In the lanes and alleys of Jiangmen, a fleet of red six-meter minibuses is quietly rewriting how citizens move. Sleek and nimble, the buses glide into narrow streets; a tap on a mobile app brings one to your door in as little as 15 minutes.

These are the cornerstones of Jiangmen Public Transport’s reservation-based bus service, launched in January 2024. Locals have nicknamed the star of the show the “internet-famous minibus”: the Golden Dragon Astar. After a year of fine-tuning, the fleet now numbers 35 Astars, blanketing 124 km² of the city in a true “ride when you want” network.

Building on the “Bus+” customized-transit concept, JPT first rolled out the “Park-to-Park Shuttle” in May 2023 and then added the “On-Demand Bus” in 2024, together creating Jiangmen’s responsive-transit ecosystem. The shift from fixed routes to dynamic dispatch has dramatically boosted both agility and coverage.

Even back in 2023, ten Astar minibuses on the Park Shuttle became an overnight sensation, drawing riders who came simply to snap photos. The 2024 On-Demand launch doubled down, adding another 35 Astars.

Eighteen months in, the numbers speak for themselves: over 500 daily bookings, more than 700 passenger trips, and consistently high satisfaction scores. Riders now treat the service as a daily commuter staple.

The success of the Astar on-demand bus stems from a precise match between product and passenger needs.First, the Astar turns heads—“People detour just to ride this good-looking bus; parents bring kids for photos.” Second, its low-floor, wide-aisle layout is perfect for seniors and children, delivering top-tier comfort. Third, the six-meter footprint delivers the agility that on-demand transit demands—quick response, deep reach, high efficiency—making the Astar the beating heart of Jiangmen’s reservation bus system.

Source : www.chinabuses.org

Editor : Olivia

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