The soft glow of the Daxin Road bus hub in downtown Jiaxing cuts through the pre-dawn mist, a beacon signaling the start of another day for Urban-rural Bus Route 101.
At 5:30 am, driver Shen Shuigen is already there, his movements practiced and precise as he inspects the tires and water tank of his vehicle.
By 6 am, the departure bell chimes, and Shen guides the bus smoothly out, the onboard radio welcoming passengers to a 24-kilometer journey stretching to Fengqiao Township.
This isn’t just any bus route; it is, in many ways, the very pulse of Jiaxing’s pioneering urban-rural public transport integration, a model now echoed across a nation striving for balanced development.
More than two decades ago, in 2003, a foundational strategy was laid out.
Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang Provincial Committee, articulated the “Double-Eight” strategy, a comprehensive framework designed to guide Zhejiang’s reforms and the construction of a moderately prosperous society.
Under this visionary guidance, Jiaxing became a national trailblazer, launching Route 101 as its pilot.
The commitment to this path was cemented in March 2004, when Xi himself rode the Route 101 bus, underscoring the systematic nature of urban-rural integration, demanding resource integration and refined planning.
This commitment, outlined in his philosophy of “following a good blueprint through to the end,” emphasizes persistent, multi-generational effort – a “nail” spirit that ensures sustained progress rather than fleeting initiatives.
Shen Shuigen, with nearly three decades navigating these very roads, embodies this transformation.
In 1996, his daily commute between urban Jiaxing and rural Fengqiao was a struggle, driving a cramped 19-seat private minibus over poor, farmland-bordered roads.
The “Double-Eight” strategy in 2003 marked a turning point, initiating the transformation of rural passenger transport into a public service.
By 2009, this reform deepened, nationalizing private urban-rural buses.
For Shen, it meant stability: a full-time position with Jiaxing’s bus company, complete with social insurance and housing funds.
His story is a microcosm of a larger societal shift, demonstrating how strategic policy can fundamentally alter individual livelihoods.
Route 101 stands as a living testament to this continuity.
Jiaxing’s journey began with the “1.0 reform” in 2003, birthing the route.
The “2.0 reform” in 2009 nationalized the service and unified ticket prices, making it accessible to all.
The “3.0 reform” in 2021 further integrated urban public transport, introducing conveniences like “one QR code for all” and integrated telecommunication networks.
Each phase built upon the last, a steady, deliberate progression.
This unwavering determination, the “nail” spirit that Xi advocated, has seen the national urban-rural public transport network expand dramatically.
From the winding roads of Kaili in Guizhou to the vast Gobi of Kashi in Xinjiang and the lush farmlands of Jishou in Hunan, buses now weave through once-remote corners, connecting communities and painting a vivid picture of improved lives.
Jiaxing alone now boasts 394 urban-rural bus routes, serviced by 1,583 vehicles, achieving full coverage across its 62 towns and 740 administrative villages, benefiting over 5.6 million residents.
The very buses themselves have evolved.
Shen’s Route 101 bus has undergone multiple upgrades: from 19 seats to 92, from diesel to new energy electric, and from steel to environmentally friendly carbon fiber bodies.
Modern amenities like air conditioning and TV screens are now standard.
Shen notes a significant improvement in passenger feedback, with more regular riders than ever before, a clear indicator of enhanced service quality and public appreciation.
Public transportation, as this narrative powerfully demonstrates, is far more than a logistical service; it is a strategic tool for urban-rural integration and a catalyst for development.
An official from Jiaxing’s transportation bureau, speaking anonymously, explained that since 2011, the bureau has drafted five-year public transportation development plans, meticulously integrating them into the broader comprehensive transportation and urban planning.
This foresight ensures that public transport is not an isolated service but a foundational element of regional growth.
Take Sanxing village, the 25th stop on Route 101, a community whose economy thrives on peach and grape cultivation and eco-tourism.
In 2022, Jiaxing’s transportation bureau optimized Route 101 by adding more stops, extending coverage into residential areas and tourist sites.
Chen Jianmin, deputy director of the village committee, enthusiastically shared with the Global Times how the bus route has transformed Sanxing.
“Public transport is a strategic move that has laid the foundation for rural revitalization,” he affirmed.
City dwellers now visit more frequently, boosting sales of local produce and fueling a surge in local businesses—restaurants, guesthouses, and pick-your-own farms.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that every villager is benefiting from this,” Chen concluded.
This blueprint for urban-rural integration is unfolding across China, with bus routes serving as resilient links, weaving together diverse industries and communities.
The emphasis on “sound, democratic, and law-based decision-making” for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), as stressed by Xi, underscores the importance of public feedback.
It is this feedback that has led to extensions of Route 101’s last departure time to 10 pm and the thoughtful addition of a temporary mother and baby room on board.
The results of this sustained effort are quantifiable and profound.
Since November 2012, the ratio of per capita disposable income between urban and rural residents has narrowed significantly, from 2.88:1 to 2.39:1.
By 2023, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in China surpassed 20,000 yuan, a remarkable 130-percent increase since 2013.
A recent journey on Route 101, from Jiaxing’s urban core to its countryside, reveals a landscape where villa complexes, business parks, eco-tourism sites, and fruit orchards blend seamlessly, blurring the traditional urban-rural divide.
At the final stop, Shen Shuigen completes his routine checks, a moment that brings him back to March 2004, and his conversation with Xi Jinping.
That interaction, two decades ago, instilled in him a deep sense of purpose.
As he surveys the transformed landscape, he points to the front of his bus, where the words “Bound for happiness” are emblazoned.
“Look, the road, the bus and our life, everything is achieved through continuous efforts,” Shen reflects, a testament to the power of a well-executed vision.
“With good planning, and a ‘nail’ spirit, isn’t life becoming broader and brighter for the people, just like these roads connecting city and countryside?”
Indeed, the journey of Route 101 is not just about connecting places, but about connecting lives to a future of prosperity and well-being.
