Full coverage: G20 Hangzhou Summit
Hangzhou’s public transport networks have become much more environmentally-friendly in recent years. The city has initiatives like energy-efficient buses, more subway lines, and an urban public bicycle system which sets the national standard.
Kong Shengdong has been driving the Number 28 bus across Hangzhou for 23 years. The distance he has travelled doing it is the equivalent to about 20 trips around our planet. He now drives an electronic bus, which is the 6th generation bus he has driven.
Hangzhou has been replacing its gasoline-fuelled buses with energy efficient ones. These green buses -- which consume natural gas, or pure electricity -- account for about 90% of the city's fleet.
"The electronic buses are environmental friendly and energy-efficient. Its engine generates way less noise. It also has a better power supply," Kong said.
"You know, my old buses did not have so much power if you turned on the air conditioner. My passengers are more comfortable now, and can enjoy a good trip."
China's domestic brand e-buses have a range of about 200 kilometers after an over-night charge plenty for a full day of service.
The buses only consume about 120 kilowatt-hours of electricity per 100 kilometers.
Meanwhile, a trial program with Alibaba's e-payment service“alipay”is allowing passengers to pay for their rides using their smart-phones.
It's China's first go at electronic payments on buses.
If you don’t have cash at hand or a tourist from another city, what you need is a QR code on your mobile phone. Then you can get on the bus.
The “Ding Dong” sound means the bus company has successfully charge your bus fee. So you can enjoy a bus ride.
"Passengers benefit the most from mobile payment. We have the confidence to expand such a system to more bus lines, especially those very busy lines during rush hours," said Weng Jun, deputy gen. manager, Hangzhou Bus Group.
"We hope to bring people more “small but nice” changes in their daily lives. We specifically designed this system for bus payment services, by combining software and hardware. We are also working to make mobile payment possible for subway services," said Zhang Wei, product director, Public Services Department, Ant Financial.
Hangzhou also has a public bike system which is the admired all around the country.
The are thousands of service stations around the city, many of which are in close proximity to bus and subway stations, as well as popular attractions.
"Everyday, we provide an average of 310,000 bike rides, 96-percent are for free. In Hangzhou, you can borrow a public bicycle free of charge if you return it in one hour," said Wu Guoxiong, deputy gen. manager, Hangzhou Public Bicycle Company.
Hangzhou has invested a lot to make this system work as intended and it seems to be paying off.
"In 2008, when we launched the public bicycle system, we had 2,800 bikes at 61 service stations," Wu said.
"Now we have 84,000 bikes at more than 3,700 locations across the city. Hangzhou residents and tourists have used our bicycles 680 million times."
What's more, cyclists can pay for the use of the bikes over WeChat and Alipay.
