Water Bus - Wenzhou’s Newest Transportation

Published: Fall 2023

Author: Jin Yizhu

Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government invested 6 million RMB in the construction and operation of Water Bus Line 1, aiming to improve traffic jams and promote tourism by means of this innovative transportation.

A water bus is running on the Tang River in Wenzhou, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Jin Yizhu). 2023/12/10

Wenzhou Transportation Group launched the new energy-electric water bus to avoid traffic congestion and parking inconvenience around the business district, and to promote tourism with the rich culture of the 1,600-year Tang River.

The service began on a smaller scale in September when it served half route from Small South Gate Pier to Impression of Nantang Pier. On November 9th, the full service opened, running from Small South Gate Pier to Shangen Music & Art Village Pier. “From September 1st to November 30th, we have served and transported 23,154 passengers,” said Chen Jian, the water bus manager.

The total route spans approximately 14.3 kilometers, with a one-way journey taking around 120 minutes and docking at 7 piers. The nearest pier to Wenzhou-Kean University is the Shangen Music & Art Village Pier, the water bus’s starting point, with only a 10-minute car drive from the University.

The fare is based on segmented pricing, starting at 5 yuan per person (covering up to four stations) for a single trip, and 10 yuan per person for the entire journey (beyond four stations). “The operating cost for one day is 10,000 yuan, with a daily loss of 8,000 yuan,” Chen explained. It takes time for the fare income to cover the operating cost.

The main passengers of the water bus include the elder Wenzhou locals, who are nostalgic for the river, and young people, who are curious about the water bus. “I will organize tourists on the boat to engage in study-oriented activities such as painting, historical research, and ecological observations related to the Tang River,” said tour guide Yan Xin, “city residents can also charter the boat for birthday parties, team-building events, and other activities.”

Passengers on the water bus are admiring the landscape along the route through the glass canopy, which can be fully opened up to provide a 180° view of the surrounding scenery of the Tang River in Wenzhou, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Jin Yizhu). 2023/12/10

To cater to the interests of people from all walks of life, the second line is undergoing planning, which will run from Wenzhou South Railway Station to Wenzhou Library.