Bus journey might be happier experience in China

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 ◆ Bus journey might be happier experience in China

Commuting to work in a crowded bus can be an unpleasant experience, but commuters in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, can enjoy the hottest hip hop, listen to the latest celebrity gossip, and even get employment information thanks to the VCD-supported TVs installed by the municipal government.

An official with the bus company in Harbin said that, since March of this year, the company has installed nearly 1,000 VCD-supported television sets on 500 buses.

The official said one of every six of the city's buses now have TV sets, and the programs are updated every three days.

A passenger on Bus No. 3 in Harbin said the programs alleviate boredom during his 30-minute commute and also generate conversation between passengers.

Of course, advertisement is always unavoidable. "However, it is not a bad thing to learn about new products and service information," said a young man on Bus No. 3. "Maybe some day I will find a good job from the employment ads."

Meanwhile, residents of other major cities are also enjoying their commutes.

In Beijing, the country's capital, some 20 programs dealing with culture, real estate, finance, entertainment and scientific information are broadcast on air-conditioned buses every day. The broadcasts also provide transfer information and descriptions of scenic sites along the bus route.

In Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangzhou Province, buses equipped with TVs began to appear last October. The city plans to install TV sets in 2,500 buses over the next two years.