Public Transport Group’s Operations Department, the three lines were analyzed and carefully determined based on the company’s big bus IC card data which showed the direction of passenger flow, most crowded bus stops and popular times for travel.

The customized buses, which began operations on 30 July, arrive at their designated stations 10 minutes early and leave on time, with few or no stops. By using the rapid transit lane, the customized buses are able to provide a particularly efficient service.

Passengers should follow the WeChat account of Zhuhai Bus (ID: zhuhaibus) and purchase tickets from that platform at least 30 minutes before departure.

By using big data analysis, ticketing machines on buses will process fares upon presentation of a digital ticket.

After getting on the bus, the passenger only needs to click the home page of the WeChat account and present the ticket’s QR code to the card machine to complete the ticket inspection. If the automatic ticket verification is invalid, it can be switched to the manual ticket inspection.

However, Hengqin Record has confirmed that only mainland Chinese mobile phone numbers can register on the platform at this stage.

The customized bus stops are different from standard stops, with further details found on the WeChat platform.

The new “Route 2” from Jing’an Town (Doumen) to Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort starts at 07:05 each morning and returns at 17:30, while “Route 3” from Jinding (Tangjiawan) to Hengqin New Area starts at 06:40 and returns at 17:25 from Hengqin.

Ticket prices for the three routes is RMB8. A promotional price of RMB5 is available during the first month of trial operation.