Chinanews.com, Changzhi, June 29. Title: The small bus in the deep mountains, Shanxi Tunliu 99 Village, is no longer "walking" out of the mountain
Reporter Li Tingyao
"If you want to enter the city now, you can get in a car at your doorstep." In the memory of the 58-year-old Li Chunhu, he had to walk on the undulating mountain road for about 40 minutes when he entered the city since childhood. When I was holding something in my hand, I felt that the mountain road was very long."
Li Chunhu grew up and lives in the western mountainous area of Tunliu District, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province.
Tunliu District is located on the west side of Shangdang Basin. The western mountain area accounts for more than one-third of the total area of the district. Here, there are crisscross valleys, steep slopes and deep ditch, and the population is sparse and scattered.
"It turned out to be dirt roads and gravel roads. It is more difficult to travel on rainy days." Among the villagers in the western mountainous area of Tunliu District, Li Chunhu was lucky. The Shanglizhai village where he lives is less than 3 kilometers away from the main road.
Going deep along the mountain road next to Shanglizhai Village, there is Wutongbai Village. Villagers here can walk more than 6 kilometers on the mountain road to reach the main road. It takes at least one and a half hours.
The picture shows the Tunliu small bus.
Photo by Li Tingyao
"Old people go out by themselves or they are sent out by young people on motorcycles. In the past, many old people didn't leave the village or the mountains. They all relied on young people to send noodles and fuel." Li Chunhu said, in recent years, young people have grown up. They all go out to work and live, and it is even more difficult for the elderly who stay in the village to want to go out.
Wang Jinhong, Director of the Transport Bureau of Tunliu District, told reporters that in 2019, in order to solve the problem of people traveling in the western mountainous area, Tunliu District invested in the purchase of 21 8-seater minibuses, opened 19 rural small bus lines, and 6 townships in the western mountainous areas. The villagers no longer "walk" out of the mountains.
The reporter followed Zheng Changjiang, a small bus driver, on the road experience. The car was bumpy on a mountain road about 4 meters wide. When meeting the car, it was necessary to pull over and stop.
Zheng Changjiang told reporters that in October 2019, he became a small bus driver and was responsible for a route from Yifeng Village, Zhangdian Town, Tunliu District to Zhangbamiao Village.
Every morning and afternoon, Zheng Changjiang must drive a small bus to and from Yifeng Village and Zhangbamiao Village twice on time.
This 17-kilometer round-trip line connects several villages in Zhangdian Town, and Shuangze Village is one of them.
Hu Guizhi, 65, lives in Shuangze Village. She is the only one at home. She told reporters that she can get on a small bus right outside her house, making it easier to get into the city, and her life is also much more convenient.
The picture shows the stop sign of Tunliu Small Bus.
Photo by Li Tingyao
“We don’t run on New Year’s Day every year, and there are still snow days when we can’t run. Other days are unimpeded.” Zheng Changjiang said, most people who take small buses are elderly people. “Normally, there are not many people who take a car, but if Without this car, it is very inconvenient when everyone wants to go out."
Wang Jinhong told reporters that, like Zheng Changjiang, 21 drivers of 21 buses will make two trips on their respective routes every morning and afternoon.
In addition, drivers announce their phone numbers in villages along the route, and villagers can call to make reservations for cars. "The bus company will provide subsidies based on the mileage of each driver serving the masses."
Wang Jinhong said that now, the 209 administrative villages in Tunliu District have all achieved the goal of "double access" to the hardened roads and passenger cars of the organized villages.
"Going out is the cement road, and you can get on the bus when you lift your foot" is a true portrayal of the villagers in Tunliu District.
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