On October 9th, during an interview in Yongzhou, we had the opportunity to speak with Guo Canwen, a bus driver for the Urban and Rural Passenger Transport Company in Lanshan County, Hunan Province. Every morning at 9 AM, Guo checks the express packages scheduled for delivery before heading out into the countryside.
Since March of this year, Guo has been transporting a distinctive group of “passengers”—express packages destined for local villagers. This effort marks an important step in Lanshan County’s initiative to blend passenger transport with logistics. The county has developed a strategic plan aimed at tackling the logistical challenges of the “last mile” in rural areas.
At the package delivery service station in Shangdong Village, nestled in Jiangdong Yao Autonomous Township, the shelves are stacked with an array of express packages. Zhang Liying, the station manager, explained, “Thanks to the integration of rural passenger and freight services, express deliveries can now go directly to the village via bus. We handle over 40 packages daily, and sometimes that number reaches up to 100.”
Villager Zhong Fucai highlighted the advantages of this new service, saying, “In the past, we had to travel to the county seat to pick up our packages. Now, smaller items travel on passenger buses, while larger packages arrive via dedicated freight vehicles straight to our village. It’s much more convenient.”
The fusion of cargo and postal services not only streamlines the delivery process for residents but also provides an economic boost for local businesses. Li Qingxiang, a shop owner in Taqi Village, expressed her appreciation, stating, “On average, we receive more than 40 packages each day. Managing a business alongside deliveries makes life easier for the villagers and enhances our income.”
Lanshan County has invested over 1 million yuan in a command and dispatch center dedicated to rural passenger and freight services. This facility allows for real-time monitoring of vehicle schedules, locations, routes, and even driver contact details, ensuring effective management of deliveries.
A representative from the Lanshan County Transportation Bureau remarked, “This integration has significantly enhanced logistics coverage in rural areas.” Utilizing a system of scheduled routes, the county has launched 10 integrated passenger and freight lines across 14 townships, establishing 189 service stations that collectively manage an average of 15,000 packages daily.
Looking towards the future, Lanshan plans to further advance the “Four Good Rural Roads” initiative to ensure optimal road conditions that facilitate the integration of passenger and freight services, with the goal of reaching more villages and benefiting an even larger number of residents.