Several of the first passengers pose for a photo on the new tourism-themed bus in Jinhua. [Photo/Tide News]

Jinhua in Zhejiang province has launched a new tourism bus route, featuring five buses decorated to showcase regional culture, which departed from Wanda Plaza in Jindong district on Sept 29.

Sixty teachers and students from two schools in Yiwu and Dongyang, two county-level cities in Jinhua, were invited as the first passengers. They took a tourism-themed metro line from their respective cities to Wanda Plaza Station, then transferred to the buses.

This seamless "metro-to-bus" connection impressed the students, who praised its convenience and noted how it brought the cities closer together.

The new route, starting and ending at Wanda Plaza metro station, connects key attractions including the China Wu Opera Grand Theater, Sanjiangli commercial area, Wuzhou Ancient Town, and People's Square.

The 11-kilometer route features 50 daily trips, with a 10 to 15-minute interval between departures, operating from 10 am to 9 pm. The fare is 2 yuan ($0.28), with discounts available for transportation cards.

This initiative aims to provide travelers with a hassle-free experience to explore the city during the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.