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An unmanned minibus drives down the road in Xiuhu Park in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: jxfabu]

An unmanned minibus recently started operating in Xiuhu Park in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, local media reported on Oct 20.

Tourists can make an appointment to take the unmanned minibus by scanning the QR code on the smart station sign in the park.

The minibus is capable of maneuvering around pedestrians and cyclists. The whole ride was very comfortable, said a citizen surnamed Dai after trying out the unmanned minibus.

The bus is an important part of Jiaxing's vehicle-road collaborative application project.

Through the intelligent transformation of urban road infrastructure and the upgrading of vehicle networking, the project deploys a variety of sensing devices on urban roads, key tourist routes, major intersections, schools and hospitals, building a multi-dimensional road perception system and optimizing the public travel experience, said an official of the Jiaxing municipal government affairs data office.

Taking the unmanned minibus as an example, through the intelligent transformation of roads in the scenic area and the network upgrading of vehicles, the minibus is able to accurately perceive road conditions within 200 meters of it, avoid pedestrians, signal road danger warnings and make roadside voice broadcasts, ensuring safety and reliability.

In addition, four self-driving buses have been put into trial operation on a 10-kilometer section from Zhonghuan south road to Guili road. The bus can reach speeds of up to 30 km per hour.