China's bus network connects farmers to urban markets

In Guiyang, the capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, a dedicated bus route is helping bridge the gap between rural farmers and urban consumers. 

Launched in June 2024, the No. 252 special service departs from Xiaba Township in the early hours each morning, carrying dozens of elderly farmers and their baskets of freshly picked vegetables to markets in the city.

Unlike regular routes, the streamlined service stops at just four stations, cutting travel time from more than an hour to around 40 minutes.

"The fare is quite reasonable: 5 yuan with one basket, 7 yuan with two," said Sun Derong, a 55-year-old farmer who relies on the service every day.

Guiyang currently operates around 40 such specialized routes. Some provide first-time bus access to villages beyond the regular network, while others, such as one nicknamed the "Little Yellow Hat" line, help transport rural migrant workers to their jobs.

Zhou Kaimin, deputy general manager of Guiyang Public Transportation Company, said the company plans to introduce 10 additional special routes in 2026, expanding the focus from supporting farmers to meeting a broader range of livelihood needs across the city.

As China prioritizes the equalization of basic public services under its 15th Five-Year Plan, Guiyang's farmer-friendly bus lines offer a compelling glimpse of grassroots progress taking shape across the country.