The Guangzhou Water Bus (Chinese: 广州水上巴士; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Shuǐshàng Bāshì; Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹ Seoi⁶soeng6 Baa¹si²) is the short distance ferry and medium to long distance passenger liner services of Guangzhou, China operated by Guangzhou Public Transport Group Liner Co., Ltd (Chinese: 广州公交集团客轮有限公司). The Water Bus services, succeeding the Bus, Taxi, and Metro, is the fourth public transport system in the city. As per January 2020, the Water Bus system has 12 routes, 35 piers and a fleet of 46 ships in operation.[1]

Guangzhou Water Bus
A water bus near Tianzi Wharf
LocaleGuangzhou, China
WaterwayPearl River
Transit typeWater taxi
OperatorGPT Liner Co., Ltd
Began operation10 April 2007
System length53.46 km
No. of lines12
No. of vessels46
Websitehttp://www.prol.com.cn/

History

edit

The city has a long established ferry service crossing the Pearl River. Medium to long distance passenger liner services, Water Bus, was introduced on 10 April 2007 following the trial operation of route S1 between Fangcun and Zhongda (Sun Yat-sen University).[2] The journey was free during the three-day trial period, and attracted 36,483 passengers.[3]

In September 2013, 7 additional routes (S2-S6, S11-S12) were opened, new destinations including Canton Tower, Jinshazhou, Changzhou were brought into the network.[4]

In February 2014, all routes are air-conditioned. Ticket prices for short ferry services increased from ¥0.5 to ¥1, and for longer distance journeys cap at ¥5.[5]

In late 2014, some routes were adjusted and merged, and new route was opened between Nanpu Island and Huangsha.[6]

From May 2016, following the criticism of low passenger volume and continuous loss, Liner Company debuted the new on-demand services 'Ruyue' (Chinese: 如约定制航线). Passengers can book journey mobile app. The service will only operate when there are sufficient bookings. [7]

Routes

edit
 
Route Destinations Fare Operate Time Inverval
RuyueS1 Jinshazhou - Huangsha
金沙洲 - 黄沙
¥10 Weekdays by reservations only.
from Jinshazhou: 7:00, 8:00, 17:00, 18:00
from Huangsha: 7:30, 8:30, 17:30, 18:30
(timetabled)
RuyueS2 Fangcun - Xidi - Tianzi - Zhongda
芳村 - 西堤 - 天字 - 中大
¥20 Weekdays by reservations only.
7:00, 8:00, 17:00, 18:00
(timetabled)
S2Short Tianzi - Zhongda
天字 - 中大
upper deck: ¥5
lower deck: ¥2
from Tianzi: 7:30-17:30
from Zhongda: 7:00-17:00
hourly
S4 Aozhou - Xidi
鳌洲 - 西堤
¥2 from Aozhou: 6:45-20:15
from Xidi: 6:52-20:30
every 15 minutes
S5 Shenjing - Xinzhou
深井 - 新洲
¥1 from Shenjing: 5:45-21:45
from Xinzhou: 6:00-22:00
every 30 minutes
7:15-8:15: every 20 minutes
17:40-18:30: every 20 minutes
S6 Huangsha - Fangcun
黄沙 - 芳村
¥2 6:00-22:00 every 10 minutes
S7 Tianzi - Fangzhi
天字 - 纺织
¥2 from Tianzi: 6:38-18:52
from Fangzhi: 6:45-19:00
every 15 minutes
S8 Shengzong - Qiankou
省总 - 堑口
¥2 from Shengzong: 7:08-18:40
from Qiankou: 7:00-18:30
every 15 minutes
S9 Baixianke - Baihedong
白蚬壳 - 白鹤洞
¥2 from Baixianke: 6:00–19:50
from Baihedong: 6:10–20:00
every 30 minutes
7:00-8:45: every 20 minutes
17:00-18:40: every 20 minutes
S10 Yuzhu - Changzhou
鱼珠 - 长洲
¥2 from Yuzhu: 5:45-23:50
from Changzhou: 5:45-24:00
every 15 minutes
7:00-9:00: every 10 minutes
17:00-19:00: every 10 minutes
S11 Haixinsha - Zhongda
海心沙 - 中大
upper deck: ¥5
lower deck: ¥2
From Zhongda: 7:30-17:30
From Haixinsha: 8:00-18:00
every 60 minutes
Ruyue S12 Changzhou - Yuzhu - Haixinsha
长洲 - 鱼珠 - 海心沙
upper deck: ¥5
lower deck: ¥3
By reservations only.
from Changzhou: 7:00, 7:30, 8:00
from Haixinsha: 17:30, 18:00, 18:30
(timetabled)
Ruyue S13 Nanpu Jinxiubandao - Baixianke - Huangsha
南浦锦绣半岛 - 黄沙
upper deck: ¥5
lower deck: ¥3
By reservations only.
7:05-18:25
every 40 minutes
Ruyue S14 Shiweitang - Huangsha - Tanwei - Shiweitang
石围塘 - 黄沙 - 坦尾 - 石围塘
(single direction)
¥2 By reservations only.
7:00-18:15
every 45 minutes
Note: S1, S2, S12, S13 and S14, are Ruyue routes by reservations only, available when more than certain passengers have reserved.[8]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "公司介绍" [Company Introduction]. GPT Liner Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  2. ^ "广州市首条水上巴士后天试运行" [The first water bus route will be opened for trial operation after 2 days]. Southern Metropolis Daily. 2007-04-08. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  3. ^ "水上巴士今天开始收费 坐一站¥1全程¥2" [Water buses starts charging today]. New Express. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  4. ^ Lin, Ling (2013-09-11). "本月广州水上巴士重现 新增至8航线" [Water bus will expand to 8 routes this month]. Yangcheng Evening News. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  5. ^ "广州水巴下月调价 轮渡涨了五毛" [Water buses will adjust the price next month]. Guangzhou Daily. 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  6. ^ "广州塔至海心沙航线开航 200人水巴仅2人入座" [Routes from Canton Tower to Haixinsha was opened]. Guangzhou Daily. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  7. ^ 南方日报 (2016-05-15). "如约水巴珠江游上线". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  8. ^ "水上巴士" [Water Buses]. GPT Liner Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
edit